Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1889-12-14
CORRESPONDENCE
For the Independent.
A BATCH OF SIX LETTERS FOR YOU
FRIEND.

FRIEND.
The Knights of Labor convention
\ in Atlanta, will be considered as a
wise session, in reference to the eight
hour day. Some three years ago, q
hicago manufacturer suggested a
Reduction of half an hour from the
day to begin with, and after year
or so had elapsed, and labor and
trade have been regulated TO such
rule, then another 80 minutes could
\ be taken from the days work with
out ill effects. This question was
considered by the convention, and
wisely left to each local assembly to
manage according to its best judg-
ment and the condition of the trade.
The opinion of the press is that the
eight hour law will ultimately OBJ
tain. but it is something that cannot
be forced by radical measures 1t is
reform that will take many years
to produce, when capitalists and
employees shall have grown into it
naturally, and public opinion shall
not only not be,prejudiced against it,
but shall view it as equitable to all
concerned.
We are as truly in the age of re-
/ form as we are in the age of inven-
tive genius. We are approaching a
time when personal, intelligent indie
pendence, truly saturated with re-
y. sponsibilitv Of life and action, must
govern this country, and not the
partisan spirit of the past and pres
ent. The people, for whom this gov
eminent is, must take the reigns out
of the hands of politicians, whose
struggle in their parties is to reach
fat office. II is often said that our
government is "of the people, for the
people, and by the people," but tru-
! ly it is not so. 1t is of, by, and for
| the politician and so patent is this
fact, that politicians are being re-
garded by the sturdy, athlete think.
ers and yeomen loyalists of this COM
monwealth, just as untrue to the
government as lawyers were once
& considered false to truth. The citi.
ems trend is, and must be, to indie
endence of parties. The strength
yyend perpetuity of this government
lY an Re insured only when the bal
! K nee of power is absolutely in the
hands of the independent factors.
This nation can survive its perils
only when governed for the many
and not for the few. AS long as the
masses can be swayed by the die
tum of one or few politicians of
this or that party, just as the wav-
ing grain is swayed by the wind, so
long will we have to complain cfcor-
ruption and bribery. Corporations
and monopolies will be the ruling
forces of Legislatures. Lobbyists
will sway caucuses and COMPRESSION
al halls. Give us compulsory edu-
cation, the Australian ballot system
and clear educational criteria of
franchise. Did / say give that to us !?
They are the coming inevitables. The
healthy lungs of the nation need
and must have, such atmosphere to
continue her existence and mission.
These reforms, casting their shad-
ows onward, will prove the jugger-
nauts Of death to partisan politics.
Moving onward, let us declare
against gambling in "Trusts" and
Lotteries, against the evils of Liquor
and Opium and Sabbath dissertation,
and Polygamy and indiscriminate di-
.vorce and Prostitution.
The christian at work says There
are those who spell UNCONVENTIONAL
ism with big D, and Gospel with a
small g.
The origin of the familiar Sun
lay School hymn
"There is a happy home,
Far, far away"
NAas lately been explained in the col
u INNS of the New York Tribune. 1t
was composed in 1888, by Andrew
Young, man now eighty years OF
age, lover Doth of music and chill
iren. The tune is an old Indian air,
whose melody struck Mr.. Young's
lusical ear, and haunted him until
y was able to write out suitable
words for an accompaniment. He
Sang the hymn in the presence of an
intimate friend, who was publish
er, and it got into print at once, and
has been translated into nineteen diff
ferent languages. 1t IS said that
-NhnnLnru nnnn hnrst into tenr ON