The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-12
LABOR AS A FACTOR IN THE So
CIAL PROBLEM.


and by society, mean the organizatio
of men into governments for the accom-
plishment of that fundamental and card
nal object. That society rests upon tia
assumption and that all law is based upo
that theory is elementary and requires n
discussion. That society fails of its pul
pose and law loses its justification whe
= the good of the greatest number is nc
consulted and when the rights of the ms
jority are made subservient to the d.
mands of the few, is equally automatic
since the conclusion is necessary cora
larry from the proposition itself "Lift
liberty and the pursuit of happiness i
declared to be the particular care of thi
government by the organic instrumen
upon which it is founded and which we cal
the Constitution.
The recent troubles between labor an,
capital lead naturally to the enquir,
whether this government has executed it
trust i'll the way which was intended whe1
the government was formed I am glat
to see Congress through its committee en-
quiring into this matter at this time, ane
the outcome of the investigation shoult
be sought in the same grave and patriotic
spirit which animated the statesman and
patriots whose hope it was to give to the
world the pattern of the chest govern.
ment the world ever saw" and whose
boast was that they had done so, when
more than century ago this government
took its place amongst the family of ma
lions. The lapse of these hundred and
nine years have changed the conditions
of life somewhat and the recent contest
between labor and capital is the out
growth of these changed conditions
That great mass of capital has drifted
into the hands of few individuals and
corporations cannot be denied, and that
they are using the power of this immense
aggregated wealth to Cypress the many is
charged upon substantial proof that can
not be successfully denied. That capital
is finding its way into the hands of the
few and that the many are combining for
either a defensive or aggressive war for
protection, and that the strength and per-
petuity of the social compact between the
two social giants-capital and labor-is to
be put to the test of open warfare, has
caused serious apprehension. In this
struggle the sympathies of all good and
right thinking men are with the laborers,
as mnch upon the admitted facts as upon
the knowledge that in all similar contests
in the history Of the world labor has been
patient until forbearance ceased to be a
virtue, and that capital has always been
arrogant and overbearing. lido not mean
this as applicable to any particular con-
test, but generally to all, and generally it
is true of all such. That "the laborer is
worthy of his hire" when spoken by the
great Webster, meant that he should be
paid the full value of his services whatev-
or they were and wherever rendered.
The modern Interpretation has been to get
as much labor for as small price as pos
sible and to force the laborer to work for
less than "his hire" by taking advantage
OF his necessities. To keep him so intent
upon the struggle to keep the daily bread
in the mouths of his wife and little ones.
that he would have no time to think of his
wrongs and no opportunity to redress
them. This suicidal policy has borne its
legitimate fruit in first, protest, then COM
blnation, and now open defiance. The
claim of the laborer to share in the profits
of his toll to the full extent of the full
value of his labor, is founded in the eter-
nal principles of right and justice which
may not be denied or contraverted. When
he is required to take less, not because the
profits are small, but in pursuance of a
deliberate policy of oppression, he has
wrong to redress which naturally appeals
to sympathy when he seeks to right it.
Since the days when the increase of
AbePs sacrifice Of the first fruits of honest
toll found favor in the sight of God, the
history OF human endeavor has given the
world no higher or more honorable type
than that of the man who earns his daily
bread by the sweat of his brow. Other
conditions of life there must be of necessi- |
ty, but no honorable distinction won in
other fields of equally honest labor may
claim any advantage or superiority over
him in the performance of labor which is
Of itself honorable, and which while it
may harden the hand, makes it's touch the
more deserving because of it's honesty and
its owner the more worthy because he is
natures true noblemun, an honest man.
When his rights are invaded OF his inter-
'sts in jeopardy, the righteousness of his
'ause justly appeals for sympathy and aid.
THE Democrats of the Second Con-
,ressional District have nominated DR.. J.
). Beard as their candidate for Congress.
The New Orleans States, simon pure de-
nocratic journal says it was fatal mis-
axe, and that the people will not elect to
congress, man whom the Governor eiec-
cd from the Office of coroner of New Or
eaus for corruption and dishonesty. The
'tates adds that reputable democrats will
refer to be represented by Republican.
-----------
Hannah e. VOss, contractors at b.
on Rouge, have been awarded the con-
ract for building the Courthouse at Ope-
)usas, which is to he fire-Dronf and will