The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-03 00:00:00

.'l6 ]G 4

C. MOORE WILSON, Treasurer.

Etberpool

TUESDAY MORNING, JAN. 3, 1854.

THE WAR BETWEEN LABOUR AND
CAPITAL.-THE COMBATANTS.

IN several recent instances we have had occasion, while
treating of the strikes of workmen, to designate this war
of labour against capital as an unholy, because an unna-
tural, war. Capital, as the result of skill, foresight, and
self-denial, is indispensable to the well-being of society,
and any movement which has for its avowed or hidden
object the annihilation or serious dilapidation of capital,
is a movement in which, sooner or later, all classes of the
community will find something inimical to their interests.
That such a war has been waged by workmen against
their employers in the manufacturing and mining dis-
tricts, is a matter of too much notoriety to require demon-
stration ; and that its results hitherto have been great
public inconvenience and the source of much general appre-
hension, are not in any degree mitigated by a knowledge of
the fact, that they have been ruinously disastrous to the
workmen themselves. Nor, strictly speaking, can it be
admitted as a palliation of the evil result, that it was
brought about through well-intentioned ignorance, led on
by ignorance as consummate, but less innocent, and more
designing. Society has a just right, and too deep an in-
terest, in maintaining the natural relation which capital
and labour have established between themselves, to allow
the validity of such inconclusive reasoning. Capital and
labour are each indispensable, not merely to the vigorous
working of each other, but to their very existence. La-
bour may, indeed, with truth, be represented as the bones
and sinews and muscles of the social body ; but, if so,
capital must take the place of that vital fluid, which, pro-
ceeding from the centre organ, gives nourishment and
vivacity to even the most distant extremity. Diminish

this stream, and you paralyze the action of all the mem-
bers ; divert its current, or taint it at its source, and the
bones will become brittle, the sinews rigid, and the
muscles powerless. So with the body politic : sustain the

stream of life in purity, let it flow untrammelled in its
natural course, and you secure a harmonious action, a
vigorous and powerful frame. Coercion, in physics as in
morals, has invariably been found an inadequate means of
supporting even a good cause, and its attempted applica-
tion to regulate the relations between employers and em-
ployed, in the shape of strikes, real or impending, forms
no exception to the general rule. Temporary circum-
stances may, indeed, for the moment, lead to an apparent
yielding on the one, part, and a triumph on the other ;
but all such compulsory obediences have been invariably
short-lived, while their tendency, indeed certainty, to
create unfriendliness and animosity between the parties is
as well known and generally admitted as it is to be la-
mented. In any contention for mastery between employers
and employed, experience has again and again shown that
each of the parties is powerful to injure the other,
but weak as infancy to benefit themselves,—with this
slight difference, that the power of combined action
is more easily and effectively wielded by the masters
than by the men. The men, from their numbers,—
the great feature of their strength,—are more difficult
to hold in union, their resources are more slender, and
their demands :upon those resources more extensive and
more instant than those of the masters ;—to the latter a
stoppage of work is a cause of loss, and a subject of annoy-
ance, if not of anger ; to the former it is the instrument of
immediate privation, and the harbinger of protracted mi-
sery, if not of ultimate and utter ruin. How unwise a
contest, then, where the means are so unequal—how
wicked where the results are so fruitless or so fatal !

That the disastrous consequences here contemplated are
no phantoms of a disordered imagination, is too painfully
manifested in the present position of affairs between the
master-manufacturers and the operatives. The former
taking alarm at the unreasonable demands, and still more
unreasonable dictation of the latter, have entered into a
combination to, as they say, reduce the men to reason; in
other words, they have resolved to reduce the men to a
state of greater subordination than they were in previous
to their ill-advised strike ; and this movement has, cha-
racteristically enough, been originated in Manchester.
The particular nature of the proposed humiliation it is not,
at present, worth while taking into consideration. That
the masters, irritated by the contumacy of their workmen,
may be tempted at a favourable moment to retaliate, is so
consonant with the principles of Iniman action, as to
afford little ground for wonder. How far, under pre-
sent circumstances, they may be justified is another
and more serious subject for inquiry. It must
be fresh in the memory of every one, that, within a few
years past, these same Manchester manufacturers invited
all the workmen throughout the kingdom to clamour for
a repeal of the corn laws, on the ground that such repeal,
by causing a greater demand for manufactured goods,
would enable them to earn more wages. We all remem-
ber, also, that, yielding to these clamours, the government
of the day, whether wisely or not matters little now,
repealed the corn-laws. It is equally patent to all, that,
through a series of fortuitous circumstances, after the re-
peal of these laws, the prosperity of those manufacturers
became great—according to their own phrase, unexam-
pledly great, and no small pains were bestowed by those
same gentlemen in displaying their prosperity and boast-
, ing of it. What, then, was more natural than that the
workman should deem it his right to share in, and to de-
mand that he should share in this unexampled prosperity ?
His master told him that if he shouted well for this pros-
perity it should come—he was next told that it had
come, and come through the powerful agency of his
clamour. He did not believe that he had had his full
share in the benefit, and following the example set, and
the advice inculcated by his master, and believing in the
power he was told by that same master he possessed,
he urged his fellows to join him in pursuing the
course he had seen so successfully followed by his
betters, and has found to his sad dismay, that al-
though he may agitate to his heart's content, and
shout till his lungs are empty and sore, for the benefit of
his master's class, he must not use the same means for his
own seeming advantage. So far from seeking to justify
or commend the conduct of the operative turn-outs, we
have invariably condemned them as alike impolitic and
unjust ; but we are not prepared to recognize the propriety
of the censure, nor to applaud the punishment awarded
by so questionable a tribunal. We have read in a book
which we regard as infinitely more authoritative than the ,
oracles of the Corn-law League, that "he who soweth the
wind shall reap the whirlwind," and we do not see any
special reason why the warning injunction should be re-
versed or suspended in favour of the members of this new
league.

The manifesto of this new combination acquaints us
with another of their secrets, the truth of which, however,
we never previously doubted. That is the utter dissipa-
tion of their great theoretical free-trade fallacy. Through
the Times, the organ of the party, we are informed that,
" Had there been no strike, long ere this the masters
would have been obliged to reduce wages, or have re-
course to half time. Nobody at this moment tau fail to
see the truth of this." Has it, indeed, come to this, that
nobody can fail to see that The abolition of the Corn-laws

JONATHAN PEEL.
C. R. JACSON.

R. BRYAN SMITE-I.

has not secured to the artizan unlimited demands for la-
bour, and increased remuneration ? The Times, eating its
former prophecy, now tells the artizan that he must sub-
mit to reduced wages or half work ! Alas for the unchange-
able improvement in his prospects ! and alackaday for the
veracity and judgment of that mightyprophet which sets its
dicta above the opinions of even the wisest ! Experience only
proves what was specifically enough pointed out at the time,
that the abolition of the corn-laws would be powerless in
sustaining a demand for manufactured goods ; and we
greatly fear speedily to see the other portion of the pro-
tectionist's prophecy realized, viz., that it will lead to a
permanent reduction in the wages of labour. So long as
the harvests were sufficiently productive, provisions re-
mained cheap, manufactures were rapidly consumed, and
labour was in great demand. One bad harvest has re-
versed all that, the price of provisions is enormously high,
the Times tells us " the declining course of trade shows that
masters could not have carried on up to this time a high
rate of production at the same wages as heretofore."
What, then, have we gained ? Had the corn-laws been un-
repealed, how much higher a duty would we have been
paying on wheat than we are doing at the present
moment ?

ANNUAL DINNER OF THE MERSEY
STEEL AND IRON WORKS' BENEFIT
SOCIETY.

MB annual dinner of the above society was held on
Monday last, at the Stag Hotel, Mill-street, Toxteth-park.
The members of the society, who are all employed at the
company's works, met at one o'clock, and, preceded by the
band belonging to the establishment, marched to the
hotel, where they partook of an excellent dinner. At the
principal table we observed the worthy employers, W. J.
Horsfall, Esq., T. B. Horsfall, Esq., M.P., and George H.
Horsfall, Esq., as also the following gentlemen :—W. Clay,
Esq., (manager,) T. Webb, Esq., Messrs. R. L. Clay, B.
Samples, T. N. Simpson, J. S. King, John R. Hughes,
J. Bolas, Mossom, J. Owens, Cookson, Leyland, (Miles-
street,) &c., &c.
After the usual loyal toasts had been given, the Vice-
chairman (Mr. EASTWOOD) proposed the health of their
respected principal, Wm. J. Horsfall, Esq., remarking,
that it needed no comment from him to induce them to
receive it with the applause it merited. He was known
to all, and all appreciated his sterling value. (Loud
cheers.) He might be allowed to remark, that, at the last
club meeting, it was unanimously resolved that an address
be presented to W. J. Horsfall, Esq., expressive of the
society's thanks for the warm interest he had always
taken in their affairs, (Cheers.)
The following address was then read on behalf of the
society, by Mr. JOHN R. HUGHES :
" The Address of the Members of the Mersey Steel
and Iron Works' Benefit Society, to William Joseph
Horsfall, Esquire.
" Another year has passed away since last we met to
celebrate the anniversary of our society's existence, and we
are now entered into its 19th year.
" In justice to ourselves, we cannot permit the present
opportunity of meeting you around this festive board to
pass by, without recording and expressing our grateful
sense of the kindly sympathy, the countenance and sup-
port which you have invariably extended towards us.
" We frankly and gratefully acknowledge that the en-
couragement and support so generously afforded us, have
greatly contributed to strengthen our own efforts, and
enabled us to benefit each other, by perseveringly and (we
would hope) energetically carrying on the operations of our
society to an active and effective working ; for through its
agency we have had the happy privilege of administering
aid to the necessitous and the afflicted ; to comfort and
solace many a head bowed down in sickness and consequent
trouble; many a home and hearth that otherwise would
have been very desolate and cheerless have been rendered
comparatively joyous, by the wholesome administration
of our society's united funds ; and when death's stern unre-
lenting hand has laid prostrate the body of a fellow-member
and fellow-workman, leaving behind him the widow and the
orphan, overwhelmed in bitter sorrow, helpless, and oft-
times in want, it has been our happy province to pour the
balm of consolation and friendly aid in this most righteous
cause.

" We feel it incumbent upon us, therefore, to express
to you, Sir, as also to our excellent and worthy manager,
Mr. Clay, our hearty and grateful thanks for your counte-
nance of our society's cause; and would, moreover, desire
particularly to thank you for your additional contributions
in the past year of fines imposed in the works, which you
have been generously pleased to instruct shall be granted
to our funds hereafter.

" Collectively and individually we would wish you much
happiness, hoping that you may be long spared to adorn
the high station which you occupy, and sincerely pray that
" Those blessings you may ever share
Which on the bounteous good attend."
(Three hearty and enthusiastic cheers were here given,
and the band followed with an appropriate air.)
W. J. HORSFALL, Esq., rose to reply, and said he never
was more overpowered by his feelings than on the present
occasion. He thanked the members for the kind and
enthusiastic manner in which they had been pleased to
receive the mention of his name, but he feared there was
expressed in the address handed him more than he could
lay claim to ; he had, nevertheless, always had a warm
interest in the prosperity of their society, as indeed of
every society that would tend to ameliorate the condition
of his workpeople. (Loud cheers.) He urged upon all
the workmen to become members of the society, which he
characterised as the best he knew of, and observed that it
was managed by themselves in an admirable manner ; a
workman was the secretary, and a workman was the
treasurer, and he said that, having looked over their books,
he found there was a surplus over and above the year's
expenditure, which he thought was most gratifying. He
had much pleasure in being there that day, to see so many
happy faces around him. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. GEORGE GOULDER rose to propose the health of
Thomas B. Horsfall, Esq., M.P., who he said was not only
a good master, as all in that room could testify, but he
was, moreover, their worthy representative, and one who,
as one of their rulers, would allow him, a working man,
to have the Bible upon his shelf, and let him read it how
he liked, where he liked, and when he liked. (Cheers.)
He would also tell those in the room who didn't know it,
that he was in favour of the big loaf, and what was more
of big wages ! (Cheers.) He begged, therefore, to pro-
pose to them the health of Thomas Berry Horsfall, Esq.,
M.P. (Renewed cheers.)
T. B. HonsrALL, Esq., M.P., said he could not but con-
trast the conduct of the men of the Mersey Steel and Iron
Works with that of the turn-outs at Preston, Wigan, and
other places; and humorously remarked that it perhaps
required two to make a quarrel—(a laugh)—and that the
fault might not, after all, be all on one side. (Hear.) He
had always entertained the happy thought that a cordial
good feeling existed between them and his worthy brother,
and he was proud to say that it did exist, from the senti-
ments expressed in the address read to them that day, and
he confidently hoped that this affection between them
might be cemented and continued. He said he well
remembered, when he had the honour of being chief
magistrate, the alacrity and readiness of the men to assist
in maintaining order, when their social peace was threat-
ened and assailed by Chartism, and highly lauded the
workmen for the loyal and orderly sentiments by which
they were animated on that occasion. He took the oppor-
tunity of impressing on the men some judicious remarks
as to submission to their authorised rulers, and to keep
themselves aloof from Chartism, which, he maintained,
reduced wages, and was altogether impolitic. This he
illustrated from the case of one of the flannel towns of
North Wales, which being excited by the seditious speeches
of Chartist demagogues, were thus incited to turn-out,
and he observed the result was this, that wages have never
been as high as they were before that period, and the trade
itself was depressed, and so continues. He said he had
great pleasure in coming amongst them that day, and paid
a very flattering tribute to the Mersey Works' band, which
had enlivened the proceedings of the day, and jocosely
remarked that he would sit down after giving utterance to
the words of an old English rhyme, that
"'Twos a good old custom, when Christmas was come,
To summon our friends with tabret and drum."—
(Loud and long continued cheers.)
Mr. PETER EASTWOOD rose to propose the health of
George H. Horsfall, Esq., and begged to thank him for
the good dinner they had on the occasion of his marriage,
and hoped that they might very soon have another—(Loud
laughter). _ _ _

G.
G. H. HORSVALL, Esq., who, on rising to respond, was
received with uproarious cheers, after thanking them for
the honour they did him, felicitously remarked that it
might be a very good joke for Mr. P. Eastwood, but he
assured him it would be no joke for him to have to look
out for another wife (loud laughter) ; he wouldn't know
where to put her. (Continued laughter.) He said it
might shortly be the case with a friend who sat by him