The Labor enquirer., 1886-07-24
RETRosPECTIos.


Continued from first page.
which our government is supposed to be
founded are correct and so far are suffi-
cient; but our laws and customs1fe
wrong; our political, social and eco
nomic systems are destructive of the
ends for which governments were
founded, and the time has come to alter
and alter extensively. Nav we soon
be ready to do our work, and when it is
done, may it be well done.
With the signing of the Declaration OF
Independence the United States began
to make history. Let us glance down
over the decades of that history and re.
view the most marked events.
The first decade saw the surrender OF
CORVALLIS to General Washington in 81
and heard the death kneH OF British
tyranny on,American soil.
The second was marked by the adop-
ton of the constitution, and by the in
.yention of what is still the peer OF all
labor-saving machines-Whitney's cot
ton gin.
In the third decade the young repuo-
lie challenged the admiration Of the
whole world by her punishment OF the
barbary states and the, dethronement OF
the piratical powers.
In the fourth Jackson, at New Orleans,
and Perry, on the Lakes, gave Great Brit
ain a conclusive reminder that the
United States were free from her DOM
nation; and Fulton added star to the
crown of American genius, by his sue
cessful application of steam to naviea'
ton. +
The fifth decade was one of peace,
, marked especially by the Strengthening
of international ties between this couh-
try and France, through the medium
ship of the gallant Lafayette.
The sixth gave US Morse and the elec
sric telegraph-the lightning message
bearer that takes no note of distances.
The seventh decade saw the right oi
petition established lin theory at least
in congress. And Fremont planted hla
flag upon Pixies Peak and opened the
gates of the new world in the west.
In the eighth Howe gave US that won
derful invention, which should have been
q blessing, but which has since become
the treadmill where our mothers, sisters
and DAUGHTERS tramp out their lives
the sewing machine. The United States
arms, under Scott, conquered Mexico,
and the world went wild over the gold
excitement in California.
In the ninth decade-darkest, and vet
grandest period of our history-the
shackles were stricken from the limbs OF
4OOOOOO blacks, and chattel slavery
was abolished in the United States.
In the tenth decade money was
crowned as God-and commerciallsm
ran wild; monopolies sprang up like
poisonous weeds; millionaires were
given us as a curse and new definition
was needed for the word tramp.
The eleventh decade, just closed, saw
ana opprereed prodncers
opening their eyes to their horrible con-
dition and black future. and witnessed
their frantic, desperate tearing at the
chains which bind them. 1t heard the
troubled query whittier are we drift
ing" and the wild crv, what shall we
do to be saved?"
And, as we stand upon the Threshold
of the twelfth decade, we can hear with
a painful distinctness that cry and the
great, grave question is still unanswered
Shall we still hear it in 1896? What
have the next ten years in store for the
men who build and defend our coun'
try's greatness? Where is the prophet
who will tell US the future If our peo
pie?
Soon we will reach the twentieth cen
tury. Will it fulfill the prophecy of the
great Frenchman, Hugo, who said:
"In the twentieth century war will be
dead; the scaffold will be dead; roy
atty will be dead dogmas will be dead
but man will live. For all there will be
but one country, that country the whole
earth for all there will be but one hope
that hope the whole heaven?"