The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-09-02


compound Of smpiricism and ignorance But
many plumbers and some wrongs, no one need
doubt that sound and just and righteous con-
illusions e. viii DO reached. teriect freedom 10
ganization, certainly among the common
rights OF all men and republican government:
Labor associations have the same sanction and
tho same rights that any form Of incorporation
may assume-subject az all must be, 10 the
condition that the person and property OF others
shall DO respected. IL ~ Wei Tor every citizen
I'm his thoughts the honored maxim that "the
liberty OF one man must always end where the
rights of another man begin"
have no new nostrums for the cure OF labor
troubles have no quack remedies 10 propose.
am n firm believer in the efficacy OF the pro-
tective tariff and / can look back with serene
satisfaction TO my record in Congress as never
blotted by n single vote that was not friendly 10
the interests OF American labor never pro-
posed anything when 1 was candidate for
public Office and now as private citizen have
no temptation Co fiatter any man state any
thing else than the simple truth as / see tho
truth. IL is in this spirit that offer some sug-
gestons, which seem to me worthy OF attention
under the existing situation of the labor ques-
ton.
the various labor organizations, have observed
some singular omissions of pertinent, and, as L
think, controlling facts-facts which in spirit
of friendship and candor beg to point out. L
read, few days since, in a creed put forth by
an association of the Knights OF Labor, in an
other State, recital OF eighteen distinct ends
which they desired to have secured or main
tanned by national legislation. Among these
there was not the slightest mention of pro-
tective tariff. That might have been accidental !;
or IL might have implied perfect sense OF
safety in regard TO the continuance OF the tarlH
or il might have meant that those who pro-
claimed the creed are indifferent TO the fate OF
protection.
In any event il would be well for the laboring
organizations to diligently inquire and ascer-
tain how the wages of labor in tho United
States can DO kept above the rate OF wages in
England, Germany and France ON the same ar
ticles of manufacture without the Intervention
of protective duties With the present cheap
modes of interchange and transportation OF all
commodities, inquire OF these gentlemen now,
under the rules OF free trade, can wages in the
United States be kept above the general stand
ard of European wagesp L do not stop Tor the
detail of argument, l only desire TO lodge the
question in the minds OF the millions OF Ameri-
can laborers who have il in their power TO
maintain protection or to inaugurate free trade |;
who have il in their power TO uphold the party
Of protection or tho party Of free trade.
THE NEGRO.
Another portentous fact has been omitted
so far as have observed-from the considera-
tion and Judgment OF the labor organizations
They seem TO have taken little or no heed of the
existence of more than a million and half OF
able-bodied laborers in the South with dark
skins but with expanding intellects, increasing
intelligence, and growing ambition. While
these men were slaves, working in the corn and
cotton fields, in the rice swamps, and on the
sugar plantations OF the south, the Skilled lhDOr
of the Northern States felt no competition from
them. But since they became freemen there
has been great change in the variety and skill
of the labor performed by colored men in the
South. The great mass are of course, still en-
gagged in agricultural work, but thousands and
tens Of thousands, and in fact hundreds of
thousands, have entered and are entering the
mechanical and sami-mechanical field. They
are making pig and bar iron in Tennessee and
Alabama They are manufacturing cotton in
Georgia and the Carolnas. They are brick
layers and plasterers everywhere; they are
carpenters and painters; they are black
smiths they make wagons and carts {;
they tan leather and make harnes 8
they are fremen and pilots on river
boats they calk vessels in Southern ports
they lay railroad track; they are switchmen
and section men on the line and tiremen on To-
comotives. In fact, they are generally entering
all the avenues and channels OF skilled labor.
OF course they are underpaid. They receive
far less than has been paid for years past to
Northern mechanics for similar work. They are
able TO take no part in making laws for their
own protection, and they are consequently and
inevitably unable to maintain n fair standard
OF wages or TO receive a fair proportion OF their
proper earnings.
L do not dwell on this subject at length
though IL could easily be presented in agra
waiting detail. l mention it only to place it be-
fore the labor organizations of the North, with
this question addressed to them: Do you sup
pose that you can permanently maintain IN the
Northern States one scale OF prices when just
beyond an imaginary line on the South of us a
far different scale of prices is paid for labor
The colored mechanic Of the South is not so
skillful workman nor so intelligent man as
you are, but if he will lay brick in a cotton
factory in South Carolina at half the price you
are paid, il he will paint and plaster IL at the
same low rate, he is inevitably erecting an
industry which, if the same rate of wages be
maintained throughout, will drive you out of
business or lead you TO the gates OF his own
poverty
The situation is therefore plainly discernible
and demonstrable, viz Fmst-H the Demo
cratic party shall succeed as they have been
annually attempting for twelve years past in
destroying the protective tariff the artisans Of
the United States will be thrown into direct
competition with the highly skilled and miser-
ably paid labor OF Europe. Second-H the
Democratic party shall be able TO hold control
of the National Government, the colored labOrer
in the Southern Safes will remain where the
Southern Democrats have placed him polit-
ically, subject to the will Of the white man and
unable 10 fix the price or command the value of
his labor The colOred man will, therefore, un-
der those conditions and influences, remain u
constant quantity in the labor market, receiv-
ing Inadequate compensation for his own toll
and steadily crowding down the compensation
for white labor, if not below his own level yet
far below its just and adequate standard.
At every turn, therefore, whether il be in ex-
posing the white American laborers to the dan
gers Of European competition by destroying the
protective tariff or whether il be in reducing
the wages of the white man by unfairly making
the colored laborer his fatal competitor in all
the fields of toll, the Democratic party North
and South appears as the enemy OF every inter
est OF American wOrkmen. With that party
placed in full power and with all its measures
| achieved. the wages Of American laborers will
fall as certainly as effect follows cause.
THE FISHERY DISPUTE.
The fishery dispute between the United States
and Great Britain has passed through many
singular phases in the last seventy years but
never before, think, was it surrounded with
such extraordinary circumstances we find ex-
listing at this moment. Before discussing the
merits of the American case il may be interest
ing to recall the process by which the question
has been placed in its present attitude
Jan. 81, 1885, several months before the fish
ing season Of that year began President Arthur
| issued n proclamation giving notice to the peo-
| pie that the fishery articles OF the treaty Of
Washington Q67ll had, according to the condi-
tions Of the treaty, been formally terminated
The President made the results that would flow
| from this action plain and unmistakable by
warning all citizens Of the United States that
none of the privileges secured TO them by these
articles will exist after July /, 1886" This ter
| mination of the treaty had been decreed by an
overwhelming vote Of both branches Of Con-
gress and was now made final and effective by
the Presidents proclamation This course had
been earnestly desired by the American fisher
men, was fully understood by them, and was
completed without protest from q single citizen
of the United States.
Five weeks after President Arthur's procln-
nation was issued his term closed and with the
new administration Mr.. Bayard became Secre-
tarv of State. In three or four DAYS after he
had been installed in office the British Minister
tho Hon. Sackville West, submitted n proposal
to continue the reciprocal fishing arrangements
until Jan. j. 1886. After a brief correspondence
Mr. Bayard accepted the offer In other words