The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-29 00:00:00

_MEE LABOUR v. TRADES' UNIONS.'

A circular has been sent to all the newspapers in
England, Wales, and Scotland by the Free-Labour
Registration Society cn Free Labour versus Trades'
Unions. The first proposition laid down is that
" Trades' Unions are neither more nor less than
bodies of men associated together to forward their
own interests against the general good of society,
and tend to create dearness instead of cheapness.
There can be no doubt but that the cheaper every-
thing is, the greater number of people are able to
become possessed of what they require ; the dearer
everything is, the fewer people are able to obtain
what they want." Now we grant this with the
reservation that labour differs from produce. We
become so material that men and things are con-
founded. It does not follow that because labourers
and trades associate together to forward their own
interests that the combination is against the general
good of society. If it benefits them, it benefits a
large section of society, and they have as much right
to get the highest price for their labour as a com-
bination of banks to fix the rate of interest for
money. It is a well-established fact that the agri-
cultural labourer of England, from being the work-
ing man best off in the world, has descended into
the lowest scale in the course of centuries, and most
rapidly within the last. Many causes combined
against him, while he, poor fellow, did not under-
stand how to combine in his own interest, and
therefore he went to the wall. The feeling that so
it will always be, now makes handicraft men so ear-
nest in organizing into Trades' Unions, and if these
unions were confined in an honest and enlightened
way to maintaining; the interests of the trades,
they would be among the most justifiable or-
ganizations of the Empire. But unfortunately
the rulers too often seek power and the
society degenerates into tyranny. The second
proposition says, " Trades' Unionists consider that
it is right for men of all trades to combine. Let
them ask themselves the question what the result
would be if the farmers throughout the country
entered into a powerful combination and (being
supported by the importers of corn) doubled the
present price of bread ?" And here we heartily agree
with the men, and feel confident that if the farmers
and the importers thought they could combine with
a chance of success they would begin to-morrow,
and we would have the price of bread at the highest
point to which they could push it. Does the
writer imagine that the present price is due to the
moderation of the farmer ? A reference to Froud's
history, or any other which truthfully states the
the position of workmen in olden days will in effect
refute the following statement It is said on all
sides that joiners, masons, bricksetters, plasterers,
painters, &c., perform only one-half or two-thirds
the work for a day's wages that they formerly did,
although their remuneration is now 25 to 30 per
cent. higher " than previous to the alteration in the
` corn laws." "Why is there not to be free trade in

English labour as well as in corn, cattle, coffee, tea,
sugar, rice, &c., &c.?" Ask the co-operative
societies whether there is free trade in coffee, t 33,
sugar, rice, &c. Leave grocers to their own devices,
and the prices will be fixed by combination as
they are, and always have been, when possible.
"Were these necessaries of life produced under the
rules of trades' unions, the cost would be so exorbi-
tant that nine-tenths of the world would die of
starvation." How comes it, then, that England, in
which these unions most flourish, is the country
which exports the greatest produce of labour ? and
the United States, wherein trades' unions thrive
almost in an equal degree, is the largest exporter
of agricultural produce ? The circular then
continues as follows :-4(lt is a matter of little
consequence to the public whether the sawgrinderg
of Sheffield get £5 or five shillings for a days
wages; but the present cost of building ell'
hances the rent of every description of dwel-
ling, and thus affects all classes of society.
There are thousands of boys anxious to becel3l°
joiners, masons, bricksetters, plasterers, painters,
&c. But the rules of the unions prevent them en-
tering these several callings; the poor rates are thug
immensely increased, and many of the working
classes driven (of necessity) to obtain a living 11
dishonest means. It is an act of great tyranny to
prevent the labouring population bringing up their
children to the trade they like best. With a free
exchange of labour there would be abundance of
employment for every class of workpeople. The
public are so deeply interested in this itnport.tut
question, that it behoves them to give (in all de'
partments of the building trade) a preference to
Non-Unionists, or members of the Free Labour get:
gistration Society." The public ought to strive to VP
trades' unions on the best foundations, and direct
them to the most justifiable objects; for instance, the
combination of labour and capital, wherein the Pre-
fits are divided according to a system which makes
good management, skill, and energy alike profitable
to each. Let labour, instead of regarding capital a:
is enemy, learn to consider it as its best friend. Le
secretaries and directors of trades' unions be pullel uPa
when theytravel beyond their legitimate functions all
establish a tyranny, acting the part of the wolf agaiest
the very sheep it was their duty to guard. 'Phis
weighty question of Trades' Unions must occupY the
attention of Parliament, and be fully ventilate's;
when we feel assured that the mass of Englishtee
will be amazed at the contrast presented by the pros'
perous state of the English workman in olden days
compared with his present condition, and what Re
all desire to learn, is the reason.

Frank Leslie says :—" The female question
to
making strange progress. From a city so little likeiJes..
be stirred by sentiment as Lisbon, we have received 80: is
ral numbers of a paper called A Voz Feminine,
written by ladies, and devoted to the cause of wolti'1;0,1
emancipation. Space is given to fiction, poetry, 1101-,:elp
history, and fashions—the latter being described in Fre'cw.
A Voz Feminine would be useful to persons who are stu

ing Pot tuo•uese." 131'
The Aston Advertiser is to issue an evening co
tion, half the size of the morning paper. It will be 1113,,,
the editorial supervision of Mr. E. W. Bacon, of Chiefibm-
[ADVERTISEMENT. J—Dyspepsia(lndigestion), Constipatiot,V;er
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Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord Llertpft;
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unsavoury and more than sloppy imitations to which, eited• ,
authority, Baron Liebig's name is most audaciously ate 110,4
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Births. 01Cle'
BURNAND—On the 27th inst., at 8, Sussex-place'
pack, W., Mrs. Francis Burnand, of a daughter. oaer
HALFORD—On the 28th inst., at The Grove, Ha
smith, the wife of Edward Halford, Esq., of a se-c.toreft
HAnvEx— On the 28th inst., at Upper Tooting, '-'
the wife of Ei ward Harvey, Esq., of a daughter'

Marriages.
gal
DUNCOMBE —ACIIESON—On the 28th iast , at -
Hanover-square, Captain F. W. Dunc.ombe, Gr:to,
"
Guards, son of Admiral the Hon. Arthur flAr
th,) Lady Katharine Acheson, daughter. of tho 13'
of Gosfurd.
cc o
PRESCOTT—NUTTALL- On the 113th lust tri
K.,,nuington, 11 ory Prescott, of Ifollati'd-g"v' I,:e/
Aliry-Aun, eldest daughter of James Nuttall, q't
114. g-ton-road.

Deaths.
CRANWORTII—On tho 27th in t at 40 11 yer Br°°U 1
...sireeti
the Right Hon. Lord Cranworth,s.' ag,APi 8..
~ cote
r
PLUMMER-01i tho 2Gth ine at St. Awrtistin°'4'
bury, Win. Plummer, Esq.,. aged 68. ° TI, jOiti
TRAVERS—On the 24th inst at Barnes, Surrey' ".--9-
Travers, Esq., aged 59. ” ,, ,oburi'
Tl:m.---On the 28th ult., at, Grookbam 'louse, I'le"
1

Richard. Tull, Esq., age'd 67.
10
7.IDSE. I
London : Printed and Published by VILLLIINI 1,--- lo 11 t
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Ti 1,13 5UN03.10,,0` ioti °-
Strand, in the Precinct of the So voy, in the
' -
Middlesex.—Wednesday, July 29, 180.