The Labor enquirer., 1883-03-24

rings which they have created. The
complete subjection Of our legislators to
the moneyed power has never been more
clearly demonstrated than by the recent
tariff legislation Of the Forty-seventh
congress, which threatens to result in
Immediate and distressing reduction OF
wages in many great manufacturing e8-
tablishments of the country. The at
tempts will naturally lead to strikes and
consequent misery and want. Possibly
riot and disorder will ensue, and the
blame will be sought as usual to be at
tached to the poor workmen, instead Of
the gay and festive" liars, hypocrite8,
juggIers and public plunderers who
basely abuse the powers repOsed in them
by confding people. The PSaImist
said "AIl men of high degree are liars,
and if he lived in Washington to-day he
would repeat the assertion with our sup
Elementary attachment. Their conduct
should arouse the Indignation Of every
American citizen who claims to have a
spark Of manhood in his composition.
The highest official authority estimates
that there are no less than from fifty to
one hundred men in the United States
whose annual income is over $1,000,OO0
year; there are about 1000 men whose
annual income is 100000; there are
100000 men whose income is $4,000 a
year; there are 100000 whose income
is stated at 81 900 a year; while there are
I4,OOO,0OO wageWOrkmen who toll daily
for the support Of their families and
whose average income is less than 500
a year. Under a revenue system de-
rived through taxes upon consumption
of the neceSsaries of life it is certainly
true that the 100000 workers, who are
barely feeding and clothing their fami-
lies, pay fourteen-ffteenth1, or nearly
all the interest on the public debt, the |
eXtrayagant support Of the army and |
navy, the aristocratic civil list, the pen
sion list and the high-saIaried diplo-
matte corps, out of their scantv wages.
few thousands of wealthy men,
whose incomes reach over $5O,OOOO0O a
year. pay little or nothing, yet the EN-
ire expenditure is manipulated in their /
interest
The working classes Of the country
produce annually enough to make every
nan, woman and child in the land COM
ortabIe if their productions were fairly
nd honestly distributed But under
he prevailing system Of laws, corruptly
r ignorantly made, the drones get the
ntire profits, while the industrious
abOrer maintains a constant struggle
With abiect poverty. What reasonable
nan will maintain that this unjust sy8-
EN- is right, which absolutely enthraIIs
he patient tOiIers to the INSCRIPTIONS
nd vicious classes OF community ? What
ubIic man elected to office by the whole
DeopIe will aver that he is doing his
utv to his constituents by enacting laws
o paIpabIy unfair? He should be mott
led to resign, and make place for
tatesman who will confer the greatest
GOD on the greatest number.
All human affairs have been left by
he Lord God Almighty to the control
f human agencies. Human agencies
ave undoubtedly devised the schemes
" which the few have en8Iaved the
many, and human beings must rectify
he wrong. We SHOULD not continue to
ook into the clouds OF heaven, like ig-
lOrant ours, for deiyerance from our
but to one another. FEEDER
ted drones must be cOunteryaied by
IaborerS, demanding as with
me voice immediate reform. Whatever
We do, however, should be done peace
IDLY if possible, and in accordance with
aw We have in the United States,
hanks to our patriotic forefathers, a form
If government in which the people are
he sovereigns and the officers are the
public servants. The law-making branch
Of our government has all the power
necessary to remedy the evils under
which the people are suffering. The
chief executive officer has the authority ,
to convene the congress by proclamation
in extra session, The people can demand |
of the president by memorial to call
special session Of congress Immediately |
to remedy this evil, and that body is
vested with power to repeal, Unnecessary,