The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-05
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND TIE
MECHANICS.


The Governmental idea of the Republican
partyis that of Czarism and serfism. tits not
only TO rob labor of just compensation, bat
of dignity. The r publican party creates
and fosters monOpolies. by which The few
are permitted 10 compel the many to pay
them tribute money. The Republican party
leeislstes alHAys for the rich. 1t exalts the
money power while it dfgrades the working
people of the country. The Republican party
adyC Gates the Capitalization OF power
in the hands of the few, which
to the extent of its success in that
direction operates to enslaye the many. The
Republican patty cesselessly antagOnizes the
rights of States while it continuously
glorifies Federal authority. 1t forever clam
ors for strong standing army, having faith
in bsyonets instead of ballots. 1t is the
autocratic party, and would have the Presi
dent clothed vith the powers Of a
Sultan or Shah. Occasionally
Republican organ becomes sufficiently
impudent to burt out the vital
izing idea of the Republican party. 1t will
be remembered that at the supreme moment,
when Garfield gave up the ghost, when The
lips of Che poor dumb Jongueless mouth,
made by Republican assassins bullet, was
still open for ths escape of pus, that the IN
dianapolis Journal shouted out that
Arthur had taken Garfield's place
in the White House "by the
act Of God" and now this organ OF Republi-
canism refers to the mechanics and working
men OF the United States as if they were so
many serfs belonging to the estates OF mon
opolists, dependent upon them for food,
shelter and clothing. 1t says:
IN IS qrith this raSt army Of 100000
mechanics that The Government has 70 deal. The
frst aim is 10 Gre then, steady employment at
such ,rGges as ,riH m1intaia them IN comfort"
No Southern planter in old slave times
ever talked more patronizingly of his negroes.
No turbaped Turk ever uttered aseutence
more deeply freighted with guardianship.
No Russian nabob ever talked
of his serfs in terms indica
tive of lower degradation
than the language employed by the Journal
III referring to the 100000 mechanics with
whom, II says, the Government has to
DEAL In what way we ask has the Govern
ment got to deal with these American me
chanics? These 5000 000 American mechsn-
les are citizens, sovereigns in their own right,
clothed with high and sacred prerogatives.
They make and uRmske Legislatures and
Congresses, Presidents and Governors. They
constitute a part of the Government and
important part OF it. They vote, pay taxes,
create wealth. fight battles, carry forward
enterprises and dignity human nature, and
their labor and skill add indef.
nitely to the glory of ibe Rspub-
lie. Still, the Journal, a Republican
organ. the organ that declared Arthur Presi-
dent "bv the act of God" tells these ,OOO, 900
mechanics that they are the people with
whom ''the Government has to deal" That
the Government has to take them into Gus
tody and watch over them as Southern
planter used 10 guard and protect his negroes,
and as is now done in Cuba and Brazil. TIE
indianapolis Journal tells these 3,000010
mechanics that it is the first aim of the Gov
eminent to give them steady employment
at such wages as will maintain them in COM
fort" Gods has 1t come TO this that Amer
lean mechanics are regarded bya Republican
organ voiceless IN matters of employment
and wages? Are these 100000 mechanics
TO he told that under Republican rule they
will be required to take what they can get
and be satisfied That is the old; plantation
talk when the owner of one a hundred ne
groes told them to work, and thatit was his
business to maintain them in comfort"
We tell the Republican organ that American
mechanics are not under Government surveil-
lance and are not dependent upon the Gov
eminent for work and wages. The Govern
ment does not control them. 1t is not their
patron. 1t is not required to IDEAL" with
them esif they were slaves or paupers. The
workingmen OF America protest against laws
which increase the cost of living and the
burdens of taxation. The 100000 mschan-
les in the United States are opposed to
monopoly in all its forms-opposed to paying
tribute to them-and the time will come
when 100000 American mechanics will
assert their power and see to ii that unjust
| laws are swept from the statute book. For