Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-08-26

HALLowEi-L, August II, 1856.
Hon. GEORGE G. WING. S. W. MATTHEWS.
ESQ, l.. A. BAIkEg, ESQ, Col. II. II.
BURBANK. JAS. MORRISON. ESQ.,:
Gentlemen: | acknowledge the receipt of
your communication officially advising me
lha, on the 9Th day of June was nomina-
ted oy the Republican State Convention as
n candidate for governor OF Maine.
Coming TO me without solicitation and |
can truly add without personal desire, es-
TEEN this mark of confidence on the part of
my fellow Republicans the chief honor Of
my life. Sincerely attached as have al
WAYS been TO the principles of the Republi-
can party and earnestly as have sough, TO
promote the adoption Of those principles, i,
has no, been my hab, to participate in po-
Itcal discussion or in the active work Of
party organization. NV opinions and con-
cluslons are those of man devoted during
/ hrs whole life to business atfairs-interested
IN public measures and in political struggles
only a, they tend to promote the welfare CT
the country and the prosperity Of the people
| appreciate therefore all the more deeply
the distinguished mark OF favor and conf.
dence conferred upon me by large conven-
ton composed Of prominent citizens and
representing the character and worth Of the
Republican party Of the State.
Cnsccusiomed as am to public speech
and not intending therefore 10 make can
vass Of the State, may be pardoned hope
for expressing my views on political issues
al greater length than is usual in letter Of
acceptance. feel that a candidate for pub
lie office has no right 10 withhold his views
on any question Of polio, that is engaging
the attention Of the people. | should be un-
willing TO receive the vote Of any man in the
State by al evasion on my part of any pub
lie issue, or by reason Of a missppre ehension
on his part which perfect frank ness from me
nigh, remove. | shall therefore speak with
out reserve.
For some time past the country has been
agitated in many sections by questions re-
lating to the rights and interests Of isbor
The desire Of the working man TO receive
the highest p, ice for his labor is not only
natural but commendable. Labor is the
commodity which be has to sell, and his
comforts in lif. depend upon the amount he
may receive in exchange for it. He has the
same right 10 combine with his fellows to
promote Their common interest that capi-
talists have TO combine for their common
interest. The laborer and the capitalist are
restrained only by their own judgment aud
by the imperative obligation not to interfere
with the just and legal rights of Others
have heretofore taken occasion TO ex-
press my opinion that a popular misjudg-
ment arises from the error of treating the
laborer and the capitalist as belonging TO
fixed and permanent classes. The laborer
of to-day by industry and economy may be-
come the capitalist Of few years hence;
and the capitalist of to-day By extravaganza
and mismansgement may become the day
aborer in an equally short period. Thus
the persons who represent labor and capital
| are continually changing and interchanging.
A permanent consolidation Of the persons Of
one class against the persons of the other
class is therefore as impossible as it is unde-
sirable, and the country stands in no danger
of the manifold evils which such condition
might entail.
| Ii must always be borne in mind that
| prosperity cannot exist in any community
where labor and capital are at war. Each
| has the power to inf1ict great evil on the
| other, and each will suffer while causing
damage TO the other. Ii is therefore the
| duty of patriotic men, Of all men who wish
well to the community and desire prosperity
among the people, to harmonic the interest
of employers and employees and make the
| interest of each the interest Of both. In
this work of friendly cooperation the legis-
lative power Of tine State can aid by provid-
ing an impartial system Of arbitration Of all
disputes that may arise between labor and
capital. Neither can command the other by
force, and each will find in the end that JUS
tce, determined by an impartial standard.
must govern the action Of all.
Preliminary to a general adjustment,
Maine should lead in correcting some in
equaiities and removing some burdens. The
hour Of labor in all branches of industry
should be equalized by making the existing
statute, which defines ten hours as days
work, absolute and mandatory in 90 fer a.
10 declare that DAYS work should not 20
beyond that limit of time. From long ex-
perience, both as employer and employe,
am satisfied that for given period . man
will do more work in ten hours per day than
he will do in eleven or twelve. Whoever
begins the work of to-day burdened With the
fatigue Of yesterday is necessarily impaired
in his skill and efficiency.
The legislature should in my judgment
change two other provisions Of Law. Fira !:
In no instance should imprisonment for
debt be allowed. If man has no property
and can pay his debt only by the avails Of
his labor, it is certainly an absurdity to shut
him up in Jail where he is not only incapable
of earning anything. but where his support
necessarily becomes charge upon the tax