The Washington critic., 1886-02-11
WASHINGTON. FEB. II, 1886.
LIGHT IN THE EAST.

per cent. had been determined upon by
the manufacturers of Lowell comes
the gratifying news that general in
crease is to be made In the pay of
operatives at the Manchester On. H.
mills. The schedule is not fully arranged
nor definitely known, but will be made
public in few days. One of the agents
in the latter city is reported by the
Manchester Union as saying that they
will continue to pay eight per cent. more
than is paid at Lowell, and the Union
proceeds to congratulate all concerned
that while the proposed action of the
manufacturers is right and employees
would have been justified in asking it,
happily the desires of the wage workers
are to be anticipated without even a
formal demonstration, and the outlook
for the future is good
II also takes occasion TO remind Ger.
tain partisan politicians of the dis
heartening predictions they made n
year or more ago. as to what would
follow the accession to power of a
Democratic administration. 1t is GER
tainly to be hoped that the long glooked
for turn in the condition Of affairs has
come.
Much has been said to the effect that
the election of Mr.. Cleveland to the
Presidency meant ruin to the labor in
terests of the country, and there has
undoubtedly been a good deal in the
depressed condition of business for the
past few months to seemingly justify
the apprehension; but there are good
reasons to believe that the conditions
for favorable reaction are now inn
proving and that permanently better
times will follow the temporary lull,
naturally incident to such change in
the administration of the Government,
as took place at the last Presidential
election.
What the action of Congress will be
with regard to the tariff, the silver
question, the disposition of the pu blic
revenues and the question of expendi-
lures, remains to be seen; but enough
is known of the character of the new
administration to largely restore conf
dence and infuse the industries of the
country with hopefulness for the
future. Whatever change of policy
in the management of affairs has thus
far been noted is felt to be change for
the better. The helm of state is be-
]ieved to be in safe and honest hands,
and unless all signs fail there is no
widespread fear that Congress will
trile with the expectations of the peo-
pie OF ignore their just demands for
progressive as well as reformatory leg
islation.
There are certain great lines of pub.
lie policy on which both and all parties
can move in concert. Provision should
be made against undue or excessive ac
cumulations of money in the Treasury
an abundant paper currency of con.
venient denominations, based upon the
product of our own mines-gold and
silver-is wanted.
While the current expenditures of
the Government are, of course, to be
kept within the bounds Of q wise econ
Omy, there should be no postponement
of any measure of improvement of
which the country really stands in
need. A new navy is to be built a
system of coast defenses is to be in
augurated, many useful water ways and
harbors are to be cared for. The great
interests of labor, upon the peace, con-
tentment and prosperity, of which the
welfare of the country depends, are to
be considered. Whatever shall tend to
keep money in active circulation Re-
publicans and Democrats should be
alike Jealous to promote; whatever
tends to the withdrawal of capital from
investment and the boarding of idle
millions in the Treasury, they should
alike protest against as the rock of
rocks upon which the Republic is liable
TO wreck.
There should be no mills closed, no
furnaces cold, no workingmen strik-
ing for the means of subsistence, nc
man who is willing to work con-
demned to idleness and consequent
destitution, in n country where there
is so much work to be done and SO
much money to pay for having it done.
Let Congress realize this fact and legis-
late accordingly, leaving party politics
aside and invoking the spirit of wis.
dom and patriotism to animate and di-
rect its counsels.
Then will the glimpses of dawn that
are seen through the smoke of the New
England cotton mills grow upon the
vision unto perfect day and Labor and
Capital throughout the broad land sc
hand in hand rejoicing.
ARCHBISHOP GIBBONS of Baltimore