New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-24
H.h.. ana H. Needx.

The recent troubles N brooklyn appear " DC -
| thoroughly quieted that we may indulge In few
remarks on their nature and obvious bearings with
on, ius,ly mourning the imputation of contributing
TO an exci,emeu, dangerous to the public peace.
What was the cause Of that trouble? AS we IN
ders,and il, large number of Irish laborers have
been at work in Winter for certain contractors Tor
sizty;fce cents per day. and the days were made
pretty long at that With this compensation,
amounting 10 80 90 per week, the aborera must OF
course live as they best could soe of them having
large families TO support AS the rent ofany decent
tenement in Brooklyn would absorb nearly the en-
tire earnings of laboring man at this rate, they
were allowed to build miserable shanties on ground
allotted them by the contractors the plot occupied
by them in performing the work.
AS Spring opened and days became longer labor
more effective and employment more general, the
poor laborers began grumble their hard lo; and
a. las, united in effort improve il. They asked
for s73 cents per day about equal to so in Vermont;
or 37s in the Vest and to have ten hours recog-
nized as the limit Of days work. The contractors
refused to comply with their demands; whereupon
the laborers struck work. The contractors hired a
cargo of freshly landed Germans take their places,
nhV oiQciCN iuC olO ~ HaiL PicinAoCo-
which they refused to do, and resorted to the law
less, unjust6sble step of endeavorng to drive the
Germans from the work by intimidation and vio-
lence. OF course the Military called ont, the
Irish overawed, the Germans protected in their
work, and thus the matter stands. So far the con.
| tractors may be said 10 have triumphed.
Now it would be perfectly easy TO excite indigna-
ton against these contractors but we shall do no
such thing. We do not know that they could afford
to pay the advance asked, though we are strongly
inclined to think that men have no moral right 10
take job so low that the laborers must be hired a,
prices which will not allow them to live. Yet on
the Free Trade ge,.what-you can principles which
govern business generally they have perfect RICH,
to hire men for shilling day il they can get them
as they certainly have legal right. The wrong in
this case may be more palpable but is not real
than in thousand things which pass unchaenged
and uncensured.
The evil we here see is susceptible of none other
than radical reform. VIVA, ia needed is some
measure, adjustment. or what you please to call ii,
which will enable the laborer if he chooses TO en-
ploy himself instead of leaving him dependent for
a chance 10 live on the tender rnerces Of any con-
tractors whatever. Where great job is to be
DONE it should be taken by or for the laborers them
selves who should share the proceeds among them
according to the amount and efficiency of their re.
spective sbors. Say that this is difficult, if you
will, but not impossible. 1t may be done-nay, it
must and will be done! Such an arrangement would
put an end to strikes for ever.
The Freedom of the Public Lands to actual set
tiers, and the Limitation of future acquisitions Of
Land to some reasonable amount, are also measures
which seem to us vitality necessary 10 the ultimate
Emancipation OF Labor from ihraldom and misery.
What is mainly wanted is that each man should
have an assured chance TO earn. and then an assur
ance of the just fruits of his labors We must
achieve these results yet; we can do it. Every
new labor-saving invenlionis new argument, an
added necessity for it, And. so long as the Labor
ing Glass must live by working for others, while
others are striving to live luxuriously and amass
wealth out of the fruits of such labor, so long the
abuses and sufferings now complained of must con-
tnue to exist or frequently reappear We must go
to the root of the evil