New-York tribune., 1885-02-17
THE CONDITION OF INDUSTRY.

We never had as much trouble to get en-
ployment for those who come here rs now,"
said Mr.. William Connolly, OF the Irish Emil
grafton Society. In loose statement. without
many details, The World estimates that 75,s5o
persons are now unemployed III this city.
Whether the number is considerably less, or
even greater. it is certain that many thousand
Industrious people ,.re to-day without work. in
the CITY of New-York, who were employed at
fair wages at this time last year. and as late as
September last. The change since that time it
is true, has been very great, and most disas-
trOus to labor.
But no one is surprised, who did not wilfully
shut his eyes to the truth during the last PreSi-
Dental campaign. Then it WAS shown most
clearly that large proportion of the employers
and of the working people, throughout the
country. expected change in the conditions OF
industry if the Democratic party should pre-
vail. 1t was felt that at least four -hfths
of the Democratic party desired and
| would insist upon the overthrow of the protec-
| tive system, and Intelligent men saw that tho
apprehension of such change would stop work
| In thousands of establishments. II was seen,
| too that without change in the laws there
| would be change of incaculabe magnitude In
| the mode of interpreting and enforcing the
| laws. The statutes which have for years been
| consistently interpreted so as to defend home
| industries are certain to be interpreted
in the opposite direction by Sccre-
tary of the Treasury who is In harmony
with the trade ideas of the Demo-
cratic party. This change of Interpretation
alone must stop work in many establishments,
and compel q reduction of wages as the neces-
sary condition of a continuance of work in
others. All this the people fOresaw and much
more. They saw that hostility to national
banks. hostility to railway and other corpora
tons, would be apt to have Its way, and to
break down enterprises in which vast sums had
been invested, and from which many people
derived subsistence In word. the change OF
policy meant general substitution OF new
unknown, but certainly less favorable con-
ditions, for the conditions under which industry
has been developed for twenty years past, and
enterprise has grown up. and the vast internal
and foreign trade of the country has been
shaped. The change threatens every business
man, and every working man, and more than
half of them in these northern States saw it
clearly.
Nevertheless, the change was decreed. The
country has been reaping the fruits OF 1t. 1t
has endured already the worst three months of
prostration and disaster that have been seen
for forty years and more. In 1878, month or
two of great Encouragement was endured In
the certainty that resumption of specie pay
ment would bring the splendid recovery which
was quickly realized. In 1861 the prosraton
of industry when the war broke out was
quickly relieved by the necessity of developing
new industries to an enormous extent, and en-
ploying labor in new directions. In 1853 the
depression was slight. Not since the hard
times of 1S39-1S41 has the country endured
such depression as has already resulted from
the certainty that great change in the indus
trial policy of the country has been assured by
Democratic victory.
No one wishes to see this prostratiOn con-
tinue. If the Democratic party can lift the
country out of the slough of despond into which
it has been plunged by the dread of Democratic
incOmpetence and Democratic heresies we Shall
rejoice most heartily. If Mr.. Cleveland has the
wit to do this, or to call about him any other
men who have the wit, he will deserve thanks.
Even then the fact will remain, that the Demo-
cratic party averts national ruin by refusing to
act upon Democratic ideas, by walking in Re-
publican paths, by initiating as closely as it can
the example of wise Republican administrations
which have made the country prosperous in the
past. But, in one way or another, If Mr.. Cleve-
land can give relief to the great multitude OF
people out OF employment, IL. it he DONE lie