St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-27
THE TIDE Is EBRING.

One of the good results of the over
throw of RepubIicanism and the Access
sion of Democracy IS already apparent
in the shipping lists OF New York city.
For twenty-five years and more the Re-
Publican party has been advertising the
nation to the peoples of the old world
as one which directed its taxing power
deliberately and purpoSely to Tncreas-
ing the wages paid labor. 1t has print
ed with ostentatiouS pride the tables of
wages paid in this country and those
of Europe, whence have come our larg-
est number of immigrants. 1t has
pointed to these tables as proof of the
wisdom OF its policy OF protection. 1t
has prated about the dignity of Amer
lean labor, and sneeringly referred to
the ''pauper labor" of foreign countries.
1t has rejoieed when its policy of re-
Striction and prohibition has shut up
the mills and mines and factories of
Europe and sent their workingmen out
to beg their bread.
Land-grant railway companies, eager
to find purchasers FOR the domain I'M
providently given them, have for years
seeking the disconnected. painting al
Turing pictures of the rewards offered
labor by the laws of this country, urg-
ing and aiding them to leave their
homes and get the sure fortune that
awaited them in the United States
Steamship companies. more eager for
dividends than for the welfare of the
country, have done the same work,
until. between the glittering promises
of Republican policy and the activity
OF interested agencies. there was started
tide of immigration to this country
which has flooded it with labor anx-
ious to reap the benefits of this PROM
Used land.
The tide swelled in volume until it
has sometimes passed, sometimes fell a
little below, but kept an average of
halt-million souls annually. They have
swarIned onto the vacant lands given to
settlers by the government until they
are now practically exhausted, and the
invitation of the old song to ''come from
every nation, for Uncle Sam is rich
enough to give you all a farm" no
longer holds good. What with ehor-
nous land grants and the rush of land
entieed immigrants, Uncle Sam is we'll
nigh bankrupt of land. But it was not
to the land that the most of
this torrent of immigration has
avenues of industry. 1t has driven the
American out of the mines and the
mills and the shops; it has congested
our cities with either its own or the dis
placed Americans. 1t has created a
supply of labor that only the feverisll
rush Of speculation could furnish IN
ployment for; and now, when specula-
ton has run its course and the inevi-
table collapse come. laboring men find
themselves stranded. with willing hands
finding nothing to do; men begging for
work that they and theirs may not suf-
fer hunger, and ne work to give them
This is the fruitage of Republican
policy: this is the result of the procla-
nation to the workingmen of the world
that here is land where the people tax
themselves in order that employers
may be able to pay their working people
higher wages: wages commensurate
with the dignity of American labor.
Before this false policy, with its falla-
cioas promises. WAS adopted, during the
periods when the Democratic concep.
| ton of government was controlling the
nation, immigrants came here because
| here there were natural opportunities
| for them to apply their activities to and
| wrest a competence and wealth from
No adventurous inducements were held
| out; no Fictitious conditions created tC
| allure; and. under these natural stimu-
lants. emigrants came to us of char
| acter which called for no restrictive
| laws.
The lie ran its course and worked out
the demonstration of its own fallacy.
| Taxation resulted as it was designed to-
not in higher wage for the worker, but
in greater profits Tor the employer. The
law of demand and supply held it's own
and human nature proved stronger thar
paternalistic legislation. The fraud be
hind the pretense became visible, anC
the majority of the voters of the coun.
try rent the veil and stripped 1T from
the sham it had hidden. Democrat,
success was a proclamation to tht
worlds labor that it might come here tc
make its home if it would, but it mus
take its chances with the rest, relyinl
on itself, and having only the bette
chance at opportunities which our i'm.
perfect aud incomplete recognition O
the rights of man gave. 1t told labu
here and elsewhere that as fast as POS.
sible the policy of taxing people tina
labor might get what of higher wage 1T