Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-27

u demonstrate TO tho laborer5 IN pro-
| tected industries that they do not share
IN the increased gains which the present
taria system brings TO their employers.
Some years ago there was q heavy increase
in the duty upon iron ore IL was claimed
that this was done to protect miners. ana ana
yet. after the increase, miners wages fell
| from 81. 25 TO as cents day. IL high tarlh
makes high wages. the condition Of the
laborinQ classes in this country ought 10
he very urosperous. The laboring classes
ought 10 be- happy and contented-but nre
they?
Az no other period in the history Of our
country have the relations between lsDor
and capital been 30 unsatisfactory az during
the last thirty years, ana particularly
during the last ten years. We cannot I'M
dertake 70 do more than allude TO the
strikes. locko,its, and labor disturbances
OF every sort rs an evidence that high
tarif has not brought prosperity 10 the la-
boring classes Some years ago the cOun-
trv was excited over the condition OF the
miners In the Pennsylvania coal-mines.
Some of the leading New York newspapers
sent out men 20 investigate and report.
They did investigate and report upon the
condition Of these miners. and the country
stood aghast at the picture OF want and
Indebtedness presented to the public, and
a senatorial investigation showed that the
condition of these miners was as pitiable
and lamentable as the newspapers had re-
presented It. -.
For nearly two years we have been living
under the highest tariff system we have
ever had. The Mckinley bill, so far at
least as some of its schedules are con-
cerned, was passed tor the purpose OF IN
Identifying the protected industries that
had contributed very largely 10 the Re
,,pllfoap on m paiyp funl in 1879
WAGES NOT INCREASED.
These industries have certainly reaped
very greatly-increased gains under this
higher tariff and if the position Of the
protectionists that high tariff benefits the
Iaborer be sound, then unquestlonably the
laborers in these Industries ought TO have
received increased wages; but have they
In the last Congress il was stated by Senn-
tor Carlisle, Hon. Joseph Wheeler, and
perhaps others that IN not single in
stance had there been an increase OF wages
in the protected industries TO an amount
greater than they were before the passage
Of the Mckinley bill. while wages had in
creased after the passage OF the bill IN n
number Of non-protected industries. No
one undertook TO question this statement.
The New York Weekly Word has recently
published a list of about 40 wage reduc-
tions, lockouts, &C., that have occurred in
protected industries since the Mckinley
bill took effect, and il was conceded that
this was only partial list. In the face OF
these facts and in the face of the object
lessons which the past summer has fur
nished us in the labor troubles at Home
stead and elsewhere, the laboring man
who still clings 10 the deJusion that high
tariff makes high wages is beyond the
reach of argument.
&. ba
sort of class legislation. Itimposes heavy
burdens upon the great body of the peo-
pie for the benefit Of few individuals
and corporations. II is essentially IN
American. Ii takes from the pockets Of
the many TO enrich the few. Wise legisla-
ton contemplates the greatest good TO the
greatest number. Legislation should be
so framed as to make the race for success
in life as nearly equal as possible. and
nothing can be more vicious in its tend
ency than governmental interference in
favor of individuals or corporations.
The Democratic party is the party of
the people; not of the poor only, nor of
the rich only, but of all the people. While
it recognizes the rights of the poor man,
it equally recognizes the rights of the rich
man: but 1t sees nothing but wrong and
injustice in the immense private fortunes
that have been accumulated through the
operation of our iniqultous tariff system.
This system has produced an unhealthy
concentration of the wealth OF the country
in the hands OF few favored individuals
and corporations 1t IS a constant source
of popular discomfort.
SOURCE OF PERIL.
1t il O source Of peril to the republic.
The Democratic party proposes to relieve
the people from this great evil, and 1t
calls upon all true VirgInians to rally TO
its standard. None are more deeply in
terestod in the success of the Democratic
party IN Virginia than the laboring classes,
not only because they are interested with
all others in having lower taxes, but they
have special interest III maintaining
white supremacy in our State. Negro SUI
premacy would be an unspeakable curse to
every class, but it would fall with with
ering blight upon all those enterprises in
which labor seeks remunerative employ
ment. We believe that the popular dis
content so prevalent in the country IS to a
large extent the natural result of our I'M
wise tariff laws, and That If this policy of
high protection is continued this discon-
tent will increase and become fruitful
source Of danger. We believe that when
the government adopts a policy more just
to the people this feeling of discomfort
and unrest will in a large measure
disappear. The success OF the Democratic
party IS necessary for the peace and
security of the country and for
the preservation Of our civil and political
rights and privileges in their integrity.
the Democratic party now has grand
opportunity. 1t never came before the
people with q better cause or one that
should command more earnest and
hearty support. In view of the great ma
terlal benefits that its success will bring,
and especially in view of the imminent
perils that defeat would involve, TO sup
pose that the true people of Virginia will
prove recreant TO duty and falter in their
allegiance TO this party would be to doubt
both their good sense and their patriot
ism.
Victor Hugo, in contemplating the
growth of Napoleons power, said that the
cause of European civilization made his
defeat at Waterloo an imperious necessity;
and so we, considering the dangers that
have been evoked by unwise and unjust
Republican legislation, existing and
threatened, are justified in saying that the
cause of free institutions on this American
continent demands the defeat of the Re-
publican party at the November election.
JOHN HUNTER, Jr, President.