Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-14
To she worhfnxmsn Of Riehmsnd.
10 he Editor of the Dispdfch'

-
10 the Editor or the Dispdsch'
A few days ago busy politician asked
NE 10 prepare short paper Inas n'Sns oe
circulated among worsiii2"en s"inS svns
figures Ia regard 10 wages anu cAponng
the attempts that have peeh MAUI 20 iiiis-
Lord ,nis class of our feilow-cit!zens by pre-
fendinv that Democratic success meant
free trade and reduction OF wages 10 the
mini Of starvation; and that the election Of
rlaine meant protection 10 manufacturers
ard l,Iaber wages 10 operatives.
n would not oe difficult 20 give The figures.
buitbey would he disputed; and therefore
Ipreser TO give some facts winch DEFY con-
iradiction. aud which dispose OF thls pre-
tepce ~ e.iectuslly ~ figures en-.
/. 7 he condition OF things here In Ricn-
mond. iIeht before our eyes, Affords the
best illustration OF The faliacy OF this poa-
lion and Il Is the most interesting to the
workingInen who i've here and feel the
force 81 the fact. The tarin is Operating
as fully here ~ II is anywhere else ~ the
II, tied States; and yet manufacturing Is
dull LeTe as elsewhere. The tirii has
rot had tic effect of stimulating or even OF
keeping up production an1 wagesi The
works OF our enterprsing fellow citizens
Mes,rs. Tanner, ID laney a. Co. are not
running up 10 more than one third their
capacity: the Trcdeea, suspect. Is not
doing a, much and 30 OF all OF them. The
operatives know whether this Is true or
not: they also know that this state OF
things bcgsn before either party hId made
its nomination for President. and "a the
Republicans DO not advocate any higher
iaiiff than the present. 1t IL not seen how
the election OF Blaine can make things any
better than they ere.npw.
Q. But il may make them worse; a. thus ::
Everybody knows the relation Of Mr..
Blaine and Mr.. Elkins to the Hooking
Valley n incrs-how thal interest sought
TO ctt a MONOPOLY by consolidating all the
companies; and how the present troubles
there are largely due to determination 81
the stockholders 20 employ the labor OF
negroes and imported ioreign paupers: snd
20 break up strikes by Starving out tle
striEers. Can any man oil sense fail to see
that IL Mr. Blame is elected, lac and all like
Inn will unite to break up all trades
unions and other forms Of proteciiVe-laDor
associations, and have all labor at their
mercy? Is not that the rule OF caDitll:
Doe, Mr. Blaine love the Richmond opera
tiyes so much that he will make an cXceD-
ton in their favor. and put up their wages
while he puts down tlc wiges OF all
others!
9. But what Of the reduction OF the tariG
by the Democratic pariyy The policy Of
that party-if rings and Republicans will
let e. en- carry It OUTS to abolish the in-
terna-rcyenue system and raise all the
money needed for the Government By Il
tariff which shall afford enough protection
incidentally to justify the payment OF good
wages, If the manufacturers choose 10 pay
hera. AS things now stand the Govern.
ment raises in the neighb0rhOod OF one
hundred millions per annum more than Is
required for its conduct. And as we have a
regulation OF fifty millions, 1t follows that
lhissurpllls il tax OF about two dollars per
head on us all. But each head OF family
represents. on the average, Eve persons,
including himself which makes the tax 10
such man ten dollars per annum. Really
II Is more than that. For the rich man. by
the command OF money and the ability 10
make better bargains for cash, Is able TO re-
heve himself OF his part OF the burden,
which then has TO be borne by his poorer
nGghbors-for somebody must pay l.. II
this tax was directly imposed aud had to be
raid in cash. il would be felt u be very
great hardship. as II really is now; for, *
every taX-COiector can testify. taxes fall
iar more heavily on the poor than Oh the
r1ch. But the excise on tobacco and ipirits
Yields more than one hundred millions and
il this was saved to the people by n repeal
Of the law il would relieve us Of that tag
aud simplify the question OF the tariG. 1t
is not seen how that policy can reduce the
wages Of the operatives below the rates at
which they are known 10 be in this city 10.
day under the Republican protective tariff.
4. II this reasoning be accepted as salts
factory, then the wage-getterS might do well
10 turn their attention to another question
which Is OF far more importance TO them
selves and their families-the question OF
negro equality. To those who have inform
ed themselves so As to know that the phi
lanthropsts Of the North. East. aud West
ere almost all on the side OF the Re-
publicans, and insist on comforting
upon the negro equal social priyi-
leges. it is Plain that tie election Of
Mr.. Blaine will greatly strengthen the
Republicans in this State. The first step
towards social equality, however hone4 atty
taken, is the election OF negroes 10 Office,
say TO Congress or to the State Legislature.
The second Is mixed schools, beginning
with the appointment Of mixed school
trustees; and we have one case OF that.
TIE third Is equal social privileges. n In
hotels, bar-rOoms, and theatres: which is
a logical consequence Of the other two.
The last (and end and aim OF the negro and
philanthropist) is mixed marriages; which
means either social disturbance or degra-
dalton, by contamination Of blood, 10 the
willie mas. especially the laboring-m
whose family will be first assaulted.
The wage question is important to the
wagc.wOrker in both an economical and
social point Of view. Bat the negro-cqual-
ity question is vitil to his Seli-respect and
to civilization.
About fortnight ago heard. right here
in Richmond. what ! regarded Is Il most
incendlary address TO the negroes by a
white speaker. At the same time he ap-
pealcd to white men TO support party
whose policy, be said, would leadto employ
ment at good wages-which the same
policy has not done up TO this time. But il
it were so: what M insult 10 white nan
10 attempt TO brbe him TO acquieSence in
negro equality by deceptive offer OF higher
wages! Can money pay for degradation
have not attempted 10 discuss this qucs-
zion from n higher plane than is occupied
ly those whose argument prcSuppOSes ig-
nOrance and degeneracy in their audiences.
\. Il. {.
Hasa axd rharo