Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-05-27

organization of labor. finding that il led to the dis
organization of every thing else. LAMARTINE said :
France is making immense efforts, and trying a
grand experiment in the interests OF all Europe
| We have great difficulties to overcome. We are
/ trying an experiment which will probably prove
more beneficial TO future generations than to US
| Perhaps we shall only descry the blossoms of the
| fruit achich others shall reap" This is sad
falling off from the hopes and promises of the last
week in February, when il was pronounced to be
!" the duty Of Government to provide labor and SUI
fcent wages foNyery man OF the people
The same experiment, and with the same result
is being tried in Berlin. recent account from that
revouonized capital says: IF all the demands Of
the various classes OF occupation were granted
/ society would be thrown back a century. The
cabmen want to abolish the omnibuses. The por-
tiers agitatng for the abolition OF the wagons
used to carry furniture, saying 1t ought to be car
red by hand. The aversion TO contract and piece
work is very general. The operatives have gained
great concessions to their demands for increased
wages, but they cannot compel houses to be built
and furniture and clothing TO be made, which the
! masters cannot contract for and sell at the old
| prices. There is, therefore, higher nominal
rate of wages, but little employment"
The same vagaries have taken possession of the
peoples minds in various parts of Germany. At
Mayence they have broken up three miles of rail
way because it nterfered with the old mode Of con-
veying goods and passengers. The word has been
passed on the Rhine that steamboats, will no longer
be allowed to supersede horse power in the drudge
ry. Of towing barges up the river; and near Coblenz
the populace have forciby stopped steam-tugs when
so employed. All this shows great ignorance of
the very first principles of what is called political
economy; but the truth is, men have not been al
lowed to act or think for themselves so long that
when they get little loose from their leading strings
they riot at once. The great misfortune is, that
the better informed portion Of the people administer
to this departure from right reason and common
sense. In France, in Prussia, in Germany they
have famed the flame of folly instead Of exnguish-
ing it, and it has spread to dangerous extent. In
fact, there is controlling power whatever in South
ern Germany just now, whatever there may be iii
France. The words of NAPOLEON seem 10 be COM
ing true relates to the greater part of continental
Europe: " Forty years after my death, Europe
will be all Cossack or all republican" Every thing
! shows the necessity Of coming back 10 the common
sense principle of leaving masters and workmen to
regulate between themselves the rates Of wages and
the hours Of labor, and every thing else which re-
lates to industry. Government never interfere
without mischief between the employer and the en-
ployed; to dictate the terms Of their agreement is
detrimental TO trade and to both parties, and is al
ways to be deprecated. That something must be
done to better the condition OF the working classes
of the people Of Europe, both in Great Britain and
on the Continent, is apparent to all who will not
close their eyes to the real state of the but that
yielding 10 the unqualified demands of either the
Charsts or the Communists would do this is not so
apparent. The wishes of the Chartisls for more
general parliamentary suffrage, shortening the du-
ration of Paraments, and more equal division of
the electoral districts dictated by sense and ought
to be yielded Of right Universal suffrage and
annual Paamen would be such generally admitted ad
vaniages aud the Continent the rights of labor and the
and comfort the social and political privileges Of the lower
classes, must be attended and provided for willis
economical expenditure Of the public money and
duction of taxa be, both in England and the Con-
tneni, the study Of those who regulate public affairs
All these measures and decidedly
under the Sancho and Dapp policy, and would do much
wards healing all difficulties and making the of the
people Of Great Britain France Germany, ncudng Prus-
STA and Italy happy and contented The day. perhaps, is
very distant when they will all be accomplished We
sangune enough hope that the present hoses wagng
between Denmark and Prussia, and Austria and Italy, will
be prosecuted any great We absolute
necessity for any part Of Europe that
and enlightened philanthropy viii prevail the
ambition of kings and the esutica diplomacy of prime minis
and mischievous politicians. little will however,
decide the question and until it decided the contrary
will continue to hope for the best.
The reform movement which is going rapidly and
quietly in EseLAsD exciting very great attention, and
fail to accomplish (and that perhaps much sooner than
generally eIpected the greater pat Of what it aiming
There is throughout the country very great dissatisfaction
the neglect Of Ministers adjustment Of our
system Of expenditure and taxation II is true Lord JoaS
RussELL and his friends have large majority in Parliament
and they will continue 10 have it, for the people could
find present safer hands in which rens Of Co
vernment; and the Tories and Conservatives will support
them, because the contingency possibly arise when
they could succeed power and they would rather trust the
Wings than Golden and Hume But at the same time, il
the Gyone Of the members who form the nucleus
the reform club be looked they will be found to com
pehend the representatives Of less than millions
Of the nineteen millions Of people Of the kingdom Of Great
Ban-a body by to be neglected by any Minister
any patty who wishes to stand well with the country
II objected the English refomers who have already
taken the field that their plan OF reform sufficiently de-
finite would be premature TO insist upon any eraet plan
at present Upon points there appears to have been
almost unanimous opinion expressed atal the meetings which
have been held In the provinces For instance in the
sy Of extensive change the electoral districts and the
duration Of Paaments There is but opinion also,
the propey Of very much extending the elective franchise
great difficulty, however, exists the limits the
this been