New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-01
GAINS FOR LABOR.

The labor organizations and those who sup
port them have hut few days in which 10 de-
,ermine their attitude toward the Government.
They are constantly seeking from it action
which they think will favor their interests.
But when the time comes TO uphold good gov
eminent. legislation which benefits all wage
oarnprs beyond measure. and administration
which does not fail TO perform It's full duty
toward the producers. then there are invariably
found active and noisy labor leaders who insist
that the wage-carners have never been helped
by any action Of the Republican party and its
Administration but should rather give aid to
the Democrats or the Popullsts or the Socialists.
These leaders constantly teach that the wage
earners are not helped and cannot be by tariff
laws or monetary laws. or In any other way
than by their own organizations 1t is natural
that the leaders who derive their support from
the organizations should magnify their eff
cheney. but there is neither sense nor Justice in
denying the enormous influence which the Re
publican National policy has had upon the con-
ditions of labor.
Men should not ignore the history OF their
country in seeking TO strengthen their organ2a-
items. The Republican party came into being
Gs the free-labor party, protest and organized
resistance Of free laborers against the degrad-
ing and depressing influence Of competition
with slave labor 1t is matter OF history that
the tailoring men of the North. the mechanics
and mill and factory hands. farmers and their
hands. with the unSlied labcrers of every
grade were those who actually formed the Re
publican party and contributed from the start
large proportion of lis votes With de-
tcrmincd opposition TO the spread of slavery.
there was also In all the Northern States n
strong demand for restoration of protection for
home industries as the Democratic party had,
with singular unwsdoln. stricken down the
tariff of 1916, with It's limited defence of
Industries and substituted the lower tariff of
March .. 1851. which was followed that
year 10y great panic. even rs the Inauguration
Of MIR. Cleveland. with Democratic Congress
was followed 10y greater panic before the fall
of 1873.
This union Of high and honorable purposes
both for the cause Of free labor and for the
welfare of The people as n whole prevailed in
the election Of 1850. and protective duties soon
gave 10 Industries such q stimulus that through
all tie trials and uncertainties OF the Civil
War the condition Of the working population
steadily improved. Nor did the war fail tC
bring freedom for the slaves. and an end of the
depressing competition between Tree ana EN-
shaved labor When the war had ended. anC
the sinking Of prices which had been inflated
BY depreciation Of currency began TO cause gen
eral embarrassment. the Republican party sup
p,icd the more effective duties needed In sucl
conditions 10 secure for labor fair employment
md returns. The National policy thus estab
lshcd during the war and after has been main
taincd over thirty years with an unbroken I'm
movement in The condition and wages Of labor
save when the election OF Cleveland and Demo
cratic Congress gave labor definite experienc,
of the consequences 10 De expected from dir
fereIt National system.
Men who do not know how greatly wages
have advanced during these years Of progress
1916 per cent from 1860 TO the census Of 1880
and largely since-are frequently cheated by
demagogues. who quote 10 them. sometimes
correctly. wages formerly paid in currency