The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-31
SEATTLE. SUNDAY. AUGUsT 81.
LABOR DAY.


Originally, in q simple exercise of their
right by few labor organizations, but
finally by common concurrence Of pub
lie opinion in the propriety Of it. one day
in the year has been dedicated to demon
stration impressive of the responsibility.
the power and the dignity of labor. By
common consent the LIST of September. or,
when that day falls on Sunday. then the
following Monday, has been fixed upon as
the day to be thus dedicated. In q few in
stances public approval of this arrange
ment has been crystallized into statute law
making the day legal holiday, and this,
doubtless. will soon become the unvarying
rule in the states Of our Union and among
civilized nations.
But in the meantime, statute or no stat
ute, the observance Of September LIST as
Labor Day II . fixed fact, an established
institution throughout christendom, than
which no other observance Is more firmly
and securely entrenched. Nobody seems
to realize just how all Of this came about,
but all perceive that the observance is here
to stay, and ell acknowledge il to be well
that it Is 30. History furnishes no parallel
to the quick, quiet, irresistible manner in
which this great result has been accom-
plished. As an innovation upon pre-exist-
ing conditions 1t has worked a revolution
almost sublime in its completeness, and
yet it has been a revolution unattended by
any symptom of revolt.
Thus far the demonstrations on Labor
Day, especially in this country, have been
the most orderly and decorous pageants in
which such large bodies of men have ever
participated. In these respects 1t has af.
forded q striking and most commendable
contrast to many of the celebrations OF our
national anniversary and of the Christmas
holidays. 1t has testified most eloquently
TO the responsibility and the dignity of
labor.
Thus far the observance of this day has
been mainly confined to those engaged in
manual labor; to those who respond to the
divine edict "In the sweat of thy brow
shalt thou earn thy bread" But in the
natural course of events the time must
come when in the observance of this day
the line shall be wiped ont which makes a
distinction between hand-workers and
brain-workers. This movement will not
have served its highest purpose until it
shall have brought about cordial union.
on terms of perfect equality. between all
who fairly and honestly contribute their
full quota, whether by hand or brain, to-
ward the upbuilding and maintenance of
our social fabric.
1t is now, in truth, but an imaginary and
in many respects q mischievous line that is
drawn between these two classes OF labor
ers. There is no branch of handwork in
which he OF the quicker has not an advan-
tage over him of the slower brain. There
Is no manual laborer whose work has not
been lightened and its productiveness in
creased by the inventions and improve
ments conceived and devised by BRAIN
workers. For the hand-worker IL would be
a duller and more plodding world. with
hardships and difficulties vastly increased,
II there were no BRAIN workers In ID.
These things viii come to be understood
sooner or later. and the observance OF
Labor Day will doubtless hasten the time
for an understanding. Then it will be
made plain that hand.workers and BRAIN
workers are mutually helpful OF and de-
pendent upon each other, and that this
world would be less endurable habitation
for either in the absence of the other. And
1t will be known and acknowledged that
honest brain-work. no less than honest
hand-work Ia essential IN tba oora,sor -onl
and that the one. no less than the other.
beads the brow with the divinely ordained
moisture. Then Labor Day will be for the
observance OF all laborers, and the world
viii be the better for IL.