As The Hausfreund-post Sees It

Following is a translation of an ditorial appearing this week in the ;olumns of our Germán contempoary, the Hausfreund-Post: What was foretold by Lincoln 33 pears ago in painful anticipation, ind what was expected by many svho were far-seeing and competent to judge of the national pulse during the last 15-20 years has happened; the outbreak of the conflict between capital and labor. Here also it has been demonstrated that we harvest what we have sown. Our country was developed in gigantic proportions, but however grand the development in outer forms, and proportions it nevertheless harbored a germ of disease, and this disease germ has developed. The general public however were satisfied with the outer grandeur and did not recognize the developing germ within. To the farmer, to the laborer on the farm, to the citizen and to the laborer in all industries, to all the constantly increasing protective tariff was to bring the greatest benefit. By and on account ot this prtective tariff it was to be rendered possible for the American laborer to earn the highest wages which could be earned by any laborer in any country. The promises were believed so long as they bore the appearance of truth but here and there this belief was wanting, for the beautiful words were not verified by facts. The refuse of European civilization was imported ' by the mine owners, and these workmen, these "pauper laborers," were paid starvation wages. The industries received the highest protection but the laborer in these industries was forced to compete with the cheapest labor available. Dissatisfaction arose- wages declined gradually, though slowly - dissatisfaction could not be allayed - for the legislatures of the country proved subservient to the monopolies and trusts and their interests were in a shameful marmer promoted and protected. Capital reached its highest conceivable organization and this had the natural result that labor also organized and it cannot be gainsaid by anyone that organized labor was enabled to maintain higher wages in direct opposition to the tendency of the protective tariff. Tthe trusts and combines allowed themselves all possible usurpation; whenever it seemed expedient they closed their workshops to reduce their surplus producís and thus to raise the price. Protected by the high protective tariff from external competition they made their price at will anc the consumer had to pay it. Th trusts and combines, the forcé o capital has caused the most honor able body in the United States, th United States senate, to become a hotbed of corruption in the last 15 to 20 years. The tactics used by the trusts and combines to force such manufacturers to their views as were unwilling to enter their combines were also adopted by the laborers amongst themselves. If a combine of oil or sugar producers or other industry were affected, the smaller producers would be given a time to enter into it; in case of refusal, the prices were so reduced that the smaller manufacturers who refused to enter into the combination with the central trust would be ruined. The laborers followed the example. Their comrades were forced to join their unions. The facts here stated have been cited neither to favor nor to palliate the strikes of the last week or the riots connected with them. We mention them only in justice to all parties; every free man has the right to dispose of his time and his capacity for labor, and if he wants combinations for protection and defense he is entitled to the same rights as capital. But woe to the laborer when he allows himself to be misguided into the use of means for attaining his object which are contrary to law and which induce riot and destruction in place of order. But such action should be equally disastrous to the manufacturers who unite solely to abuse the law and compel the consumer to pay an artificially raised price for ie necessities of life. All state institutions are based upon law. Without obedience to law there is no order, without order no law. We deny to every individual and to every corporation the right to assume the administration of the law according to arbitrary will; and we cannot too strongly condemn those attempting to aid and abet lawless onditions. The Pullman workmen ould no longer endure the starva ion wages and the justice of their trike is demonstrated in that their omrades in labor, notwithstanding he hard times, in order to manifes heir sympathy, also went on strike This is also admitted by all un )rejudiced newspapers. So far the aborers stood on the ground o ight. But when the destruction o jroperty was begun - when the channels of commerce were inter upted and trade brought to a stanc till and millions of people drawn nto the whirlpool of labor trouble - as soon as these means of force and destruction were resorted to, hen it was time to show the force of law in a manner not to be misunderstood - that the United States s ein "Ordnungs Staat," one union of states, in whichrespect for law is considered the first duty of citizenship. It is to be regretted that in the reest country on earth such upheavels are of frequent occurrence, which might be in place in monarchical countries but not in the land of the free. To every citizen is given the right to vote at the ballot box ;or the laws by which trade and commerce are to be regulated and influenced. At the ballot box the citizen should make it manifest what is best for the individual and what laws should be made and executed for the healthy development of the entire country. But to us it seems that although this is considered as the duty and the right of every citizen, that it is not practiced in such a manner as would be for the best welfare of the country and the majority of its citizens. By an energetic maintenance of order, discontent can be prevented from outbreaks; by rapid, decisive action order can be established against all disturbers and rioters, but existing evils can not be cured by these means. We have here to deal with a disease which needs the treatment of the best physicians, and the sooner radical treatment is cotnmenced the more hopeful may we be that the future development of our country will peacefully proceed. As physicians to whom we would entrust the treatment of this disease we look to our legislatures, and especially to congress, to which bodies competent men should belong, who have at heart the welfare of the people and not the interest of particular manufacturers. Existing evils can be cured only by honest legislators who in both branches of the legislature, both house and senate, hold themselves answerable directly to the people who voted for them.