The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-01-12
CLaSsIsM IN AMERICA

any almost Is attention beng directed
to the fact of the growing disposition
throughout the United States among mom
beers Of a cer.ain calling to band thensley q
together in unions aud associations and
leagues, looking to the furtherance or pro.
lection of their own particular interest.
The spirit of concentration and combina-
ton seems to be abroad in the land ,ani the
fact is beginning to excite and elicit n uch
comment. We daily hear of merchants,
mechanics, lawyers, physicians, manuCac-
turers, aud, IN short every description of
laborers aud capitalists forming associa.
tons, trades uniops,all descriptions of coin.
binations, each with its peculiar views Of
the province and duties of government
and its own special grievances,
Even the peanut vendors and the boot
blacks in the various cities have caught the
infection, established arbitrary prices and
principles of action, and entered the field OF
activity in municipal. state and Federal
legislation for the purpose of stamping
thereon the impress of their effort and
thought. The matter is one of more con-
sequence than might at first be supposed
AS in almost every other question pertain
ing to social and political life, there are Ger.
tainly two sides, but we cannot but feel
that in the present case the rivalry that must
ensue and the complications which will e
forced into legislation and politics will out
weigh the beneficial results antici-
pated. The weight of argument seems to
us to be against this widespread
spirit of combination. There is, it is true,
a great deal of strength popularity supposed
to exist in unity ofpurpose and effort and
this constitutes the chieiest reason for COM
binins. And again, when associations are
formed for the purpose Of comparing views
and disseminating information through the
ranks of the particular craft, the object is
both wise and worthy one. When, in
the cases referred TO, however the only oh.
iect is to influence legislation in special
direction and obtain from the government
special privileges, the complications arise
that produce undesirable results. Legisla-
ton to be right must be unfettercd and UNI
influenced. The appeals to legisla.
tors by organic atoms, such as those
mentioned, protesting to represent
large constituencies and WELD powerful
influence are not without their effect. If,
therefore, the demands of every description
of trade and labor throughout the Union
"a y In In hnnlnI aud nptnI L., A H.
Federal and state legislatures, the demands
in nine cases out Of ten running counter to
each other. inextricable confusion must in
evitably result lfone class is to be favored,
every other is entitled to n like consdera-
ton, and government degeneratos from the
position of delincr and protector of human
rights to II parent with myriad of charges
not properly belonging to its true province,
To be just, to fulfill its legitimate sphere,
the legislative power of u state or govern.
ment ought to know no one either individual
or class. The interests of the whole people,
farmer, manufacturer, mechanic, mer.
chant and all others should be alike re-
garded and protected with the one special
consideration ever uppermost that none re-
ceivc favors, benefits and emolumcnts to
the detriment OF the others or any other.
This casslsm This practice of combination
and organization seeks to combat this sim
Pile and universally recognized principle of
governmental action in republics at
least, and by so dong is
more disastrous, more revolutionary,
more productive ofconiusion and possible
Legislative iniquity than any other cause
now in operation in the United States. The
only safeguard is to ignore the requests
and grievances and demands of any or all
classes an keep an eye single to
the greatest good of the greatest number,
an old but wise democratic principle that
seems nowadays to be more honored in the
breach than the observance.