The Wilmingtonian., 1885-02-21
SLAUGHTER OF THE WORK
INGMAN.
senator Bayard strenuonsIy opposes
Protection 10 the American
Worktngman

W0rktDRman.
Senator Thomas F. Bayard's favoritisn
for monopolies and persistent opposition t,
the interests of the American laborer wa
again signalized in the strenuous opposition
he made upon the floor of the Senate OIL
Tuesday, to the bill entitled can act
to prohibit the importation and immigration
of foreigners and aliens under contract, and
agreement to perform labor in the United
States, its territories, and the District Of
Columbia
In an extended article, dated October 25,
1884; upon the subject of "Protection to
the American workingman," this journal
suggested the "laying poll tax or duty of
say 5000 on each skilled laborer coming to
the United States, with the intention of fol-
lowing his trade-the levying of pol-tax
by the French Government upon all passen-
gers arriving from England at the ports of
Calais and Boulogne would afford our tim
orous legislators, that precedent which their
halting custom always cries for" Why
should Mr.. Bayard perpetuate his fear Of
antagonizlng European Governme ltsP
roo 900 American workingmen have petit
toned Congress to pass this bill!
Against the declaration of Senator Ingalls,
that 1--WE must protect our laborers from
this infamous free trade in labor worse than
slavery, because it involved an ignoble and
degrading mpettion-ignoble and degra-
ding alike to those who make the contracts
and to those who accept them" against
such patriotic sentiments the impassioned
tones of the theoretic and medieval Bay
thundered. He clauored that the provis-
ions Of the labor bill were impracticable!
The question was too complicated and diff
cult for the present consideration of the
Senator from Delaware. But as the work
ingman sees it, it is simple enough. 1t is
the old question. 'Have we the right to
protect orr eitizers asgains n danssa@4a- .-ils
demoralizing competition whether forced
upon us by the ambition of those desiring to
improve their condition, or by the cupidty
of those great employers who are indifferent
as to the means they employ to swell their
already egregious gains"
1t was long ago perceived that a certain
danger was impending from indscrimnate
emigration. But, as contemporary says
sat last the laboring man sorely feeling the
pinch and pressure of foreign pauper labor
is himself making protest against it in a
fesble way"
Heretofore we have made legislative pro-
lection against the products of pauper labor,
it is now high time that the unjust omission
were considered and that legislation inter-
dicted pauper labor itself being indiscrimi-
nately strown over the land.
Here, within the last year, all around us
in the State of Delaware, the railroad COM
panies have imported pauper labor, employ
ing it at seventy-five cents to eighty cents
per diem, driving our own American work
gmen from obtaining livelihood at 81
per diem! Our factories and mills have
their workingmen held by the throat, the
alternative of cheap skilled labor, like a
sword of Damocles hung by single hail
over their heads, daily threatening then
that if any opposition be made to the pay
schedule full staff of skilled foreign work
men would be introduced to replace them
There is no alternative but to work anC
starve, and accumulate riches for others
This is preposterous-the workingmal
must be protected.
Senator Ingalls, in the debate upon til
Labor bill said;
''The European counties have been fc
years dumping their paupers and convict
upon our shores; and the time was comm
when we would have to pass stringer
measures to protect ourselves from then
We could not afford to leave or
ports opel to such importations, "
would soon need to inquire as to the chara
ter Of every person coming here. We bav
to legislate for our own people and for the
welfare"
: Self-preservatio is the first law Of natur
We have set up barriers against foreiI
: competition but that means exactly, al
only the protection of capital! Let us no
protect labor!
Though the provisions of the Labor b
may not be as comprehensive as might
. desird by him who really has the good
the American workingman at heart, still
- measure of amelioration it should be i
> mediately endorsed, if on no other princip
upon that that ''half loaf is better than
bread" Under any circumstances Senat
n THOMAS F. BAYARD has again PLACED hi
ry self in an ambiguous position the assun
s. friend of his fellow-citi2en the laboril
y. every day American toiler but the real
ve tive aud efficient aid to monopoly and ca
re tai in discriminating against labor,