Star.
London, England, 1819-08-06 00:00:00

employed in the argument has allusion to water,
which always will find its own level if means be not
employed to prevent it, as by damming up on the one
hand, or underdraining on the other. Will any one
contend that a man desirous to obtain more water
than he has, to move the machinery of his establish-
ment, has a right to work like a mole, and by getting
Under his neighbour's fish pond make a way for the
water toiled its level in his own milt dam?
Our Contemporary will, we think, readily compre-
hend this argument. In its practical application it
resolves itself into this conclusion ; that no man has
any right, from the laws of social intercourse, to com-
pel other people to pay any part of the wages of his
workmen : hi has no right to say I will only pay you
osze-half of the wages to which you are entitled, you
must go to the Parish for the other halt—or starve.
—ADAM SMITiI has said, and said truly, that labour
should be left to find its own level—but in his very
statement he asumes that no third party shall be called
upon to furnish any part of the remuneration. We
subjoin a letter from another Manufacturer; contain-
ing some most sensible observations on this subject,
and well deserving of attention. He has read and
' studied ADAM SMITH, and those who would take any
part of his doctrine as an axiom, should not overlook
corollaries;Lis for his whole doctrine is founded on the
principle that a man must always live by his work, and,
his wages must, at least, be sufficient to maintain him.
" They must even upon most occasions be somewhat
more; otherwise it would be impossible for him to
bring up a family, and the race of such workmen
could not last beyond the first generaiion." And he
inclines to the opinion, that the labour of an able-
bodied man is " computed, at the lowest, to be worth
double his maintenance."—( Vol. i. in ninth edit. pages
102 and 103.)
We have contended, and we still contend, and what
is more, we are certain that we shall at last prevail,
that the workmen should be paid their fair wages by
their employers and not by others ; and we do main-
tain that they should be forced to pay them, but not
ala BONAPARTA as has been imputed to us. How
then ? Precisely by turning the artillery of the un-
just employer against himself. He says, "Go to the
Parish for ONE HALF of your wages." Let the Parishes,
in return, say, " GET THE traotsfrom your Master !"
But how is this to be effected? Of this we have a
practical example ; for happily the principle for
which we have been contending is beginning not
only to be understood but to be acted upon.—
In the STAR of Monday last we informed our
Readers-that at Leicester it had been resolved that
the prices of labour agreed on between the Master
Frame-work-Knitters and their workmen in 1817,
should not be reduced. To effect this it was agreed
in Vestry at Hinckley, and with the approbation of
the Vicar and High 'Sheriff, that a Ten penny rate
should be raised for the support of those who might
be deprived of employment, by refusing to work un-
der the prices agreed to by the Masters in 1817—
See the STAR of Wednesday.
Let this example be followed by other Parishes, and
the masters will be compelled to give wages adequate
to the maintenance of their workmen. What has been
the effect in Leicestershire? An increased demand for
goods. For the buyers now see that no hope of farther
reduction in the wholesale prices is to be expected.
Another instant benefit will result from the adoption
of our system : the men, being paid a fair price for
labour, will be under no temptation to work eighteen
hours, instead of twelve, a day ; and of course eigh-
teen men will find employment, while twelve only
are in work at present. Our limits oblige us to close
our remarks at present, subjoining the letter to which
we have alluded above :

---
19.TELE FREEHOLDERS OF WILTSHIRE.

• ,
T" glorious victory which I ovit to your virtuous
exertions in the sacred cause of Independence, is at length t
achieved, and I am placed in that alevsta station to which I
aspired, upon no other principles than those which I was sure
you would finally approve, and dignify by your general sanction.
The day of my succes ts that from which I must nornore mate
professions of principle. The sincerity of all my past declara-
tions I must now evince by the faithful discharge of sny most
Important public duties, and by my ever vigilant regard to your In-
terests, Rights, and Privileges, committed to any care as one of
your Represcitatives in the Legislature. To obtain your favour
bat ever bear. the main ambition of my life. It must now be
my anxious study, by deserving a continuance of it, to retain
anal to tmprove it.
I nine th'..l triumph which we have gained, because I con-
sider it Ilk triumph of that Indepuidence, without which we
can pever be happy even in prosperity, and can never deserve
to he proven: is. It is the triumph of the principles of British
Liberty, and of our invaluable Constitution.
Rvir grouted for the honour to which I have attained, by
youriadep.adent Suffrages, I r mvu, .
Your most obliged, faithful, and devoted Servant,
Sanatory, Augiutt:4, 1019. JOHN BESETT.

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

• FRIDAY; AUGUST 8, 1919.
Tag 'NNW. •
PDT= 01VITOOKil TIM DAT AT ODA O'CLOCK :
' Bank Stock 239
• 3 per Cent. Reduced 71if
3 per Cent. CAmsols 701 711 i
Si per Cent. 808-4 per Cent. 90th
5 per Cent. Navy 104(ti
Bank Long Annuities 19 1,163•18
India Bonds 10 11 pre. •
Exchequer Bills (2d.) 1 2 pre. par
Omnium 4i 4 pre.
Consoli for. Acct. 70/ 71H.

We are happy to find that the question which we
have agitated respecting just and equitable remune-
ration for labour, is taken into discussion, and with a
proper temper and feeling, by those of our contem-
poraries who cannot yet entertain our views upon the
subject. We have particularly in our eye a respec-
table Morning Paper (the Herald) which cannot be
charged with having ever shewn a want of due feel-
ing to the .claims of humanity. To the statements
on this question, in that Paper, we shall therefore pay
due attention ; fully persuaded that the Editor will
de us justice in one point in which he has mis-
taken, or rather assumed what be coaceives to be,
necessarily, the measure we would recommend' for
obtaining, practically, the improvement which we
aim at, in our present condition—and if we succeed
in convincing him of his mistake, it is possible he
may yet lend his powerful aid to the accomplishment
of the object we have in view ; for we have never
found him backward to avow and to correct any
erroneous opinion, taken up from hasty views, or ra-
ther, perhaps, from erroneous premises. On some
vital principles we are already agreed. Alluding
to the STAR he says :
" We readily enter into the spirit in which a respectable Even-
ing Paper has taken up the distresses of the poor. The princi-
ple it enforces has been more than once previously brought for-
ward by us, viz. that among the means of taking the mass of
the manufacturing workmen out of the hands of agitators, the
most efficacious might be, benevolence on the part of the Pub-
lic at large, and of the manufacturing employers in particular—
and ,it is matter of regret and surprize, that the alarming pro-
gress of sedition. and the agonizing cries of distress, have'not
already opened the'channels of charitable contribution. We also
expressed the wish that a conciliatory arrangement of wages
might be brought about between the workman and the muter.
'Our evening aotemporary contends that the Master-manufactu-
rers cotdd, with reasonable profit to themselves, give higher
wages, and that they should beforeed to it .'" FROM A MANUFACTURER.
So far we are agreed, reserving, however, to give Sts--I have attentively read the letter signed" A MANUFAC.
our own explanation of the sense to be given to the rotten," inserted in the STAR of Tuesday.
concluding words, " that they (the Masters) should As my sentiments are in a great measure in unison with that
writer upon this branch of political economy, I shall not take up
be forced to give higher wages." We have not em- any part of your valuable Paper by going over the same ground,
ployed these express words; but we have no objection but briefly refer you to the practical result of the very plan
to adopt them as our own—not, hpwever , with the sense which be recommends, and which has been constantly acted
which as to the mode of accomplishment he would have , upon in Spitalfields for many years.
In the 15th year of his present Majesty an Act was passed,
to be taken as that which we recommend. That he
enabling the manufacturers and the journeymen weavers of the
has mistaken our meaning, is plain, frcm the mode
silk-trade to settle among themselves the price of labour; and
he has pursued to combat the spectre which he has when they were igreed as to the price of making any articles,l
raised. That we may avoid tne possibility of mis- they went before the Magistrates, who ratified the agreement I',
and this 'fixed price becomes, by law, the regular wages of the
stating his argument, we shall give it in his own words:
journeymen, until it may be altered by any subsequent /Atreus/I
.a It is very likely (says the Morning Herold) that if BONA-
TARTE had found Imperial France in the same predicament, he
in this district; and I give it as my deagreement-
would have sent Commissioners to the manufacturing towns,
I have for many years been one of the principal sillt.manufac-
.who should settle the rate, and impose it arbitrarily upon both tiara's.z,ded opinion, and
as the rest* of much practical knowledge, that this Act has
parties. We will suppose the rate might even be fair, but still
secured to the industrious journeymen what may be considered
the imposition of it would be a monstrous violation of political
as a fair price fur their labour. It has kept the district perfectly
commercial freedom. Neither could it be imposed by the
quiet, an d pre. vented the enthrone rise of the poor-rates which
workmen, or even by the majority, or by any number of the
we must have had recourse to, to make up for the deficiency of
trasters, without violating the principles of freedom, according
the earnings of the industrious poor, had they been oppressed to
to which every-individual has a right to catty on trade. In fact,
tabour, like any other article In the market, must be left to find
that degree which has been so awfully witnessed in those parts
its own level according to the demand for it. The master ma of the country which have been 12ft without any kind of
cheaply legisla-
nufacturer has the sa tive interference. The average amount of the earnings of my
t.se right to purchase labour as as
eymen is not more than from 15s. to 165. per week, though
he can, which the labourer has to buy his loaf as cheaply as he
Ourn
can. The establishment of a minimum, in the one case, would I keep them constantly employed throughout the year. This,
surely, cannot be deemed more than fair wages ; and with this,
be as unjust and prejudicial as that of a ntazinsum in the other."
the multitudinous poor of Spitalfields are satisfied. They are
We have not yet recommended any direct interfe-
peaceable and orderly; and notwithstanding attempts have been
route by Government to settle the price of labour.
made by Deputies from the North to excite in them a spirit of
We have not proposed that labour should not, like revolt, they continue to maintain a becoming respect for the
any other article, be left to find its own level. We legalized authorities of the land, and a high regard for the esta-
have been contending for a principle, which, when Wished gradations in society.
Out bow are the poor oppressed in other parts of the'country?
well understood, will bp acted upon by the Public,
Look to Coventry, and to many of the principal manufacturing
to prevent labour front being DEPRESSED BELOW its
district' In the north. There the poor journeyman labouil bud
proper level, by artificial means In fact, some of the for sixteen houri a day, for about 6s. or 75. per week ! This will
doctrines laid down by our Economists have been not afford tread for his children. With a breiken heart he is
misun,e:stood and misapplied. The figure of speech orced to apply to the parish for a few shillings per week,