The sun., 1897-05-27
DR.. Rainsford on "Tho Laboring
Class"

Class"
The Rev. DR.. WILLIAM s. RAINsFoRD was
one Of the ambassadors pleniloquentiary Of
the Citizens Union at the amusing Labor
Conference" of that concern held on Tues
day night with certain selected persons who
esteem themselves to be Labor leaders" and
who probably represent just about as much
wind, and nothing else, as the selected citi.
Zens Of the Union do. DR.. RAISsroRD's re-
marks at the conference were printed, in
part, on Tuesday afternoon, and cannot have
caused any great surprise to the various
powers assembled in the Cooper Union to
confer; nor will they very much surprise any
body who is familiar with the general tone
of the economic thought or want of thought
of this reverend tribune of the people. In
his address at the conference, as in
some previous addresses, he showed an
entire lack Of comprehension of social and
economic facts and conditions in his
adopted country. ToYNBEE. a young Ok
oman, full Of philanthropy and amiable
plans for the amelioration of the Clover
classes" might have spoken in Whitechapel
somewhat after the fashion in which DR..
RA1SsFoRD spoke in Room %, Cooper
Union. There is one class Of citizens"
he said, "who cannot be excused IL they
are hoodwinked or fooled again by either
Of the political parties. That class is the
laboring class. The laboring class pays
the larger part Of the taxes, carries the
main burdens of the land, and has been
bamboozled by both parties and by all
parties, and will continue to be fooled until
It chooses right leaders, and, having chosen
them, sticks to them"
Pray, DR.. RAINsFoRD, what is the "labor.
ing class which has been bilked by both
political partiesi Or rather, to make the
answer easier. what is the non.laboring
"class"1 In the latter you will be justified,
perhaps. in including some of the "labor
leaders, How many men in this town,
outside Of the tramps and a few gentlemen
of magnificent leisure, do not habitually
labor' What do you mean by your Labor
ing classes" and how do you distinguish
themf Why do you not talk like an Ameri.
can to Americans instead of talking like a
Hyde Park Sunday orator or, let Us say,
like benevolent curate thinking out loud
in Tottenham Court Roadi If the Labor
ing classes" have been bamboozled by the
political parties, pretty nearly everybody
has been bamboozled, for there are mighty
few other people to bamboozle. And when
your "laboring classes" form a party of
their own, there will be mighty little left
Of other parties.
If there is a laboring class there must
be a governing class" and the name of it
must be the Citizens Union. In fact, the
personal attitude of DIR. RA1SsFoRD to-
-or1t tIa tlaE IL
that of the bosses of the Citizens Union
at present, and hardly seems calculated
to win votes. With the utmost kind
ness of expression, but with an in
evitable simpering air of patronage and
protection, the selected citizens of the Citi-
zens' Union say in effect to the "laborinR
classes by means of DIR. RAINsFoRp and
other spokesmen: Here, you fellows are
the salt of the earth, but you have been
badly used. You arc so stupid that you
don't know what is good for you, and you
habitually vote against your own interests,
and let political parties make fools of you.
What you need is a new party that will
have nothing to do with wicked national
and State politics, but will take the best of
care of you, since you don't know enough to
take care of yourselves. We have just the
thing right here ready made. We have the
right leaders on hand. Picked them out
ourselves, 80 as to save you trouble. All
you have to do is to vote for them. Don't |
allow yourselves to be bamboozled by politi-
cal bosses any longer. We are the wise
and good. and our hearts will go out to tho
'laboring classes during the whole cam
paign. Poor, old laboring classes! Dear,
old 'laboring classes come and be gov.
erned by us, and may GoD bless your
According to DR.. RAINsPoRD, the "labor- |
ing classes" have been bamboozled by the
Republicans and Democrats. VIII not this
fact. If 1t be fact, give the "laboring |
classes" certain reluctance to be bam-
boozled by the unctuous pullers.in of the |
Cifizapo' I-ntnnR