National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-24
A Breakfast Table Letter to the Presl
Unpublished from the NATIONAL REPUBLIC

dent.
[Republished from the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,
of May IL, 1855.
Mn. PRESIDENT: The present condition of
political parties, aud especially the disturbed
condition of the Democratic party also the
depressed condition of business enterprises
throughout the. country, unfavorably affecting
the wages of labor, will soon force upon your
attention for adjustment the franchise and labor
question in the black belt of the south.
The white labor of the north is organized for
selfprotection. The tillers and owners OF the
soil have their oranges, and having such control
the legislation OF the agricultural states In the
manufacturing districts and In transportation
the intelligent white labor ofall kinds is organ
lied to maintain the wages of labor. The ma
tional legislation for twenty-five years has
favored a tariff that will protect American labor
and American industries against the competl-
tion of the poorly paid and poorly fed laborers
Recent laws and treaties have been made to
protect American labor against the importa.
ton of servile labor All these acts and poll.
cies point to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF our own
country, and their benefits are plainly
illustrated by comparing the census OF 1860
with that Of 1880. AT the banquet given dur.
ing the last annual session OF the National
Board of Trade. held in this city, ex-Gov. Cur.
lin declared in his speech that pig iron could
be produced in Alabama and Tennessee for o.
less per ton than in Pennsylvania. As the
material, the limestone, iron ore, and coal rep
resent less than VI per ton in their raw state and
the product brings IN the market say We
Dor and the interest on the capital employed
1t certainly demonstrates that the price that Is
paid for labor in Pennsylvania is not paid in
the black belt.
selfpreseryaton is the first law of nature It
IS taid. Intelligent white labor is very quick
to assert its organized power for self-protec:
concert of action to fix prices. II has tho
power OF the ballot to elect municipal, state,
and national Legislators to make ordinances
and laws In labor's interest," The difficulty
within the black belt is the meager pittance
paid for labor resulting nom ignorance, want
of organization, and lack Of political power.
Under such conditions this labor may be CLASH.
You are called, Mr.. President, to face this
condition OF things. The labor interests OF the
country are also called TO face IL. and demand
Just solution the problem. The practical
question for the country and for your admin
istratlon Is. What Is the remedy?
In republic like ours political parties are
majority should rule. That the laws should be
| executed. That the will of the voter should be
freely expressed by his ballot, and his judg-
| ment truly recorded. In those states where
the black belt exists, 1t must be known TO you
| that the black laborer docs not enjoy the right
| of franchise; that his constitutional political
| power is represented by others IN violation OF
the constitution. IEan attempt is made to
| change all this federal interference, the cry OF
state rights Is raised and the preludices of race
case under Republican national rule. The
country is now making tho experiment of
Democratic national rule. twill become your
| duty, Mr.. President to make recommends
tons TO Congress for the welfare OF the people
If, therefore, you are the sincere friend OF
| American labor white and black; II you be
lieve in the policy OF a protective tariff there
You can PaE eSoSstrao wfy First, l Sho L
be announced that 10 your selections
for public. office you will give preference tC
those who favor protective laws for American
| industries and labor Second, that you use
your influence with the black laborers of the
south TO secure their support for such protec
Office. as will aid you In giving vitality to the
constitution within the black belt, men thai
| will favor the amelioratlon OF their condition
by giving them education, by giving them the
franchise, ana by sustaining them In everN
lawful effort to make labor organizations 4
work. In such an effort you would be sus
tanned by the great army of labor In the north
and by the patriotic men of both parties. /
the signs are true that indicate the Democratic
your power TO organize It again for victor.
upon the basis Of your inaugural address, Thu
| sentiments you then expressed are not the sen
limenis OF the Democratic party SOUTH If thu
Democratic national convention were % b.
held to-day the solid southern vote would b.
cast against YOU IL you desire to become
leader as bold as you are firm
| and crown your administration with
lasting honor, the sooner You strip for the con
test before you the more certain you arc q
emerge from 1t with credit and Victory Ifyo,
hesitate you are lost. II you promptly aoeep
! the issue the southern free trade oligaruhy tina
now dominates the black labor OF the s1utl
will divide on the line Of the ante-bellum pro
lection wings and iree trade Dem1er4t5, IA,
banner OF the protection Democracy viii thor
he thrown TO the breeze, supported by fedora
! influence. and. greater than AL, u lusJ cause
which Will brlns them as allies the blao.