Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-07-09
NEEDS OF THE TINES.


erring certainty TO some needs OF tue
times. The situation not only at Chi
cago, but as far across the country as
California, is a continuous wave OF I'M
rest, and shows that the times are out OF
Joint somewhere-somehow The end
OF all good government is TO elevate the
citizenship TO the highest possible de-
gree, aud 70 secure q common bond OF
union-a oetterment OF the race. Does
our government secure this? II not,
wherein is il deficient? What Is the
matter with the times?
The worlds progress IS forward; the
good In an age is not lost; and the fore
most thought OF every axe becomes the
predominating view OF the succeeding
generation. The coGtest is always for
the mastery. Ii is part OF our natural
constitution. Just now it is contest
for the amaSsiOg of great fortunes; and
the obstacle in the way is labor-the in
ability Of the man seeking TO accumu-
late, TO manipulate the forces Of LABOR
TO meet his ideas Of business and his
personal interests. The present unrest
I is the out-grOwth OF this amassing OF
great fortunes, and Of the combinations
OF capital, without control. An unholY
greed for gain has seized possession OF
the brain of the times, aud we have fall
len into a groove so deep, that the mo-
mentum OF the mad rush cannot be
stayed, save by the combined action OF
the people. There must be a change in
motive; our thought must be lifted
above the groove In which
we are running, which is counter to the
principle Of right. Right thinking
must precede right acting: and as long
as the idea prevails that it is right 10
accumulate without regard to our fel
low man, Just 50 long will isolation OF
interests fan the mad flame Of discon-
tent and irritate the fevered pulse OF
the body polite. Labor is, OF right
entitled 10 a higher rank than capital
Because il IS the motive power Of the
world; il is that which not only pro-
duces wealth, out il maintains il after
il is produced. BY labor shall man earn
mis- bread, was spoken by the sane d.
vine power that put into our hearts the
desire 10 accumulate more than bread.
Without labor the world would become
a wilderness, aud money would mould
for want of use. Money adds nothing
20 the worlds wealth, save in the pay
ment OF labor, which is wealth produc-
ing. But there Is q mutual relation ex-
isting between money and labor, else the
necessity for money would never have
arisen, and all payment would have
continued to be made in kind. would
say, the first joint that is out of joint
that can be corrected Immediately, IS
our immigration law. The vast foreign
population that has fOcked 10 this
country, mas either failed to be aSsimj-
lated by our government, or failed TO
develop that spirit Of patriotism which
our form Of government demands in or
der 10 secure that citizenship which is
consequent upon 10, and for which we
are aHd have been striving. Unless
this influx OF people, who are not born
under the freedom Of our government,
and who as result cannot act in har-
mony with the spirit of our institutions,
is assimiIated, the number should be
cut down 20 such a point that
thew can be asSimilated; or
such restrictions should be thrown
around their entrance as to Sc
cure the best element, aud those whom
we are willing to take by the hand and
in the spirit Of our constitution, say
brother We are not yet able 10 take in
the whole wOrld and raise 10 TO our
standard OF citizenship, and at the same
time maintain our standard. II we
keey the stream pure we must cut OIL
all impurities at the source Of increase
that tend to contaminate IT, This is
the first thing to 90: good immigra-
tion law will do this. Then turn our
attention 10 the cause of the already
troubled waters.
The second need of the times is the
lack Of an official head TO labor. Ia its
oppression, and doubtless in some In
stances desperation, labor has swung
around 70 the other extreme, for the
lack OF some one 20 speak with author
ity 10 its behalf. A national labor COM
mission should be established, where all
such differences as the recent coal strike
and the present railroad strike could be
arbltrated aud settled. The great busi-
ness world has an interest In this affair;
and the commercial interests Of our
country should not be required TO pass
through such a strain OF cOmmOtiOn,
paralysis and destruction as this,
without better cause. Strikes
are wrong. They breed dis
content - shake confidence - pro-
duce inactou and preejpitate pan
les. They are a biting frost and chill
ling blast 70 humanity, and a move on
the great checEerbosrd Of life. As a
nation, we can't afford them, The
happiness aud peace of the homes OF
our labOring people are worthy OF
richer reward; the comfort OF their
children-Our future citi1snship-are
deserving OF a better fate. But the
ordering OF 8 sympathy strike Is but
sounding the death-knell of the organ
izatiou, and is destruction OF the use
full ends the LABOR organizations were
intended to subServe.
A third need OF the times is a nation
al marriage and divorce law. In such
an important matter and where the In
terest Is common 10 US all the diversity
OF present State laws is 6 sore trial upon
the efforts OF any one State 10 set
standard of purity and morality that
can with any reasonable hope Of GER
tainty be sustained. The moral tone OF
any community is affected by what can
be done and what is done under the
EuiSe OF law in that community. And
for relation 50 sacred the consequences
OF which are so far reaching either for
happiness and development or for
misery aud crime TO be subject to such
homogeneous changes is temptation
that bluntS the moral sensibilities TO say
the least and should be removed.
In State needs, compulsory education
under our splendid free school system,
aud ballot reforms, would prepare our