Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-01
LETTER BAG.
The DEMOCRATIC spee,ile.

EpIToRs Herald: 1t is now generally
conceded by the medical fraternity, l
believe, that science cannot cure disease
it has only learned how to palliate pain.
Where cure is effected it is attributable
to "Vis medicatrix Nature" 1" The
science of government, as expounded by
the founders, and exemplified in the ad-
ministrations of the Democratic party
in America, recognizes the same funda-
mental doctrine with reference to the
ills of the body polite.
Now what is the Democratic specific
for the mitigation of troubles like those
of the Homestead riot? 1t does not
propose any infallible nostrum, guaran-
teed to harmonize exasperated relations
and satisfy both parties, in every enccun-
ter between labor and capital. The phil
osopher and statesman we'll know that,
after eliminating the irritating factor of
governmental favoritism, the disparity
in mems primary opportunities, and the
irremediable inequalities in native ca
pacity and intelligence among them.
must operate to illustrate the doctrine
that ''the weakest goes to the WALL"
To protect the weak against the
strong is the chief function
of Christian government, and is
the raison d'etre of the Democratic
party. But, like the wise physician,
the party of Jefferson teaches that
natures laws cannot be violated with
impunity. or superseded by empirical
human laws to the advantage of the
public patient. The Democratic party
impeaches its opponent of the high
crime of interfering with the natural
laws of trade to the unhappy derange-
ment of our political well-being and
wholesome evolution-a crime all the
more heinous because our republic
started out under the finest natural
auspices, so far as geographical location,
physical resources and advanced po-
litical institutions are concerned.
The Homestead riot and similar out
breaks of aggrieved labor are reproach
to the law. makers of the Republican
party. It is not that they have failed
to enact statutes ostensibly regulative
of capital and labor, but they have Grip
pied, by laws restrictive of commerce,
the distribution Of the products OF labor.
1t is not natural-it is monstrous-that
labor should be confronted, at this time,
in this republic, with the stern problem
OF "the struggle for existence" In the
populous countries of the old world,
under whatsoever political or
economic administration of govern
ment, it is quite natural
that the stress of competitive labor
should compel vigilant and anxious
domestic economy and induce low
wage scale. But the United States is
virgin land as yet. with forty acres to
the inhabitant. We have not more than
specifically surveyed our visible
wealth, to say nothing of prospecting
for the almost limitless latent possibili-
ties in the way of food products and
ores. 1t is perhaps not too much to say
| that we could alone feed and clothe the
entire world, and furnish it with iron.
1t is a. hungry world, with countless
wants, and anxious to do business with
us on fair trade basis. 1t wants to
come to us with treasure-freighted
argosies and 60 away laden with
the products of American agri-
culture and manufactures. With free
raw materials, our manufacturers could
not be beaten in any market of the
world. Profits would not be 30 large on
I specific articles. Abut the aggregate
amount of business would enormously
increase. "Quick sales and small
profits" would be the motto. Would
there be any unemployed labor under
such conditions in America? Would
there be such thing as labor strike /!
I say: No. With reduced prices con-
sumption would grow, demand for labor
would grow, wages would grow, comfort
would abound in this country, and the
hungry millions of the old world would
be fed.
Under the present abnormal condi-
tions, brought on by vicious interference
with the natural law OF supply and de-
mand, the Democratic party has only
this word for struggling labor: In your
contentious with organized and greedy
capital our sympathies are all with you.
The Republican party is sponsor for the
doctrine that corporations and capital
should be the supreme care of gov
ernment, and that it is wisdom to leg
islate for the organized few at the ex
pense of the many. As a practical
measure for temporary relief-pending
s'the good time coming" when COM
merce with the world shall leave you no
time for agitation or reason for griev-
Rnce-we favor a national commission,
clothed with plenary powers, for the
arbitration of your disputes with capital.
ee..-. VIM. S. CREIGHTON.