The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-09
SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

At the recent meeting IN New YORK
in advocacy OF Mr.. George as candi-
date for Mayor, the Rev. Heber New
ton made remark that deserves
earnest attention. He said che hoped
this YVES the beginning OF a national
movement toward introducing the
social problem into politics. The great
parties were splitting on dead Issues.
b Ith were afraid Of questions OF the
dsy--social question:. 1t was time
these questions were brought 10 tie
front, for in them lay the liberties OF
the people, Every great issue had
been decided by crystalliz'ng sent-
ment around a single thought. Let
the public thought be centered on
this subject. and the temperance and
other questions could be taken up
later. No one need fear from such an
agitation the establishment Of a per-
msnent class party in this land. The
Interests Of labor we're not those of q
cas- but OF the country; and the
true interests OF capital lay in a
wider distribution OF wealth" In all
manufacturing countries the question
of labor has assumed ominous i'm
po,tauoe. Strikes, tumults, socialism
and the reckless diabolism Of the an
archiss are the fruits Of the efforts of
labor TO free itself Il the shackles OF
teifdom, which have chung to 1t Os the
baleful heritage OF the dark ages of the
past. Even our own fair land has not
escaped remnants Of the old serfdom,
and no chatting of the base bonds OF
tbs serf will the American working
man submit TO. Late events have
told us what those men can do to dis
turb the country and to obsIuct the
wheels OF commerce. Those efforts
arc only precursors OF coming disss-
ters. When the working population,
tho grand majority, band together to
cast their ballots against the rich, to
change the laws that protect property,
and to move taxation from the toiler
and saddle It upon the capitalist, the
danger Of delay in contenting the
working people will be only too evil
dent. This Is why far seeing men like
the Rev. Heber Newton claim prece-
dencs for social questions beyond all
others. They are the actual pressing
questioOe, and :only the bind
ness that g,H not see can
fail to perceive it. The
labor question ia a living and ever
present one. Hard times, the pres
sure OF want, the arrogance of the
rich who have descended to hauehti-
ness, the difference made between the
rich ard the poor in the administra-
ton Of the law, and the CALLING sting,
that the poor endure from the heart
less or thoughtlesS assumptions OF
wealth, are melting never ab,eut
sources that supply life TO social dis
Conttnt, With suck causes c1ntinu-
ally In operation, the labor movement
will every year become move iormid-
able, unless wise policy and strict
justice remove the causes OF dangers
that ars impending. Where the
causes Of discomfort are not removed,
the sing and chaie and unceasing ir
ritation will keep discomfort and the
split OF rTsis'an alive. History
teens with examples showing
that continued irritation, unrslieyed,
provokes an opposition that can
never DO put down uLtil the suffer
era arc dealt with wisely and justly,
or seize, like the French century
ag', what they consider their righs
in their own msd way. How hope
lfss has appeared the cause OF Ireland
Yet naughty England, with all liz
might, is today compelled 10 undo the
past and to satisfy the demands OF the
Iretent. Her army and her ships are
M powerful as ever, but today "tht
poor Irish" are more powerful still
The labor problem, unless solved, will
reach a crisis that only fools can con
template without dread,