St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-09
AN EXPLANATION WANTED.

AN EXPLANATION WANTED.
Some time since we took the occasion
OF the expression of some very sound
views on the relation of the government
to its distressed citIzens by our esteemed
contemporary, the Pioneer Press, to ask
1T what reasons made it baneful for the
wage-eaIner to look to the government
in his distress that did not apply with
equal or greater force to his employ
erS. We were somewhat disappointed
In receiving no answer to a question
that cannot be considered impertinent,
even if it be embarrassing, but we ex-
cused 1t in the absorption of our con-
temporary's attention and efforts in try
ing to convince a lot of recalcitrant
senators of It's party that they were
criminally wrong in opposing measure
which had for its purpose the removal
of governmental support from an indus
try in which they and their constituents
are engaged.
But again the wall of the unemployed
goes up to the chambers of our local
government, and our contemporary ten
we have no ground for cavil, which we
heartily indorse, which in our own poor
way we are preaching for general APP
plication; and again we ask, in behalf
of the people to whom the Pioneer Press
tenders its counsel, the questions we
put before. The country is recasting
Its opinions, or rather is forming them
anew, under the pressure of economic
conditions, and in such time it is most
pertinent to ascertain why economic
laws should be restricted in their free
play to one class while others are
shielded from them, or if this should be
the case at all.
In its discussion of the expenditure
of the public money appropriated for
the relief of the unemployed, and in
support of the proposition to pay the
laborers somewhat less than the COM
mon wage, the Pioneer Press says:
mo worse moral or financial calamity
could befall the community than to fos-
ter among its working classes spirit of
dependence upon the bounty of the city
government or of relief organizations.
For any system which tends to take
away from man the spirit of manly
self-helpfulness and indepen lence leads
him surely downward along the path to
pauperism and beggary."
AS we said, we subscribe to this opin-
ion without reservation. 1t states law
that is as memorable as that of gravity.
But In behalf of the persons whom our
contemporary thus addresses, we ask
the question that must rise in their
oH,
trust that our neighbor will not again
put that far-away look into its eyes
which denies cognizance of the ques-
toner. What the workingman would
ask is: If it is so calamitous to foster
in the minds of the working classes of
the city spirit of dependence on the
bounty of the city government, why is
1t not proportionately calamitous to foS-
ter in the minds Of employers of work.
ingmen spirit of dependence on the
bounty Of the state or nation?
In order that the question may be rem
dered more explicit we will give illus
tartions of what, we take it. is in the
wOrkingmen's mind, and which suggests
the question we ask for him. There are
sundry citizens of these United States
who are engaged either wholly or in
part in producing sugar. They insisted
that If the tax on imports of sugar was
removed it would subject them to a re-
duction of prices which would be ruin
Gus. The only way in which they could
be preserved from financial destruction
was for the government to tax its peo-
pie and with the proceeds pay these men
two cents for each pound of sugar they
produced. The government did this
thing IN BILL which, fairness compels
us to admit, our contemporary sturdily
opposed until 1t was passed, and has
supported since and urged its continu-
ance.
Again the party with which our neigh
Dor acts, though restively at times, en-
acted law whose open aud avowed
purpose was to foster some of our man.
ufactures and protect our workingmen,
and 1t proposed to accomplish this by
laying on foreign imports which COM
peted with the goods the fostered indus
tries made, tax which would render
them very much more costly to the con-
sumers of them. We have recently
seen representatives of these fostered
Industries appearing before the ways
and means committee of the house and
protesting that any reduction of this
tax would ruin them. They plainly I'M
derstand that the government is be-
slowing bounty on them, and their re-
marks show that they are full of the
spirit which, in our workingmen, our
nelghbor says, is more calamitouS tn an
anything which could befall men.
We will not, as we might, elaborate
further. These illustrations suffice to
present the point aimed at. The effect
Of the act is to foster in these employ
ers spirit of dependence on the bounty
of the general government. It teaches
them to look to it instead of themselves
for support. What is there in the nat
ure of employers and employed to max
that a meritorious spirit in the one, and
a misunderstanding one in the other.
In homelier phrase why is that not sauce
for the goose which is sauce tor the gan
der?
IT BEHooVEs the catsof New York to
be little more cireumspect about the
hours they keep than has been their
custom heretofore. A trial in the police
court on Saturday devel oped the fact
that an organization exists IN that cit V