The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-05-22
Capital and Labor.
TFor tbc pemocratic Advocate

For the Democratic Advocated
The most absorbing topic of the day is the
trouble existing between capital and labor.
The nresent unsettled state of affairs is to be
regretted in consequence of the drawback
upon the industrial and commercial operations
of the country. How this trouble is to be
settled is the problem of the hour. Strikes,
lockouts and violence have so far failed to
and never can accomplish any permanent re-
suits.
He who supposes that freemen, living under
a republican form of government, can be un-
willingly forced into measures IS more OF
lunatic than the man in the moon we can
hone for no good in that direction until the
interests of capital and labor become more
identical and cooperative. While capital
has been piling up her millions by unjust
speculations and oppression, the labor OF the
world has been a stranger to luxury and only
selfsustaining by stringent economy and pri-
walton.
'sThe day is coming and now isl when
laboring men will assert their rights and de-
mand a more equitable distribution OF the
fruits of their labor and more respect at the
hands of capital. The sympathy of thew world
is with the toiling masses, and if they will
proceed with discretion their long desired
object will be attained.
1t is not our purpose in this connection to
heap contumely upon capital. Upon the con,
trary, large fortunes have been accumulated
by industry and fair dealing, the honored
possessors of which have endeared themselves
to the world as public benefactors by laboring
with their means in the interest of suffering
humanity.
But those who would grind down their EN-.
ployees to the lowest possible cent that will
serve to keep soul and body together, for the
purpose of adding to their ill-gotten gains,
are they who have caused the present trouble
and of whom labor should justly complain.
Such men would snatch the penny laid upon
the withered palm of the starving widow and
orphan, or ''sell their birthright for mess Of
potage,'' or do anything to add to their rusty
millions; and yet such men will presume to
hold themselves above labor and the laboring
Labor Is honorable, and respected by all
except a few weak minded dudes, "who gloat
upon what their fathers STOLE" and lack the
discretion that would lead them to seek pro-
lection against the fury of an approaching
cyclone. In short, he who is ashamed oil
labor is simply an imbecile, and should be
placed in charge of wet nurse.
Labor has "subdued the earth and caused
the wilderness to blossom as the rose;" labor
has built up our commercial centres and
spanned continents with iron belts, over which
'ifery chariots, burning as lamp and out
stripping the winds,n bear the bread of life
to hungry millions; labor has probed the
bowels of the earth and exhumed the golden
treasures which augment the domains of cap
ital; labor has established the press and en-,
comprised the earth with a network Of
electric cable, through the medium of which
the worlds transactions of to-day are trans
mitted to every household on the morrow;
labor has triumphed over space and spanned
the distance with the recognized intonations
of the human voice. In conclusion, labor
alone can reach the goal of human aspirations
and crown Immortality with victory, when
1--WE shall rest from our labors."
BERREr, May 10, 1886.