New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-03
CAESES EOR REJOICING.

Inc DlrJnuay VI INC Sredt hoPuoh0, Al Vh0
year which has already witnessed the celebra-
ton of its centennial anniversary, will come to
a nation of 65,2O 900 people, in many re-
spects the most prosperous and happy on earth.
In material wealth, probably, no other nation
can now approach this, and in rapidity OF
growth, in wealth and in production
certainly no other Of the great ma
tons can compare with it. Military
or naval power, once the test OF national
greatness, is no longer so regarded, but If it
were, the ability to place 2, 100000 men under
arms was proved when the population was not
half as great as it is now, as we'll as the ability
TO create Nay adapted to almost every
emergency in the shortest possible time. For
war the Nation has only vast possibilities. Its
happy position is such that it needs less armed
force than many others.
Politically the Nation is Free and its prog
ress is toward greater freedom. The tendency
of all recent changes in government, and of
all the popular movements for reform, is
toward diminution in the power Of individuals
to control political events, and toward greater
freedom in the expression and greater certainty
in the recording of the popular will. Wealth
has not the power it formerly had, nor great
names, nor social position; but the deliberate
opinion of the majority becomes each year more
clearly the supreme power.
The basis of the Nations remarkable growth
has been it's industrial development Had it
been content to remain industrially dependent
upon older and richer nations had it accepted
the duty prescribed for it by some economic
teachers, of tilling the soil for European work
ers, the progress of the United States would
not have astonished the world. But this has
come to be the foremost of all nations in many
branches of industry, and the second OF all
nations in many others It's consumption OF
many products is from one-ffth to one-third OF
the entire consumption Of the world. The in
dustrial policy to which this development is
due is a natural and one might almost say
inevitable, complement of the political doctrine
of human brotherhood and equality which forms
the Nations cornerstone. For where each
workingman has vote and a political power
equal to that of his employer, the relations be-
tween employer and employed must OF neces-
sity terd toward reasonable consideration and
Justice for all. Capital can always defend it
self by its mobility if not well treated any
where it can fly, literally, on wings of the
lightning. Labor has its defence also, in a
fres Republic. because no real or serious in
Justice vii; long be tolerated by a majority
composed of labOring men.
But the most joyous of all facts to be cee-
b1ated upon the National anniversary is that
great progress toward more harmonious and
just relations between employer and employed
has been realized. Some evidences Of this have
been noticed in connection with the recent con-
vention of Labor Bureaus. Perhaps the one
lesson of this time which religious teachers and
leaders of philanthropic effort just now need
most to learn, is that the spirit of Christianity
is not merely certain to enter but has already
entered into the industrial life of the Nation,
and is already rvolutionizng and powerfully
moulding that life. In no other land had labor
been as free or as fairly treated from the out
set but the change within the.last generation
is one which very few fully appreciate. AS it
comes to be the recognized fact that the most
prosperous employers are those who show most
justice and consideration toward their en-
ployes, interest forces others to go and do like
wise The time is not far distant when public
opinion will distinctly frOwn upon any who
seek profits by injustice to labor, and when
harmony between employers and employees will
be recos nized as a guarantee of good work and
prompt performance of contracts.