The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-04-19


WI se beneficial 70 our people. PreserT
the papers containing them, that yol
may fe-read when The articles hsre al
.prez5ed- They are mastery arguments
ron noD-partisan, but purely iDdePen
dent view Of sbe subject We hope oul
Eende1s vii enjoy these articles, as We
haFe--ED. san SABA NEWS.
NUMBER SEVEN
II all that long train of events,
Legislative, commercial, and other
wise, that have occurred during
the last twenty-five years, the ten
dency Of which was to increase the
wealth On one - snd poverty on
tbs ofbar5 tess;'sfz Z r-,-,-.. Sl4v aas
more p5terf tlI5iakthat which au-
thorized or permitted the immigra-
ton Of contract lsborers from DIFF
ferent countries Of Europe. The
lal5oring men Of this country never
received a heavier OF deadiier blow.
These immigrants were brought
here by hundreds and in the aggre-
gate by thousands-brought by
contracts 70 work for wages lower
than was demanded by the home
E=rkmen. II may have been some
Of these home workers demanded
more than they should have done.
They had 10 3 large extent orga-
nized themselves in unions, or So
5 eiesies Of various kinds by which,
70 a large extent they oTer-slaugh-
ed indiTiduaiism and as il is well
known, that men in combination
vii often do that which as indi-
viduais no one Of them would at
tempt they may have under these
circumstances, demanded more
than they should have done. This
however, is 8 question We viii not
undertake to decide, though the
possibility and even the probabili-
y must be admitted. But be It as
Il may. the demand was not met
and the importation Of Iaborers
was commenced and carried on to
n extent, profitable to the import
ers and to the imported, but ruin
ous to the home laborer. These
imported men worked at what
Americans regarded as low wages,
and stI made money because of
their pain and shear manner of
living, and It was impossible for
home ieborers to compete with /
them, unless they lived as the 9th
ers did, which they we're unwilling
70 do, and for this unwillingness
they were not to be blamed It is
probable that imported laborers
did not expend one-half, OF one
third as much for food, raiment, |
and lodging as the most plain of
home iaborers had been aecustOm-
ed to do, and It was very natural
they should protest against being
broaght to lower rates. The in
porters Of foreign laborers pleaded
necessity for the course they pur-
susd, and charged that necessity /
was brought On them By the action
Of home Iaborers. Combinations
we're formed on both sides and the
controversy has been kept up till
nov, eDgendering much bad feel
ings and ensaiiing much loss to
both sides
II length the importation of la
borers by contract was forbidden
BY law, but II was q clear illustra-
tion Of the old adage, about clock
ing the door after the horse had
been stolen" The inhibition came
too lste. came after the evil had
been done. The foreign lsborers
had been here. we're still here, and
here thousands Of them remain,
while IN q smuggling sort Of way
the number is being increased.
Now, as we desire to be as fair
Is candid, and as truthful as we
know how, let II be distinctly IN
derzsood;
/ We do not complain against
foreign Isborers ss men Like 9TH
er Een they were trying to do the
best they could for themselves.
2 We do not complain against
home laborers for seeking a fair
and full equivalent for work done
and that equivalent depends large
y on the character of the work I
and the circumstances under which
il is performed.
2. We do not complain against
eapetalists using any and all means
n accord with the laws of trade
and the principles Of sound NOR
atty, for the increase Of their in
come
But we do in al sincerity and
earnestly complain against:
/ All Legislation for the benefit
Of one class Of citizens to the det-
rime=t Of another class. 1t is un-I
wise un-American. unpatroitic. and
IN spirit and effect Of the character
Of class legislation forbidden by the
Constitution Of the United States /