Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-16
Republican Party, Blaine, and Workingmen.


Our own views, as we have heretofore
presented them, are so we'll expressed in
the following article from the Lynchburg
Adudnce, that we adopt it and give it edi-
torial prominence:
eve are willing to bear all necessary
taxation for the expense of the Govern
ment, but we are not willing to be taxed to
keep corrupt party of place-hunters in
power. The immense sum of one hundred
and thirty five million dollars left over
after all necessary expenses of the Govern
ment annually, should be reduced. The
Republican party is pledged to a reduction,
but the country does not feel disposed to
allow it longer to make such reductions as
the star route, naval department, and signal
service have shown from the administra-
ton of Grant down to the present day.
While the Republicans declare loudly for
the reform and economy demanded, still an
examination Of the records will show that
every measure looking to honest methods
to attain the ends desired, have been fought
from the first to the last by Republican
representatives in both houses of Congress.
This party has been in power twenty years,
and we defy any man to show that any
succeeding administration has been an i'm
provement on its predecessor. Their legis.
lation has invariably been to the interest of
capital, while labor has been throttled, and
when driven by starvation to violence, has
been put down by the bayonet. The eight
hour law has been on the statute books for
years, and has remained dead letter I'M
der Republican rule; still this party has the
effrontery to come before the American
people as the champion and friend Of the
absurdity of their declarations. ''Jim Blaine
the friend Of American laborp' God save
the mark! 1t is a well known fact that all
Of the industries in which Mr.. Blaine has
been interested from the Richmond and
Allegheny railroad down, he favored no
class, but secured the men who would work
for the least money. The New York Her.
aid has investigated Mr.. Blaine's record
while he owned large interests In mines in
Pennsylvania, and says that she has no
strength with labor organizations that re-
member that he discharged all IL Irish in
the mines and employed Norwegians and
Italians at the low price Of sixty-five cents
a day" The saving to him was immense,
but the starvation of the discharged Irish
was shocking to behold. Notwithstand-
| ing this record, there are men in this very
city who persist in declaring that Mr..
Blaine is the workingman's friend, and we
are astonished that there are intelligent
men (upon all other subjects) who believe
them. We understand that few days
since a mechanic who works in iron was
informed by his Republican employer that
| if Cleveland is elected wages will be cut
down fifty cents per day. He quickly an
swered, 81 do not believe one word OF
what you say. We're your statement the
truth, you would be advocating his election
and would be a Cleveland man, because
the fifty cents which would be taken out OF
my pocket would go into yours" This is
sound common sense. We know that the
laboring men all over the manufacturing
districts, have been lied to just in this way
but these men are taking the trouble to
be informed, and when informed, have the
courage to look capitalists and monopolists
squarely in tire face, and accuse them of
their deception and imposition. Blaine
claims credit on account of his vote on the
Chinese bill. This bill was fought bitterly
by the Republicans in the.Senatc and in the
House, and it is charged that they only al
| lowed it to become q law in order to retain
California in the column of the Republican
States. Will workingmen be longer de
ceivcd by such appeals to their credulity
| We believe not"