The Russellville Democrat., 1888-10-11
DEMOCRACY AND LABOR.
Or Inuis Ranuhlic

1t is becoming every day more ev
ident that workingmen cannot de-
pend upon independent action to Sc
cure for themselves the benefits they
desire. Labor organizations, separ'
ate and distinct, nave been able to
achieve but q few of the objects at
which they aimed. Every attempt
they have made to enter politics has
resulted In making them serve the
purposes of ambitious men for selfish
ends, and in the end they have been
absorbed by the two great politlcal
parties. Whatever the cause may be-
the fact that all attempts at indie
pendent parties and independent pol
itical action have failed is we'll known
and that fact speaks for itself.
The political protection of those
who labor must therefore be sought
from one or the other OF the great
parties of the country. When this
conclusion is reached, the choice be.
comes one which can easily be made.
1t is strictly accordant with truth to
say that the Republican party, with
its long line of trusts and panpered
monopolies, and its record Of class
Legislation, Is not the friend of the
workingman, all talk and pretence to
the contrary notwithstanding. 1t
has steadily regarded the claims OF
capital as above those of the men
who toll, and has so legislated as to
give the men who have the money
innumerable advantages over those
who have none.
Republican Legislation has been so
framed as to make handsome profits
for the one, while it has made the
struggle hard and dlscouraglng for
the other. 1t is more difficult now
to make an honest living by work
than it was twenty five years ago.
Every workingman knows this. If
he wants to know the reason, he has
only to watch the Legislation of Con-
gress and the manipulations of the
rich and powerful all over the coun-
try. Between the desire of venal
men in Congress and State legisla-
lures to pander to the demands Of
corporations and capital, and the
power which aggregated wealth gives
its possessors in all branches OF
trade and commerce, the poor man is
ground down to helpless depend.
ence, and must accede to the terms
offered or fight an unequal battle
with all the odds against him. Wag-
es are constantly forced down by the
desire for greater dividends, and the
mechanic finds that the rate of wag
es which corporations pay is made
the standard by which the value Of
his labor must be measured. Nearly
every thing he needs is held at
rate which secures the manufactures
or producer good profit, while moth
ing is low but the wages he receives
for his labor.
IL does not require much effort to
find out why the struggle is so hard.
The Democratic party promises by
the practice Of better principles of
and q more just and wise
system OF taxation to improve this
condition of things, and to secure
for the man who labors a just remun-
Grafton for his work. The first step
In this direction is modification Of
tariff restrict ions and a lessening OF
the burdens of taxation. 1t is worth
while for the workingmsn In his own
interest to help in the accomplish
ment OF this purpose, and the best
way in which he can render this
help is not BY independent party
but by intelligent co op
Grafton with the party which has ev
or heen his chamnlou and friend.