Workmen's advocate., 1889-12-07
OMlNOuS. BUT OFFICIAL,

l have before me a bue-coveIed pamphlet bearing the seal of the Depart ment of State, entitled "Cookery for Workingmen's Wives" It contains a large number of recipes for the cheapest possible meals. It was sent to the De partment ny the United States consul at Glasgow, Scotland. This is the first official notice that our once boasted American equality had gone from us that, as people, we were divided into classes and as such must endure that patronizing attention, which the higher bestows on the lower, not by way of an ticipated benefits, but for the purpose of emphasizing social differences. This is the first openly published acknowledge ment on the part of those who ought to know, that there is among us at the present time a permanent dependent class What is the meaning of this declaration? Does it not say. in so many words, that our system of govern ment has been failure so far as the laboring man is concerned? Does it not mean that gOvernm> mt, where every man. the rich and the poor, the high and the low stands equally before just laws. no longer exists Certainly it does, and even more. Such publi- cation is an insult to every American laborer, and a disgrace to American ,,,,UlrgIi,, r. InnIor,r hot ( J,, of the Old World, with all their de- grading influences, are fastened upon Us, and, instead of devising means to eliminate these conditions, our Govern ment is publishing formulas to aid tue people in accepting and enduring them. Our diplomatic agents have been called upon to ascertain the most approved Old World methods of feeding this pau per, dependent class at least the possible expense. l quote from that pamphlet:
 "The novelty consisted partly in cheapness, and having seen a good. pal atabIe and nutritious meal for six per sons at a cost of 24 cents, thought some account of it might be of use in certain crowded districts of the United States, where the advice and assistance of the benevolent is needed.
 Again, '" the school, though primarily aiming at humble things, seems likely to have the broader effect oi raising the plane of life and morals" Was ever an insult more complete? The State Department of this great Nation gives it's sanction to the proposition that a meal of victuals costing but six cents will raise the plane of life and morals of it's own laboring people. It is a pub lie confession that, after all the blood and treasure spent, and the wisdom and experiences of the past, we have at last gone back to the old idea of ruling and dependent class. It seems incrod- ibIe that such notice to the world should be given out. This consul further says |" he saw six quarts of good soup made at cost of six cents;" that prizes were offered for the best dinners for six. the cost not to exceed 24 cents;" that "at the distribution of these prizes the scene was really affecting;' that "the honors at university was commonplace affair in comparison" Bear in mind, this communication was not in the Ordi- nary line of duty, but both the consul and Secretary of State considered din- her for our labOring men at a cost of only six cents of sufficient importance to warrant separate publication of 100000 copies. He further says
 "The time will soon come, if it has not come already, when efforts of the kind here described will be needed in the more populous districts of the United States, and without depreciating the benevolent institutions which aim to diffuse intellectual and moral infu- ences among the working people sub init that showing them how to live com fortably upon their small wages and in- duCing them to cultivate habits of order, neatness, and self-respect is not less inn portant.'
 i The fact of its publication proves that l the administration agrees with the con- sul in his deductions and gives notice to the American people of what may be i expected in the future. Between the i lines may be read the fate of the Ameri- l can laboring men, that in the opinion of ] this administration they are reduced to the miserable existence of permanent dependent class with all that the term signifies.
 A permanent laboring class is a cer- tain number of people doomed to per