National Republican., 1883-02-28
which Party Has Protected Labor


Our morning contemporary had very bad
turn yesterday. 1t arraignod the republican
party for unfaithfulness to the interests Of
labor 1t charged upon it the wealth of Mr..
Vanderbilt; complained because he does not.
have to pay taxes on his United States bonds
jany moro than other owners of them snared
coin instead of irredcemablc paper; indi-
Gated that they ought to be scaled
down to fifty cents on the dol
lar, or else labor must pay ten dollars for
every dollar loaned the government" and
lwailed and rallied dd nduseum mt the "robber
tariff" and everything in general that re-
lated to the business of the country. The
Ioutpouring was so Characteristic of the time
lhonored" old concern which did business be-
fore the war that it brings the past before us.
You can never discuss the relations which
each party bears to labor without referring
! to the past. The whole issue between the two
| great parties was the labor question. In the
interest Of free white labor the republicans
declared that slaves should not be taken to
Kansas or other territories TO compete with
the labor which was winning the bread for
white chldren's mouths. The democratic
party backed the unpaid labor of black slaves
against the paid labor of white citizens both
native and naturalized, and maintained the
slave owners right to take his human chat
tells to new fields already occupied by free
white labor. Which party was then faithful to
| the interests of labor2 The democratic party
not only made its sole business the defense
of slave labor, but it became so servile in this
| cause that it subOrdinated all other interests
| to the single one of cotton growing, 1t dep
| rccated protective tariff because it desired
to supply raw cotton to England and give
! made from it, Next to free school house
\ the old bourbon democracy hated n northern
! cotton factory. The industries of the north
\ and il. free emigrants to the western terrific
\ res killed slavery in the interest of paid labor.
H The country dismissed the democratic party
\ from power because that party had become a
n plantation oversecr. The retention by the
n democracy of to-day of the old dogma of "a
II tariff for revenue only" is defiance of the
II power which dethroned King Cotton, for it
H is continuing the old war against homo in
n dustries which was made in the interest ol
II that staple of slave production. The party
II which lives only on old hostilities can
H not complain If the causes which were
n the foundation of those hostilities arc
II occasionally revived. The democratic editors
II do not like to hear Of their party's past his
II tory. They indulge in dismal wit when II
is mentioned. As an old offender at the po
H lice court deprecates revival Of old issues
II prefcrring that bygone shall be bygones, 81
II that old tramp the democratic party, is un
h willing to hear evidence of its previously
Y bad character. Last fall it dressed
II itself up in decent clothes aud con
cealed itself in crowd Of people whit
4 were electing congressman, The resul
was that people who despised it gavo it
temporary victory, and now ii would fain Sc
Il up business for itself again, It's claim t.
having ever had any sympathy with tn,
working people since 1914 is absurd ant
ridiculous. 1t has not had since then
thought or an emotion except in behalf Of th
II cotton monopoly. From lsl4 to 1850 Their
II was but one sentiment in the democratic
II party, and that was hatred of freedom
and subservienCy to slayery's extremes
demands. From 1850 to 1865 the de
mocracy devoted all their enorgie
to showing that it was uncOnstitutiona
L for the nation TO fight back when attacked
4 From 1865 to date the same party has had bu
one song, and that was the absolute uncon
A stitutionality Of all laws authorized by tn
4 new amendments to make emancipation
fact and national citizenship respectable
Democratic doctrine consists chiefly of hatre,
/ Of all that has been done since 1861 Tn
labolors of the country have nothing II