The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-07-03

BY this time the Republican platform
has fallen into the hands Of the de-
lighted laboring man for whom, more
than anybody else, it was adopted. Tho
words Of cheer and comfort that il con-
tains for him are enough to fill his eyes
with the tears OF gratitude and Joy. It
says: I'VE demand that the imposi-
ton Of duties on foreign imports shall
be made not for revenue only, but that,
in raising the requisite revenue for the
Government, such duties shall be SO
levied as to afford security to our lii
versified industries and protection to
the rights and wages Of the laborcr, to
tho end that active and intelligent
labor, as well rs capital, may have its
just reward and the laboring man his
full share in the national prosperity"
Doubtless the laboring man, whose
condition the Republican philanthro-
pists are SO anxious to improve, has
sometimes complained Of his lot Com
pared with that of the men who pass
party platforms and caucus resolutions
promising to elevate the laboriag man
and dignity labor" it may have seemed
n hard one. As he emerged at sundown
from the coal pit which he had entered
at dawn, and took his way to his home.
he may sometimes have felt that his
work was hard and his pay poor. It
may not have been easy to b. satisfied
with the crusts OF his table, and the pri-
vations forced upon his wife and children
may have filled his breast with min
gled feelings of wrath and pity. Or,
as he went home. begrimed with the
SCOT Of the iron-mill where he had
toilcd all day for q pittance that must
be swallowed up by the wants of HIM
self and family. he may, perhaps. have
reflected upon the difference between
his own condition and that Of his
wealthy master. 1t may have occurred
to him that his rightful share in tho
nations prosperity" was wrongfully
withheld from him; that he was worse
off than he was ten years ago, while his
fortunate master was growing richer
aud richer. Or. as he has sat at the
loom, with his wife and children toiling
near by, breathing the foul mir Of the
mill, and shortening their lives by the
dire necessity of earning, in the most
toilsome manner, tho wherewithal to
live, he may have complained OF the
unequal distribution Of tho blessings
and benefits Of life. and wondered il
he and his should ever be able TO en-
JOY them. But, happily, there is no
longer cause for discomfort. The
Republican platform, that glorious
promise of amelioration, of elevation,
Of share in tho boundless prosperity
of the nation, has come to him like q
boon, and his heart leaps with JOY
and his eyes fill with tears of gratitude
when he realizes what the beneticent
Republican party intends to do for him.
What picture Of happiness he is! His
condition is to be elevated, his labor,
which he has found SO hard. il to be
dignified, his wages are to be increased,
he is to have his share in the national
prosperity. What noble and kind
hearted men the Republicans are. to be
sure! What very Howards and Pea.
bodys of philanthropy! With what
satisfaction our laboring man reads this
magnificent promise to his wife and
children, who mingle their tears of hap
piness with his. It means everything
to them, this promise Of tho good and
generous men gathered at Chicago. i
means better food, better clothes, NOR.
books, more newspapers, more holidays
more Of oil the comforts and pleasures
of life. 1t means that they shall ex
change the squalid shanty for com
Portable home, with better beds to sleel
on, and warmer blankets. II means tha
the rickety chairs and tables shall b.
replaced with new ones. Ii means ,
full coal-bin, and doctor and medicin,
in time Of sickness. God bless tha
great benefactor of the laboring man
the Republican party!
But alas the memory Of the laborinI
man is short. Has ho forgotten that th,
Republican party has been adopting
platforms full of the same joyful promise
for the last quarter Of a century? Hav,
not its leaders told him repeatedly tha
il was the dearest desire OF their heart
to raise his wages, better his condition
dignity his labor? Have they ever KEEP
their promise to himg Has not, indeed
his lot grown harder the more the Rs
publicans have promised to elevate
him2
Poor man, again misled by this bean
tiful platform, he may go aud plump i
his vote for the party candidate as h
; has done, perhaps, half dozen time
before, and the party candidate may b
elected, but he will not find his wage
increased; his toll will be as severe, hi
priyations as hard to bear, his "share i
, the national prosperity" will be seize,
10y his tariif-proteeted employer as h,
: fore; there will he just as many cuts |
! his wages, and Just as many loekont'
He will find again that the promise q
/ the platform is only an attempt to z,
! his vote under false prs.ouses; that B