New-York daily tribune., 1845-05-22
.rhe Claims of Labor,

which appeared In London last year. 4he ne
viewer evidently approaches his task with reluc-
tance and executes II with many misglvings. Inc
Edinburgh is leading oracle ofthe sectwho modest
10 denominate themselves the Political Economists,
,,r erceilence whose Moses is Adam Smith (though
they have repudlated some OF his best canons,) and
whose evangelists are Malthus and Benham All
these men did good in their day and generation
they exploded many venerable errors; and II they
gave currency 20 errors equally numerous and form
idabie, they az the same time awakened and gave
impetus to spirit of inquiry and discussion which
is adequate TO their complete overthrow: The
world will moi deny its obligations to the Economic
School, so called; but it is no longer In danger oil
deifying them Experience has demonstrated that
the doctrines Of Let us alone, and Every one tor
himself will not cure the Social woes OF mankind,
and that if an enlightened seIshaess is 10 be relied
on as the great regulator Of TIE relations between
Property and Poverty, it Kust be far more eni'sn-
eued than any seltishncss which has yet been cher
ished by a community, or than any selhShness
watch finds it's end in dollars and cents.
The Review and It's coterie are evidently cha
grined at the general interest awakened with re-
gard TO the Rights of the Working Glasses and the
corresponding Duties of the Wealthy. II sneers AT
the crude notions Of Young England and the
still cruder philanthropy OF the Societies Tor the
protection of mediterranean &c. Legislative ln-
reference to abrdge or regulate the hours oil La
bor is of course directly in the teeth OF the Ke-
views fundamental notions OF Political Economy.
Inis eyes, the stringent laterdlctlons OF the British
New Poor Law, which separate the paupcr husband
from his wife inexorably, are the perfection OF So
4 nd ~ fo
escape the conclusion, distinctly proclaimed by
the Economists, that while Marriage on the part
of those who have only health and strength and
willing hands TO look to for a subsistence, is
hdgrant crime against Society, llcsntloesness
which did not tend TO increase the numbers OF the
destitute class would in their view be lesser evil
an1 wrong
The general ground occupied by the phllanthro-
pists whom the Review combats, may be stated IN
the single proposition that Justice aud Humanity,
not Want and Necessity should measure and con-
troll the relations between Rich and Poor. For la-
stauce--A capitalists house is on fire in the ROOT,
and must be destroyed, as will It's contents II
they are not instantly removed But there happen
10 be in and near it fifty stout handy men, twenty
of ihem cartnen with their teams, and these say,
save them for So, ,OOO you give it or lose them,
lust as you please" The man would pay it OF
course; bat ,cauld the craction be right9 That is
the essential question between the PhllanhroPlsts
and the Economists. We all readily see that this
exaCtion is wrong, the rare Instances when Cap
ital ID at the mercy of Labor. But when the ad-
vantage Is on the side of Capital, it seems The most
natural thing in the world that it should be pushed,
10 the utmost because such has been the custom
from time immemoral. Thus, contractor has job
recurring hundred men for six months Who asks
or thinks what rate Of wages he can afford TO
pay aud yet clear a fair profit! or what wages
would be necessary TO the subsistence and comfort
Of his workmen !-Or what landlord, having an
estate to let in farms, asks what would be the fair
and lust rent as between himself aud the holder,
SO that the one shall receive farreturn for his out
lay, and the o,hera just recompense for his toll and
care If there are such instances, as doubt mol
there are, they are contrary both TO the current
mayims and the current practices. They run coun-
ter 10 all the teachings OF the Edinburgh Review
and its school, who Can see no medium between a
rigorous adherence the buv cheap and sell dear
principle on the one hand, and the virtual slavery
Of the Laboring Glasses on the other. If the wages
they,claimand receive are not the lowest TO which
thew could be screwed down. thea the Review Can
regard the excess IN no other light than as thiniy
disguised aims doed out TO the recipients. To u,
who believe halthe counter and the scales are not
the iafalible tests OF justice and right, the aspect
OF The matter is eRIrey different.
But when the Review quits the profitless work
of negotiation and cavihng, and begins to consider
afirInatiyely what should be done in The premises,
il takes right and common ground. II uFges-how
consistently is mater,al-the duty OF educating
the Poor, and OF thoroughly educating them. The
following paragraph is % the purpose:
"Let be assured that too much opportunity cannot
be given 10 poor Of exercising their faculties
great variety OF ideas placed within then reach. We
hall therefore, the cheap Libraries which supplying
even poorest with matter more W less Instructive ad
what Ia OF equal importance, calculated to interest their
minds. But Is only. principally, books and
booktesrng that Constitute education for the working
or for any Schools for reading but imper
things unless systematically united with schools oi in
dusry -uot Improve them as worSmen merely, but as
human BEINGS Ii is BY that the faculties called
forth more than by words-more at least than by words
unaccompaned by action. Wewant schools In which the
children OF the poor should learn TO use not only te
hands, but their minds, for The guidance of her hands,
iu which they should be aned.s the actual adaptation OF
means ends should become familiar with the accom-
pshment OF the object processes and DC
made spprehend with their in elects in what consists
trial operations aud the wrong Meanwhile they would
acquire only maiuadex;erity, but habits of order and
gularity, of the IN aterie. aud which have
moro 10 do with formation of cha than
persons are aware Of Such thimgs would do much
than Is ally believed towards converting these
creatures into rational benysbeuss capsule OF foresight
accessible snd motives addressed 70 their sder
stsdg; and therefore governed BY the utterly
less modes OF feeling and which much ss;onsh
educated and observing who bought into
t6et WITH ihsm"
Here Is another passage OF the right sort, and
looking 10 reform which is as necessary here as
in Great Britain
.Soue years ago the Society for the Diffusion of I-n,
Knowredse IN wen,ended tract addressed to the wors
Ing people correct the preuces by some
OF then sgsas The claims Of capital gave sou.e advice
TO the bvuress which produced considerable comment NJ
the II cxhoed them to make themselves capita
list 10 most boinS people who read 1t, this exAor,a
ton probably appeared ironlcs But OF the
isigent OF the class found meaning in IT, II did
them thar there mode III which they could make
thcmaeyes capitalists Not, of course, individually bu,
BY bringing all into fund, BY FORM
ing partnership ont stock they could
seemed 10 them, become their owa empo, ers-ipense
with agency receivers profits aud share among