Another prominent question upon which the two platforms express
opinions, is that of labor and capital. And in discussing this question,
as all others, the Republican party deals not in vague promises or
glittering generalities, but in definite statements. It points to what
it has done; it presents accomplished facts to sustain its assertion
that it will honestly favor “all legislation tending to secure to the
laborers their just proportion of the proceeds of their work, to protect
them against the encroachments of organized capital, and to provide easy
and speedy redress for all wrongs suffered by them, or threatened to
them.”
A political party making professions of devotion to the interests of any
class of the people should be able to show by its record, that when in
position to control legislation, it originated or adopted some policy
beneficial to that class. Can the Democratic party present such evidence
of friendliness for or sympathy with the laboring masses? For nearly
thirty years it had supreme control of the National Government. Did it,
during that time, devise or perfect any measure or policy to ameliorate
the condition of the laboring classes, or shape and direct legislation
to the end that human selfishness or rapacity should be held in check,
and the opportunities of all men be equalized?