New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-03-21
Labor and the Poor In England.


some time last October the publishers of the
Iopdog Morning Chronicle set on foot a series Of
Investigations into the actual condition of the La
boring Glasses in England. Their purpose was not
TO establish any particular theory nor TO make out
case on one side or another, but % ascertain and
expose with thoroughness and mpartality the re-
sults which English society and the mechanism 1t
hrs brought 20 bear upon Labor have produced
For this purpose the CkrcH.cl' has employed
large and most industrious corps OF reporters, and
has daily occupied one OF more Of its ample pages
in detailing the facts they have asccrtained. The
inquiry has been carried ON with perseverance,,
great talent and admirable judgment. and has EN-
braced the metropolis and the manufacturing and
agricultural districts, leaving few parts Of England
nexpborcA The faithiulness OF tho reports hss NOT
been questioned, Notwithstanding they are such Ms
to produce denial were il possible. Though their
facts are altogether new they have startled the
comfortable classes in England out OF all compla'
eency and Indifference and have excited profound
sensation wherever they have been read. That
there was misery among British workers, aud su
around the palaces and treasures OF British wealth
was known before, but its extent and intensity
were not known. Every reasonable man had long
been ready &c confess the existence OF disease in
the social bocy but when these PLAIN speaking re
pmters began ~ bring out masses on masses OF
morbid symptoms and disclosed to public sight
the frishtful ravages of the mslady, It was I'M
possible Tor the mos, obstinate not to feel anxiety
and slarn al the Consequences OF such state
q things, or for the humane to repress their
Mrow and indignation At a form of society
which produced such heart rending evils. Con
servatiNes were shocked in spite OF themselves
aud Reior,uers furnished with new texts and
stimulated % more earnest exertons Public
meetings were held. wherest old and tried
remedies were much commended such as Edu-
eatoa and Emigraton-things good, no doubt
ia their way, but not radical enough for 50 Stern
GENERALIZATION being useless for sewing women
whose toll from dawn I'll midnight earns but hall q
dollar week. ard Emigration being no preventive
against tie dangers that mus, net only now ee
abolished but never permitted - recur. Al
the same time, men Of mere bolduess and under.
STANDING Ter that al Tins talk as useless and thsi
che emergency demanded another course OF treat
msni; Of these was Thomas Carlyle. who now
commenced his LstserDay Pamphlets. and small
hand OF sociahss Church-Oi England Clergyueu and
ether beneyolen. persons. who collected the capita
necessary 10 found the first Working Mems Asso
ciation in London
These reports are not yet concluded, sithoagl
the Ckreaicls has Tor above foyr months, paehsh
cd every day as much o; them as would occupy
about page Of TIE TsSsWss. While a great par
Of this ,ns,ter hiss 10 special interest fos AmercSi
readers. parts cs it are more painfully interesting
than any romance with which we are acquainted
and the whole contains lessons worthy o. careful
attention ON tho part Of tinking persons Of every
nation. For, il the relations OF Labor 10 Capita
ere essentially the same in every civilized coun
Try, Il follows that hey must everywhere tend tc
the sane res Its. and that those results can only
be accelerated or retarded by local circumstances
AID the remains Of former Institutions and legisia
ton We presume that no one viii refuse To sd
nit the system OF Labor to be the same IN ths
United States as in England. France or Belgium
IL being here as there, carried On upon the wages
principle and with personal interest aid universe
competition impslhng employers t. cut the pay o
the employed down TO the loves; point 1t is true
that England has pernicio7s institutions which WI
are free from pubic debt monarchy, vas
military establishment and = SWAMI Of pension