The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-10-29
SELECT READING.
LAND AND LABOR" 4"
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY 1T. GOV. Q.
4. BLACK.

by Lieutenant-Governor 9. F. Black,
at the Gran@ers' picnic, at Williams
Grove, August 9th, 1884. On the
day of its delivery it had been an
nounced that he would speak, and long
before the appointed hour the seats
were all occupied, and many were com
PEELED to stand when he appeared.
After a few Introductory remarks he
began his address and was listened to
with undivided attention throughout.
He said :
About one year ago the young gov
ernor of this commonwealth stood
where | now stand, in presence of
similar assemblage Of Pennsylvania
sturdy people. A pure man, a just
magistrate, an honest friend OF labor,
you heard him not merely with the
respect due to his high Office, but with
that due to his own character | trust
it will not be deemed unbecoming in
me to recall the tribute, characteristic
cally simple, but very eloquent, paid
by him to one of your number whose
mortal remains were that day borne
to an honored grave amid the hills of
York. The good husbandman of
whom he spoke was my father. Never
heart beat truer TO human cause than
his to yours. Through the later years
of his life its Importance grew in his
wiser contemplation, and his mature
faculties were more and more bent to
the task of supporting it. When the
power of those who regarded not the
piercing cry which under-paid labor
and swindled industry put in all the
four corners of the wealth was
| at its height when politicians were
dealing most softly with the wrongs
of unorganized workingmen,and dread
ing most of all the displeasure of asso-
ciated capital when party conventions
were silent concerning the real needs
of the people and the door Of the
party caucus was shut to your petition.
this untitled and unpaid tribune of the
land tillers and the wage-earners lifted
up au almost solitary voice, which
even |, without immodesty, may say,
never failed to command and to com
pei attention at least. He counted no
odds in a contest for light
He was a Patron. Together we
joined the Order many years before
this great annual concourse of farmers
and farmers friends had made the
name honorable and taught the timid
and the doubling to respect the vast
but orderly force behind your cause if
they did not respect the cause itself.
A few months before his death he
answered the urgent appeal Of the
president of the Farmers Alliance to
be with them in national convention
in this telegraphic dispatch 81 am
prevented by painful and serious ac-
cident from being with you to-day.
But he assured that as long as l live |
shall give what feeble aid ! can for
justice to land and labor. l hope you
will speak plainly to-day and let all
the world know that you do not lack
| gall to make oppression bitter" His
thought and his purpose are mine; they
are mine by natural Inheritance and
mine by deliberate choice. In my
brief public career they have been tc
me the touchstone of principle and the
rule of action, for | believe that JUS
tice to land and labor implies justice
to all the members of the society, how
ever situated or however employed.
JUSTICE TO LAND AND LABOR.
| But what is justice to land an6
labor? This is question easily ask
ed and easily answered in genera
terms. The political philosopher viii
say, and say truly, that land and labor
must be placed upon an equality witt
all other industries, whether of trade
transportation or manufacture that
each is entitled to enjoy what it earns
and each must yield to government il
the form of taxes its just proportion O.
whatever may be necessary for thC
security of the whole. But when the
legislator comes to frame this just pro
position into law, he finds in his way
so many artificial arrangements, undel
which have grown up so many power
full interests, and such a multitude o
profitable abuses, that he stands appal
led and helpless before the task he has
set himself, He is opposed by comb
nations of accumulated capital, by
great interests perfectly organized, b!
talents of the highest order that money
can command. But where does h,
look for support 2 To the millions
straining every aching nerve to pro
vide for the day that is passing over
| ro he ,,N,,o, IN Tho FNn th,
lumberman in the forest : To tn
ploughman in the field To th
myriad men in shop, and forge an,
mill? These trust to the honor of thei
public representatives. They have N
means to set up separate agencies 70
their protection. 1t is well, if unde
the hard conditions which advers
legislation imposes they can live
Combination among them is difiioul
and expensive. Corporations, none
poles, associated capital, railroads
manufacturers, coal operators, mi
owners, iron lords-these all cooper
ate They limit production and s
limit labor they shut down and thro'
labor outs they fix wages and labc
must accept or starvej competuo
ends in agreement or pooling, and thu
EFFORTS a double tribute where one ws
levied before. Above all they combir
to control your Legislatures, State an
National, and when the lobbies swarl
with their agents, and the COMMITTEES
listen with profound attention TO the
brilliant advocates, who appear for Il
multitude which the privileged fe
thus part between themselves -
THE PROVISIONS or THE NEW ooNsTIT
TION.
Look at our own State, 1t is no
more than a decade since the refor
constitution was ordained by an il
mense majority of the people, Y
, some of Its most important provision
3 are to this hour a dead letter. A
taxes uniform, equal and just ? VIII,
Worthy Master Rhone and Broth
!, Piollet came down to the Legslatu
|. at the last regular session they foul
. that two private citizens and Gov,
/; nor might make very impressive pl
- sentation of just cause, but tn