The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-27
Mr.. Blaine.

~ hAif PCaS IMAM the Signs ~blCh pom
to James G.. Blaine as the leader Of the
Republican hosts ia the coming Presi-
Dental election. His speeches, aud the
manner in which they were received by /
his immense audiences are the signif- |
cant lectures Of his triumphant march |
over the State. The speeches are the
slogan OF the Coming battle; and the !
responses show that they went direct to I
the hearts Of his party. His speeches
we're direct appeals to the solid North.
they were aimed not alone at the domi |
nant political party in the Southern |
states, but at their industrial system !
which he describes as founded upon in
justice to the working people. appeal
ing to he seifshness and prejudice Of
ais hearers, he warned them of its dis
4s;rous effect upon the working men OF
the North, and gloated over the exhibi
lions Of passions which he aroused. The
following passages will show the temper
Of his Pittsburg speech:
here is another question upon which
wish TO speak to GU. II is one which,
in my judgment in this conflict, there
mas been too much disposition to avoid,
me as to which many strong arguments
haze been met by the cry OF
"rHE BLOODY SHIRT.
Several weeks ago I called the attention
Df the laboring men Of MAR e, whom
vas addressing, to the fact that formld-
tble competitors were rising up against
hem IN the South, Nhere there are
100000 able bodied laborers with dark
>kins. These latter were originally en-
piOyed almost exclusively ia raising
cotton, tobacco, sugar and rice, or in a
wholly agricultural employ. They are
row and have been for ten years enter
ing into many of the mechanical indus
tries.
la Birmingham, Ala, in Chattanooga
Tenn, and in various parts of Virginia
they are making pig iron, and this they
are making at wages of from sixty to
seventy cents per day. The product of
| their labor has thus far been so small
that the important fact am now stating
mas attracted mparatiyely no atten
uon. But II the large quantity which
| 'hey manufacture attaibs large proper
tons II VIII necessarily compete in the
| markets OF this country with the pig
| IRON made ia Pennsy lvania and Ohio,
| and they themselves will compete with
men here who are paid 81 so per day.
| What response Is 10 be made TO that by
our workingmen who receive the better
/ ia 10
| hat either that great body Of working
men in the South must have Justice
done them and be fairly compensated
Tor what they earn in the sweat of Their
faces, or else the wages Of every North
rrn laboring man must be seriously
affected.
Wien the truth is brought to light, it
will show that not only the operatives
in Southern mines and factories but the
people who cultivate the Southern fields.
are better paid than any other laborers
in the world. But the truth will never
reach the uniformed masses whose
passions were addressed by Mr.. Blaine.
1t can be condensed in a few words.
Labor in the South is apparently cheap
because it can be subsisted cheaply.
But the whole argument is conclusive
ly answered by the following statement
in the Chattanooga Times
Careful investigation here reveals the
TACT that the lowest wages paid colore
laborers in any industry is 81 per day
and this rate covers only few at the
| South 1redegar Iron Works The greater
number of cOlored men at these works
receive wages from 81 to SO per day.
with a large number at intermediate
rates of 81, 81 % and 81 so per day. In
every case skilled colored men, puddlers
helpers and mechanics, get the same
wages as white Een do in the same
work.
Colored men at Chattanooga furnaces
get $l.35, 81 SO and 81 per day, accord
log to skill, responsibility, etc, required
10 fill he various places in which they
| work. These are representatives OF
southern industries. What we say OF
Chattanooga in this regard applies to
| Knoxville and other places. Colored
boys in the South Tredegar Nail Works,
as feeders, make from IS CENTS to 81
and 81 20 per day, according to the skill
displayed in their labor Some colored
men make as high as "a per day as
puddleTs and foundrymen in this sec
ton. We may say generally that the
scale runs from 81 to 81 80 Tor the great
mass of colored men working in South
ern manufactures.
In his Pennsylvania speeches, Mr.
Blaine repeated his well worn argument
of 1854, that the eolored vote ha.
served to give the South thirty eight
additional Representatives in Congress
and in the Electoral College; and that
it has oeen converted into a potential
factor against the Republican party
The fact is true as stated. But it il
untrue that the colored vote is sup
pressed. The colored voter is a freel
agent in the South than in the North
Mr.. Blaine and his followers do not
seem to realize that the colored voter
has been taught by his experience that
the Democratic party is a party of jus
tice and fair dealing; that its motto and
practice are, Equal rights for all
special privileges for none" But the
Misrepresentation, We apprehend, will
have its intended effect. Mr. Blaine
hims'lf describes il: "You say we can
not do anything. We ought TO be able
to do something. We ought to be able
to make as solid North as they have a
solid South" That's what be means.