The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-05-06
STRIKES.


Throughout the entire eastern, and most oil
the western cities, the journeymen of al
most all trades have struck for higher wages.
Some branches they have succeeded in get
ing the advance demanded, but this has been
by no means general. But the strikes are evi-
IDENTIFY the foundation for an entire revolution
in various branches of business. The result
seems likely to be, that hereafter, much of the
labor which has heretofore been performed
by men, will be done by women and girls.
Boston has been in the advance in this move
ment, and New York is fast pursuing the same
course. A number Of the New York prin-
ters have introduced girls, and are teach
ing them the business. So far as book estab-
lishments are concerned, this may do very
well. Upon the newspapers, the work is too
hard for females. Many other branches are
doing the same thing, and the result of the
strike will be to enlarge the sphere of employ
ment for females. ...
With what is commonly called the "Wo-
mems Rights" movements of the day, in
which the right of suffrage and the exercise of
every right that the men enjoy, our readers
are aware that we have had no sympathy. We
have not been willing to see them upon the
stump, canvassing for the Legislature, or for
Congress. We have not been willing to see
them.desert the domestic circle nor abandon
maternal duties. But we have deeply sympa-
thised with them in the hardshps they have
had and still have to encounter, when the
burthen of subsistenceIhas been thrown upon
themselves. We have never seen the justice
of paying the same skill and the same amount
Of labor less when performed by female,
than when performed by the "lords of crea-
tion." To us it is nothing but right that the
same skill and labor should receive the same
reward, when performed by the one, that 1t
receives when performed by the other. In
addition to this, we believe that the sphere
for the occupation Of women should be great
ly enlarged. We think that any occupation
which would notbe too severe for her physi-
cal powers, should be open to her, and that
all robust men should be driven from the light
.er and more effeminute empoyments to more
rugged business, which would better develope
his mental as well as physical faculties.
The male portion of the human family
would be benefited, as we'll as the female.
For woman to wear out her life making
shirts at to 10 cents each and employment
uncertain at that, is enough to discourage
any one-and can it be wondered at that
persons thus situated should loss selfrespect,
and resort 10 crime as means of subsistence!
Or, if not directly to crime, to what is nearly
as bad, to give her hand where her heartdoes
not 60 along with it, merely that she may
secure a home and be less depe ndent! That
this is often done, no one will dispute-and
thus the foundation for unhappiness, to both,
is laid, and man becomes victim to the mar
row policy which contracts the sphere of
woman's usefulness.
But let that sphere of usefulness be enlarg-
ed--let her be employed in such kinds Of
business as are adapted to her mental and
physical organization, and let that labor re.
ceive an adequate compensation, and all these
evils will be avoided And let not the
wealthy think this subject beneath their
notice. None Of them can tell how soon
they may be in situation to need all the
compensation which honest industry can
give AS general rule in this country, our
wealthy people are the children of the poor
and our poorest, the children Of the wealthy.
We trust that the present movement will
produce results which will be beneficial to
the human race, male and female.