The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-08-13
DEMAGOGTSH.

During presidential years polis-
ical papers degrade themselves to
the loves. possible level of demagog-
ism for the purpose of procuring votes,
and We regret to see respectable jour
mails, fair in the discussion of other
questions, make use of the most des
picable sophistry to accomplish party
purposes. We were forcibly reminded
of this fact in reading an editorial in
the Telegram of yesterday, in which it
lays all the blame of the conflict be-
tween labor and capital in this coun-
try to the Republican party. This is
unfair and unjust, and cannot be
proved by single historical fact for
the past thirty years; but 1t arouses
the animosity of the discontented
classes, who, without they take time
and thought to carefully consider the
matter, will array themselves on the
side of Democracy. We quote
paragraph from the article:
The Republican party Of to-day, Judged
| by the almost unanimous expression OF the
Republican press, no longer denies its alii-
ance with capital as against labor, and It's
contempt for the equal rights of the work.
ingmen in their contests with capital. 1t
still repeats, with the iteration and the
strength OF argument of parrot. the assel-
ton that it is a friend to American labor;
but when the test comes, when any contest
or conflict arises. it, with one voice, agrees
that the capitalists and employers are the
innocent and injured parties, and that the
laborers are wholly in the wrong; that they
have nothing to complain of; that they are
paid enough or too much wages; that they |
are anarchists and desperadoes.
Not one Republican organ out OF hun.
dred, great or small, Is willing to-day to
grant the laboring men the same right en-. |
joyed by capitalists-that of organizing to
protect their own interests and exhibiting |
their organized strength when it is neces- |
sary to defend themselves from oppression |
and tyranny.
Further on it beIches forth in the
following strain:
The mask has fallen, and the affair at
Homestead has dome much to tear it of.
Deception has ceased to be longer possible.
The contempt of the Republican press for
the masses, for their common rights and
the best and natural interests, is scarcely
disguised.
We have failed to note one word OF sym.
pathy or encouragement from Republican
sources for strikers anywhere, whatever
their grievances; or for workingmen any
where, whatever their conditions. On the
other hand, they are equally unanimous
that capital must be protected in its rights
that is, 10 everything it does or claims
and that it must be provided on demand
with national or state troops, an be per-
mltted to direct their operations. Capital,
in the hands of such oppressors and human
hogs as Frrck, must be the sole care of the
government, while workmen must under all
circumstances be silent and passive.
When the Republican party came
into power In 1860, it found the coun-
try embroiled in civil war, with armed
rebels in the south and Democratic
copperhead sympathizers with treason
in the north. After four years of
conflict, it gave to the people an
united. country, and, since 1865, has
reduced the public debt so that the
government bonds are eagerly sought
n foreign markets. 1t has elevated
American labor above that of Europe.
by afFording employers the opportunity
of paying higher wages; it has made the
greenbaoks, by judicials legislation,
worth 100 cents on the dollar; it has
passed the homestead and other bene-
fetal laws, whereby every citizen could
make home for himself and family;
it has sent millions of dollars in cir
culation among the laborlng poor, by
liberal appropriations in the River
and Harbor bill, at the same time
opening up our rivers and harbors to
the producers and farmers; and in
every instance it has attempted to en-
courage the production of raw ma
terlaIs by duties upon imports. What
can be said of the Democratic party
during this period, and what bene-
fetal legislation has it ever attempted
during the long years it held control
of the lower house Of congress? 1t
has pursued negative policy on al
most every question, and in the ses-
sion just closed passed bill protect
ing the manufactured article and
placing wool on the free list.
The report of chairman Oates, of
the congressional committee. is suf-
uCicuL uuSWcT " tno TuutiuSo VI tbO
Telegram about "oppressors and hu
man hogs" in relation to the Home
stead affair. This committee was ap-
pointed by a Democratic congress,
and, we suppose, for the purpose of
capital tor November.
He found well-to-do class of work
ing people, living, in the main, in their
own homes. who had been, until the
strike, receiving from $l.40 to $l2
day, and that the conduct of the com
pany towards its employees was found
to have been uniformly kind and con
The hiring of the Pinker- {
tons, though not contrary to the laws |
of Pennsylvania, he condemns, and