The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-23 00:00:00

COMBINATION.

The operative cotton.spinners still continne to
bold out ; and we regret to say that they, in almost every in-
stance, evince a most hostile spirit against the few hands which
shew a disposition to come forward to work.- The system of
intimidation and terror is carried to a great length, and corn-
pletely overawes the minds of multitudes who would work and
who want work. The new hands employed are obliged to
sleep in the mills where they work, and to be introduced in the
most secret manner, and notwithstanding every precaution, they
cannot at all times escape the vigilance of the old spinners who
watch the mills, and who use every means, even to the length
of threatening and actual violence, to deter them from engaging
in work. One poor woman in a state of great poverty and distre,s,
and consequently anxious to do something to obtain a liveli-
hood, was, in her attempt to go to work, brutally attacked and se-
verely injured by some miscreants. A proclamation has been is-
sued by the Sheriff, declaring, that any person found mo-
lesting people going to work will be apprehended and dealt
with as rioters and disturbers of the public peace. Still this
does not prevent attempts from being made. Several panes of
glass have been broken—one female spinner was knocked down
by some men, who, it is believed, can be identified. On Thurs-
day evening, the windows in Mr. Aitkin's mill were demolished,
and farther anci.more serious mischief, only prevented by the
arrival of the (iorbals Police. Yesterday, two men were appre-
hended in the act of offering violence to some persons entering
a mill in the Calton. Two of the Police had disguised them-
selves in female attire, and entering the mill as spinners, they
were immediately assaulted by two persons from the crowd on
the watch, who were, accordingly instantly apprehended and
longed in jail. The cavalry have received orders to be on the
alert, and render assistance to the civil power, in case of serious
riot and disorder.

We do not pretend to he able to judge of, or decide upon,
the merits of the case between the operative cotton-spinners
and their masters ; but we deeply lament that the dispute has
been carried this length, and that there is so little prospect
of accommodation, particularly as a similar spirit and dis-
union seem to he spreading betwixt various other operations
and their employers, and which we fear is to kindle discord
and raise up distress, which cannot terminate without some
serious evils to the whole community. Whatever be the
cause of the complaints of the operatives who have left work,
they can have no right whatever to use threats or violence

against any who ,may be inclined and willing to work. In
acting thus, they are clearly contending against the laws,
which will ultimately be found stronger than they. The

situation of the country is at the moment by no means
pleasant or satisfactory. A spirit of disunion and discord is
sown and spreading between the employed and the employer
in almost every branch of business, which threatens the most
serious consequences to the trade and manufactures of this
country, to the best interests of the community, and eventually
and inevitably the most serious calamities to the labouring cies-
t•es themselves. They are, by their conduct, in dictating to the
master now and whet.; and where he should employ his capital
and his skill, deranging the whole trade of the country, raising
every thing to a pitch and a price which will utterly prevent the
British merchant and manufacturer from meeting the merchant
and manufacturer of foreign countries in almost every market,
and consequently they are blindly taking the most effectual
means they can to drive the trade away from this country,
and which, when once driven away, there are so many an-
xious to receive and cherish it, that it will never return.—
Operatives may have just cause of complaint against their
masters, but wherever they have, we are confident they will
find the impartial laws of this country ready and able to pro-
tect them and redress their wrongs. Indeed, their employers
are too sensible of this to attempt, however much they may
be inclined to do them any injustice. But, whatever cause
of con plaint any particular class may have, or whatever
differences may arise between them, nothing can justify the
combination of other trades to support and assist them. This
is a clear infringement of the law, and a moment's reflec-
tion would, we should imagine, convince the most thoughtless
how dangerous and illegal it is. It is at once departing
from the law, and arranging physical force, to intimidate
and controul. If employed by them legally, it may also be
employed against them, and what then would be the conse-
quences ? We would implore the different operatives to con-
sider what they are doing. They cannot dictate to the master,
but for the moment the rate of wages he must pay. The in-
terest of every individual, and the immense competion that
must always exist in a free community and country, with in-
telligence and capital like this, will always secure to them
the highest possible wages that every branch of business can
afford to give—more they cannot ask—more they cannot ob-
tain—more no force nor combination can possibly secure unto
them ! No capitalist will enter into trade in a place where
he cannot carry it on, without dictation and annoyance.
—Where this is the case—where enterprise is checked, com-
petition is at an end, and a lowering of wages must en.
sue, because there will be more hands than employment.—
That such must be the results in this part of the country, under
the present system, cannot admit of a doubt. One of our most
extensive cotton-spinners told us a few days ago, if things con.
tinue in the present unsettled state, or if a recurrence of such
strikes takes place, that he must abandon his business, or with-
draw his capital to a part of the country where he could employ
it to the best advantage, in security and tranquillity.
If, by dictation and combination, the operatives effectually
derange the trade of this country, a re-action must inevitably
ensue, which must press upon them with want and poverty.
Every thing tends to accelerate the former object at this mo-
ment, and the latter will as certainly succeed as the shadow
fbllows the body. The cheapness of coals, for example, has
been the creating and the support of the manufactures of
Glasgow. These, by a combination of the colliers, are now
raised to, or fast approaching to a price, which manufactures
cannot bear, to come in competition with other parts of the
kingdom. Drive business from this, and where would be
the demand for coals—where even moderate instead of high
wages for the colliers ? Yet we learn with surprise and astonish.
ment, that in consequence of the resolution of the public to seek
1 supplies of coals elsewhere, that the colliers yesterday came to
demand higher wages from their employers, and that the col.
Hers in Ayrshire have struck work, or have resolved to strike
' work, if any coals were sent to Glasgow. The consequences of
such proceedings may easily be foreseen—the derangement of
our trade and manufactures, and the early attention and in-
terference of our Legislature, by strong laws, to cut up by
the roots such evils, and to prevent their recurrence. There
is no alternative, but from the returning good sense of the
operatives and labourers, bringing them. to abandon a course,
which, if persisted:in, must bnng severe calamities upon them-
selves, and severe losses upon their country.—(Glasgow Courier,
Dec. 18.)