Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-04

fornia by the establishment of a Railroad Com
| mission, but the practical value of the expert
ment is questioned because 1t is believed that
public sentiment has proved more powerful
factor in adjusting our difficulties with this cor
poration than the exercise of the powers which
the law pretends to confer upon the trium-
yirate.
The demands of the laboring men are being
and viii continue To be heard until these ques-
tions are settled We may, ia a spirit of resent
ment, aye, of ridicule, ask them whether they
pretend in their organized capacity 10 deny the
right 10 a man TO work when he wishes and
where he wishes? Whether they demand the
right to dictate to employers whom they may
employ, and whom not? And whether they de-
mand the right to interfere by persecution and
violence with the prosecution by each man OF
his business in his own lawful way?'
These questions are not answered by labor,
yes or no. but by the counter questions: Have
you, who are asking these questions of US. devot-
ed yourself to purifying the law, or decreasing
the inequalities which exist, or endeavoriDg TO
secure Tor labor an equal ground on which to
conouct its side OF the struggie2 You talk about
the sanctity of the law; do you concern yourself
about / purity? Do you not care more about
the rights Of free contract than for the equality
of conditions of the contracting parties? Are
you not more Jealous for the sanctity of private
property than for the duty of society to see that
the results of labor are distributed with some
Semblance OF justice?"
Unedncated labor possibly cannot name
remedy for its misfortunes or explain them.
Too often the dupe of demagogues. Of treacher-
GUS 8uQ SELFISH ledueIs, us StFuKRleS nave OAR
rem results but its convictions remain firm that
there is a radical and existing wrong. II looks
around on q country of unexamp}ed prosperity,
with empires of fruitful rgin soil. 1t sees
very small minority becoming more and more
secure in the epjoyments of the fruits of labor
of the majority; 70 often for the purpose only
of enabling their progeny to lead aimless lives
OF self-indulgence.
These things incite labor to organization. Be-
lieving that great struggle is before it, II will
use ways that are wise. aud ways that are I'm
wise. It will fail to make due allowance for
the time necessary to accomplish its desired
changes Il will underestimate the great con-
sentative forces opposing 1t, but as surely as the
natural course continues IN political system 1t
will overcome in many respects the inequalities
Of the situation
Capital Is powerful: capital has been 80 long
power and so secure, that il scarcely perceives
the change 1t relies on the proposition that
the present nece ssities of labOring men will
compel them to submission and that IN manv
ways the physical wellbeing of the minority is
best subseryed by its continuance in power; or
regular army. But Is it probable that the ma
jority will consent to maintain large bodies OF
armed men in id eness. when the citizen SOL
diery of the different States is sufficient for the
preservation OF internal peane in this country.
In times OF peace with other nations, our Ma
tional Guard is quite competent to give society
the protection it deserves and to provide any
| protection which in the opinion OF the majority
is necessary. and while our present meager
standing army will be diminished. our National
Guard will be maintained, an ornamental and
useful auxiliary to the machinery of, and an
arm of our State Government.
There is another and reasonable hope in
some quarters that immigration will hereafter
be discouraged and possibly prohibited. Tnat
| the oppressed, the unfortunate, the ignorant
| and the restless OF other lands will cease CON-
| ing here or coming will find the doors of this
world closed against them. Srch change in
\ the traditional course of this country will be
DELAYED bnt it is altogether probable that our
/ present and future conditions will make 1t de
sirable Its. Of course. directly in opposition
| to the principles aud practices of those great
| aud good men who founded and buiit America.
| who gave TO her the heroic age OF her cooniza-'
| ton aud whose valor iliumined. as by fire, the
! darkest DAYS OF the revolution
These benefactnrs of America were accus-
| toned to reser-e their heart:e welcome to her
| shores to those who most ueedet her generous
| opportunities OF freedom and labor and q
home. They did not expect ignorant men to
be wise. They did not expect men maddened
| by what they thought 10 be gross injustice to
be rational. They did rot expect men OF differ
ent races 10 possess the same standard Of man.
| ners and morals. They were capab.e of believ-
| ing that this great continent Yves heritage,
not TO themselves alone. but TO mankind, des
tined as well as fitted TO receive al, who came
! TO her. and able to amelioTRte their distresses
Diminish their differences. to cultivate their
self respect and possibly to fuse them IN the