The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-08 00:00:00

THE PRESTON STRIKE.

PRESTON, May 6.—lt seems that the conclusion
formed at the beginning of the week, that the Preston
strike had come to an end, was something premature.
Whilst the spinners and self-actor minders, a numerous
and-peculiarly powerful body, declare their determina-
tion to persevere in the demand with which they com-
menced the campaign, the weavers and other classes of
operatives evince a spirit of disquietude, hold meetings,
subscribe funds, and intimate that they only " bide their
time."

The spinners have to-day issued the annexed
address :
" To THE WORKING CLASSES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
"On the wings of the press to all corners of the land
has the intelligence been conveyed that the Preston strike
is at an end. So far as the weavers are concerned, this is
true, arising out of a chain of circumstances that neither
the executive nor the weavers themselves could help; but
so far as the spinners and self-acting minders are concerned,
the Preston Strike is not at an end
" This body of men numbers 3,000. They met on Mon-
day morning, the Ist May, and passed unanimously the
following resolutions :
" ' Resolved,—That we, the spinners and self-acting
minders of Preston, do hereby pledge ourselves not to re-
sume work until we have gained our object, i. e., the
same prices as we had previous to being locked out, or the
average prices of the trade.
"12 That wo tender our sincere thanks to the trades and
the public of the country for their liberal support, and beg
a continuance of the same during the remainder of the
struggle, and we especially acknowledge the noble exertions
of the Amalgamated Committee of Trades.'
" Our minds are firmly made up that we will continue
this struggle, if the country will only lend us that support
they have hitherto done ; and when we tell the country,
that throughout the whole of this protracted dispute very
few of our body have up to this moment resumed labour,
it will, we hope, be encouragement to proceed. Indeed,
why should we ? Our wages, with toil the most incessant,
with an industry that never flagged from year end to year
end, were inadequate to find for ourselves and families
those common comforts of life that should be found in the
heroes of the industrious poor of this country.
'
n.'nelEfas the condition of the master class during the last
months been such as to impress on our minds any love
or veneration for them as masters or English gentlemen ?
"1 Have they not refused to listen to the voice of reason
from whatever quarter it came ? and feeling sure that
we, like the
elainbhafbitants of a beleagured city, would
have to
the haggard fiend to gaunt famine, they have hugged
devotion. Shall theo their bosoms with a dove-like
are gone by, andc'sw, when the storms of winter
lessened by more genial aevelritics of the struggle will be
bountiful, however harsh sunny days (for nature is still
ay be)relinquish to contest
The country mast give theaannms Our colours are nailed
to the mast and shall never be welled down in token of sur-
render, so long as those who have stood by us will continue
their support.
bceoruld he supported
" If twenty or thirty thousand pee 1
aalr reduced to
for so long a time, surely now our nupme
masters
three thousand, the united trades with a ss
prices
aubseriasters
If'oarrnlabour
each will enable us to contilnikuee
the
eis
acontestmo pr t
of Preston give something
as the majority of the manufacturing districts.
" The press of this country has said much about the
demands of the operatives, but they never show us why
the masters of Preston should not pay the same for their
labour as other places.
" We deeply regret the misery and distress now impend-
ing over the town of Preston ; the famishing poor which
must ere long crowd to the overseers' office ; the bankruptcy
and ruin looming over the tradesmen, and the dismay that
begins to be felt in all classes of society; but knowing,
alas ! too well, the miserable price we receive for our labour
in comparison with other towns ; having earnestly requested
the masters to refer our claims to arbitration, claims the
justice of which they have not endeavoured to dispute;
having found all our efforts unavailing, and knowing the
strength and powers of support we possess, we are deter-
mined to maintain this contest for justice ; we invoke the
aid of labour throughout the kingdom, and thus convince
the employers that the spinners and minders are not yet
the crushed and soulless things they would make them.
P." Byon order of the spinners and self-acting minders of
rest.
" Preston, May 5, 1854."
The mills are now supplied with hands to the extent
of their present requirements ; but the non-resumption
of work by the spinners and self-actor minders of course
prevents the employment of a large number of weavers,
card-room operatives, dressers, &c. It is stated that the
associated masters are making every exertion to
bring
in immigrants to supply the places of the spinners and
minders, a number being expected from Glasgow.
Meanwhile, the town suffers lamentably in its trade, and in the moral deterioration of a large portion of its ope-
rative population,