The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-14
POLITICAL,
From the Rochester IN. ~ Advertiser
THE CONDITION OF LABOR-PROPOSED
MACHINERY FOR ITS REGULATION.

MhCIlAAvcRI IVh AAR NH1>SOA<h AOAv.
When the wing party was in full blast in 1870
singing and cooning themselves towards the White
House-the rallying cry was, "two dollars day
and roast beef'-one peculiarly fascinating TO the
lovers Of Creature comforts" all to ex-
tent; and, believing tho promise conveyed in it Ger.
tain of fuhlment, many ademocrat le his colors and
right to seat at the FIRST table spread under the
new order Of things. The "roast-beef' party tri.
umphed; but with that success came not the GOOD
things promised and were any 30 unreasonable az
to complain, they were very shortly gwen TO un,
derstand that, il they wanted the two dollars" ana
the 'sbeefn they must go to work and earn them as
in former days! This was cool, besure, but was
nevertheless practical fixed fact, which could
neither be controverted nor expunged. The hum
bug had exploded, as did soon thereafter the in
congruous combination of faction which secured
the result of the period referred to. Whigery
waned but last effort to prevent its extinction, 1t
rallied on "proecton," resulting in the institution
ofthcspresent revenue law. That was to be the
panacea for all social ills. Labor was to get its full
reward, capital its cent per cent, and a financial
and pecuniary mellenium distl its life-giving in
fuences on and over ALL This great "desideratum"
has operated about three years. and the consequence
is, that the operatives in state of intense COM
motion-strikes, PROFESSIONS, speeches, and rcsou-
tons, being the order Of the day. In view of this,
the query naturally arises to what has caused this
''great commotion the country through" In re-
l642 has doubled the profits Of the manufacturer,
he is not satisfied, butncreases the hours oflabor
while he diminishes the rate of recompense for It,
This must strike all who have any regard for JUS
tice and fair dealing, wrong yet let the people
assemble TO say So and the stcklers for projections
like the Tribune at once take offence at such inter-
ference with the rights Of individual property.
These remarks have been suggested by an article
in the Tribune on the condition of labor, from
which we extract the following:
H.. Al tb1a a.otxy
hemen champions Of letting trade regulate itself in
a general way, turn square corner upon every
strike for enhanced wages or diminished hours,
and are yocferous champions for the regulation by
law public opinion (there is no odds in prncpe)
ofthe bargains of employer and employed. They
who noisy contend that labor will Be far better re-
warded if left to the unobstructed operation of the
laws of trade, eager enough to step in as cham
pions of the employed whenever difference ar-
sesn
There is good deal of venom crowded into this
paragraph is evident from the effort TO convict
those who contend that labor should be left to re-
guae itself as nearly as may be, of inconsistency
for participating in these strikes and turn-Ous of
factory aborers when in fact such Inconsistency
exists The reason why interference in business is
attempted by these meetings, is, that the making
power has interfered to give capital more than it
would get wthoutlaw; hence the public feeling is,
that that capital should fairly divide the avails with
those whose labor makes that capital productive.
II is taking part with the weak against the strong,
backed as the latter are by legislative enactment;
yet for this the Tribune vents its anger by palpa-
Bile perversion of the facts in the Is it honest
in its professions Of regard for labor rather is it
not--no matter whether Willingly or not-the ready
defender Of extortion, rendered doubly insulting
because called "protectioni"
We have been told thousand times, that il the
tariff were left undsturbed it would dstl blessings
all alike, and in ample profnson; yet in the art
Gle from which the preceding extract is taken, we
find an industrial congress" recommended for the
regulation ofthe hours and prices Of labor-a pro-
position which, though not SO intended, is a full
confession that the much-bepraised law Of 1912
does not afford protection and proper remuneration
10 the laborer. This is yielding Of the whole
matter in dispute, but most ungracefuly done, and
therefore devoid Of all pretensions TO merit re-
cantation of long cherished heresy. u helegisia-
tiue poicer wu to enact la,cs for the special benefit
Qfclasses meetings, tlr-o,s, and professions
lciu be witnessed to TO labor fair participation
In The profits dsripabe thereom; but long class
legislation is advocated, we may look for the peri
odical recurrence of these agitating assembages,
which are source ofso much annoyance to GER
tain sanctimonious class of politicians, who, while
pretending friendship, are picking the pockets Of
their dupes.