Year: 1877

and feeling with that class OF citizens. Inc
| Old World divisions which so sharply distin-
euisb the man whose only capital is his work
| ing power from the man whose capital is the
fruit and realized result of his own labor
and that of others, cannot here be repro
duced. 1t runs athwart the great controlling
fact of American life-that a majority OF
American citizens own property and hire laoor'
or are locking forward to that position as one
surely and speedily within their reach.


Nevertheless, the trades-uniOnist In Amer
ica-a citizen whose very ASSOCIATION Is an au-
mission that he does not hope nor seriously
aspire TO lift himself out of the wage-earhlhg
into the wage-paylng class, and has no eA-
recitation nor active desire to become capl-
talst rather than a laborer-has become an
important element in political falrs. III Is
the chief crime of these associations against
the free labor which they assume to defend,
that they oblige the best member to surrender
his interests and aspirations at the demand OF
fine majority. who are always the less worthy
He has power by his intelligence. or industry,
or economy, to lift himself above the majority
of his associates He has the sense to make
his work more useful than theirs, and every clear
headed employer will give him the preference,





more steady EN-. loyment and yet he consents
TO strike whenever men less intelligent are
not satisfied He has the patience and amDl-
ton 10 work with fidelity through many dark
season to place himself in a position OF com
parativc Independence, ana yet Re consents 10
throw away all the advantage OF his patience and
honor bic ambition to jcin with men who have
neither. He can deny himself the small pleas
ures and brief indulgences OF to-da.j, a. order
to accumulate tbe means which Will not only
protect him against dark days in industry,
5nt enable him in the end TO bridge the mar
row chas,n which separates the wage -oarner Ill
America from the wagc-payer. And yet ne
consents 10 throw away that inodlculable ad-
vantage, and to put his destiny at the mercy
Of men who have neither self-denial nor ocoL-
omy.


such is tho essential character of the trades
unions here, and yet they are politically
feared. Every workman who finds oppression
j! his employment has power in this country
TO employ his labor on his own account III
cuitiyatiIs the broad fields which the Wise
policy of the Government has placed within
reach of every citizen. If he prefers city lie,
low wages ana hardship to the freedom, the
patient industry aud the splendid seli-reliance
of the pjoncer it is bis owH choice; the Gov
ennent does not make it for him.


The Hom stead Law is the imperishabe
barrier which The United States has raised be-
tween free labor and oppression. The dema-
gogues of both parties who are busily Dld-
ding for the labor vote" may well take TINS
fact to heart. Labor needs, IN this cou1 try'
and for many generations viii need, 40 other
prorection against capital than that which the
United States gives in Offering share of lis
capital to any labOrer who may choose to take
and use il. All other protection when cum
ming committees may suggest or thought
less conventions may propose, VIII be -
avail, if at all, in cheating voters only;
it is futile and empty compared with the
great provision which enables every oppressed
workman to become 6 landowner and capital
ist wheneycr he sees ht. Nor is there ord
nary shrewdncss in the pretelce, made by so
many conventions OF both parties, that an
oyer-croWding of any occupation can be
Obylated by new legislation, or the creation OF
a new bureau or by running the railways oi
the manufactures, or all other establishments
in which capital is invested, at Government
direction. No law that the Government can
make viii enable 100, 600 men 10 earn LIVING
by doing tnat service for society which 10000
men can equally well perform. The worst
place III all the land lor over-crowdinG Of
labor and severity of suffering when hard
times COME is in the Government bureaus at
Washington. The remedy Is not to retain
workmcn in over-crowded cmployments,
wi Q her under Government supervision or not
II is to drive them ont, Oh persuade and allure
them out, to the broader and more independ-
ent life of other employment. That is the one
| and only remedy for troUb!es in the labor
|