AMERICAN POLITICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2426, 17 November 1892, Page 2

AMERICAN POLITICS.

Republicanism in America has received a severe blow. Republicanism represents capital, Democracy labour, and the latter has won hands down by the election of General Cleveland. Had the election taken place a short time ago, the result would have been different, but the capitalists overreached themselves in the McKinley tariff and the strike at Carnegie’s works. Mr Carnegie subscribed 75,000 dollars towards President Harrison’s election expenses, but it was a poor set off against the mischief wrought by the strike at his works. A couple of years ago the McKinley tariff was giveu legal effect to with the view of bettering up already over*

protected industries. This, of course, gave a great advantage to American industries, and greatly increased profits, but instead or increasing wages proportionately the American capitalists began to lower them. They thus attacked the labourers front and rear. First, they increased the cost of living to him by means of increased duties, and secondly, they decreased his purchasing power by reducing his wages. It was a well-laid scheme for reducing the poor laborer to slavery, and bringing about the social conditions depicted in Caesar’s Column. We are not, therefore, surprised to find that the labourer has turned on them, and hurled them from power. The workmen at Carnegie’s struck against a reduction in wages, but they were defeated with bludgeons and bayonets. In the election of President Cleveland,, however, they have returned the blow with compound interest, and the beauty of it is that no one can strike them back. The American election is, however, only a reproduction of what took place in Australasia a few years ago. The workmen of Australasia struck and were defeated, but they have had their revenge through the ballot box. There is not we believe, one colony in Australasia which has not had a change of Government since, then while, at the same considerable numbers of bona fide working men occupy seats in Parliament. This will undoubtedly exercise tremendous influence on the attitude of labour towards capital in the future. It will be found that we shall not have many strikes in future, but that workmen will seek the redress of their grievances through the ballot box. They will strike where no one can strike them back, and where they can inflict a deep and lasting wound too. However, “it is an ill wind that blows no body any good.” The result of the American election is likely to exercise a beneficial effect on the commerce of this colony. For years we have been asking America to admit our wool into her markets duty free, but instead of listening to our prayer she increased the duty to 55 per cent, under the McKinley tariff. This will now he reduced, if not completely abolished, and our wool, and probably some of our other products, will have a good market in America, We owe this to the avarice of American millionaires overreaching itself, and becoming so odius that at last the good sense of the nation realises the necessity of checking it.