The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-07-01

Let me also say am no apologist for
those vast and dangerous corporations in
volved In these events against the work
ingmen; as my published declarations
show l am the cordial friend of the rights
of workingmen and of their elevation,
comfort and prosperity. But l am the
impartial friend of all workingmen and
workingwomen, in every calling,a over the
land, and for that reason l can not SYM
pathize with plans whose direct tendency
is to exalt minority of workingmen into
favored aristocracy over their brethren
and sisters by forcibly disturbing the
general laws of supply and demand for
the unequal profits of the few against the
interests of the many.
"The newspaper press" which 1 de-
scribed as availing itself of the power of
reading as coupled with a defective intelli-
gence in laborers, to teach them mischiev-
Gus ideas, is, first, the socialistic and in
oendiary press, represented by the Abeiter
Zeitung, of Chicago; and, next, such venal
papers flew, fortunately, in Texas) as en-
courage these errors for interested pur-
poses. You represent my prescriptions
for the social disease as these: Deprive
the laboring masses of letters, and extin-
| 3
Messrs. Editors, to find a man in Texas
more utterly astonished at this than my
self, or one from whose thought it is more
distant. should as soon propose to cure
child's toothache by cutting off its head.
l have been teacher all my life, begin
ming in the primary school. lament that
the laboring masses have too little educa-
ton, not too much. wish to give them
more, and especially true education of
the intellect in the power of thought, and
of the conscience in the discernment of
duty and right, and not merely of the eyes
and ears and tongue in the art of reading.
| simply pointed out the stubborn fact,
as stubborn as unpleasant, that while the
laboring masses are in this inadequate,
transition state neither unable to read nor
| elevated to the plane of mature thought,
designing agitators do use and will use
the opportunity to employ the types to
mislead thier victims, thus abusing two
good things" That was all. But honesty
cOmpels me to repeat the caution, unpep-
ular in some quarters, that we had better
not rely on this good thing, popular edu-
cation, for more than it can do; especially
while 1t is i'll so imperfect state as to be,
with many only training of the senses
in combining vocal signs for the mechan-
ic art of reading, hardly culture CT the
intellect at all, and not at all of the con-
science. | have said my own life-long
trade is that of teacher. But | am like
a druggist whose trade is to manufacture
quinine land who does his best to make
honest quinine). But he is bound to say
to the people that neither his guinine nor
any druggists can be relied on to stop
Asiatic cholera, however useful in agues
and catarrhs. If he says it will cure chol-
era, he is a mischievous adviser; the peo-
pie in their calamity will curse him. This
is precisely what l assert as to the social
istic disorders now threatening the coun-
try; the diluted species of education now
given by the state to the masses is too
weak remedy. Don't rely on it alone.
And this l proved by the events in the
most educating" states. What is the
b. remedy for these labor disturbances?
said strikes were not the safe remedy;
believe you concur so far. If anyone
cares to know my affirmative answer,
will add, neither is safe remedy to be
found in attempts to force the great, natu-
raj, regulative law of supply and demand.
1t can not be safely done any more than
the great physical law of gravitation can
be forced. But laws should be made regu-
Hating the operation of this law impair.
TALLY and equitably and wisely, equally as
to employers and employed and as to all
forms of productive industry, and not by
class legislation, as to some forms. Then
these laws should be firmly enforced on
all by the state governments; while, we all
strive, as citizens and as christians to
teach the masses more just ideas and more
contentment, temperance and love of
right.
was perfectly aware, Messrs. Editors,
that was enouncing some views unpalat
able to certain classes. But it is some
times very wholesome and necessary that
some one should assert such doctrines.
1t appeared to me that none could do so
more appropriately than teachers; because
their position has, as it we're, shelved
them, where they are, on the one hand,
impartial students of events; and where,
on the other hand, they are absolutely
without power "to legislate their opinions
and must rely for their propagation only
on the force or truth and the notifications
of time.
R. L. DABNEy.