The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-27
WHO is REsPONsIBLE.

Inc most prominent feature in the home
labor field at present is the threatened re-
duction of wages by the New England cot
ton manufacturers on account of their in
ability to compete under existing conditions
with those of the South There is no rea-
son to doubt the sincerity of the New Eng
land manufacturers in this matter They
are shrewd, bright men who understand
their business and who are accustomed to
fair competition. They are content with mod
crate profits, but after careful considera-
ton OF the case in all its bearings they have
concluded that they cannot compete with
Southern manufacturers without reduc-
ton of wages. There are other conditions
involved as the longer working hours in
the South and proximity to the cotton fields,
but, leaving these aside for the present, we
notice only the wage feature. 1t is admit
ted by all that the Southern manufacturers
have an important advantage in cheap la
Dor. In respect of intelligence, social status
and the general standard of living the labor
ers of the South are not TO be compared
to those of Massachusetts and the North
generally. 1t is this difference of conditions
ltldl IldheS the SlilI6THICc III wages. IL the
situation and conditions were reversed the
Massachusetts manufacturers would be pay
ing lower wages than those of the South
and the latter would be trying to equllize
things by a reduction. Now, what causes
this difference of conditions? So far as the
South is concerned it is largely due TO the
influence of slavery, and so far as Massa-
| phuSQffS iS IF iS lar f111o m tba
influence of protection. The effect of slav-
cry was first to create in the South a SER
vile class, among whom the standard of in
telligence and of living was low whose
wants were comparatively simple and few
and who would naturally be content even
after their emancipation, to work for much
lower wages than the white Iaborers of the
North. Another effect of slavery was TO de-
grade labor itself and affix sort of stig-
ma upon all laboring men, white as we'll
as black. The influence ard effects of gen
eratio.s of slavery cannot be obliterated in
a few years. In Massachusetts, on the eth
err hand, long period of protection has de-
veloped social conditions and standard OF
living which make high wages an absolute
necessity Even if the manufacturers
should make the reduction they are pro-
posing the wages paid in Massachusetts will
still be materially higher than those paid
in the South. Finally, who is responsible
for this disparity of conditions? Obviously
the party which defended slavery as long as
possible and then opposed every effort to
remove the effects of slavery and improve
the condition of it's victims. The Democrat
ic party is mainly responsible for the condi-
lions which cause low wages in the South
and which are dragging wages down in
Massachusetts. 1t needs no argument to
prove that whatever tends to degrade or
cheaper labor in one section of the country
tends to depress wages in all parts. 1t is
equally plain that the low wages in the
South are sequence of slavery, and that
the party of slavery, free trade and low
conditions of living is responsible for it.