The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-07

lest ucStiHy. All dCt, WAlCH 10 PIouOuACeu oil
act of ''insolence and folly" may possibly in
volve the necessity of thrusting Mexico to the
wall. In word there is good pretext, ia
vorable conjuncture of events. and an encour-
aging disposition on both sides, for another war
between the United States and Mexico. Pre-
pare arms.
The Indus trial Glasses Of New YOrl-Thelr
Condition, Skc.-Thc Straw Sewers
In another part of to-day's HERALD our read
ers will find the first of series OF articles which
we intend publishing from time to time, on the
industrial classes Of New York, giving a plain
and impartial account of their condition, and
avoiding anything that may have tendency
to create i'll feeling between them and their
employers. Nothing tends more to the injury
OF the true interests of the mechanic or the
workwomen than those exaggerated statements
and fanciful accounts which have been present
ed to the public heretofore 1t is, therefore.
our design to describe their condition as it real
ly is. and to state facts and things as we fnd
them. We need not tell our readers that we
are no theorists, or that we have never engaged
capital. We believe that without the capitalist
and the manufacturer the civilized and refined
society Of the nineteenth century could not ex-
ist and we have always therefore, steadily OPP
posed the advancement of any theories which
taught that property was robbery, and that
the interests of the capitalist were inimical
to those Of the laborer. We are fully
aware that many Of the difficulties under
which portion of the working classes-and we
are glad to say very small portion-are
struggling, arise not from the oppression of
capital, but from the competition which the
public itselfcreates, by demanding the products
of labor at the lowest possible price. While
we are willing to admit that there are some
unprincipled employers, we know that they
are exceedingly limited in number, and that
in no other country on the face of the
earth does the laborer or mechanic re-
ceive larger compensation for his toll. The
fault, therefore, does not lie with the capitalists
hut with the public, and too often with the
workers themselves; who, by allowing theorists
and designing demagogues to lead them in any
movement started for their benefit prejudice
their cause in the eyes Of the public. False
sympathies are too frequently excited in be-
half Of the working classes, who, we know, are
in a better condition than is really represented;
but where they are actually suffering from the
injustice of employers, there are none more
willing than we are to aid them by legal and
reasonable means, in the enforcement Of their
rights to fair compensation for their labor.
In regard to the workwomen, with an ac-
count of whom we commence our history of the
industrial classes we desire to say a few words
We preface our extended notice of the straw
sewers with description Of the movement
among the needle women of New Y ork to show
the evil results of such njudicious attempts to
coerce employers into paying more than they
either consider an exhorbitant rate of wages or
than they are willing to give. No reasonable
person can object to the organization of socie-
ties for the benefit of the working women. as
well as the mechonic; but when those societies,
instead of pursuing steady, peaceful course,
allow strong minded women and scheming poll
ticians to step in and rule them, then they de-
serve the censurc of the honest and Independent
public press. We are not of that class which
is continually ranting about the few oc-
equations that are open to female labor,
for we know, and shall prove here
after by facts, that there are nearly as many
in which they are at present employed
as are filled by men, and that they are constantly
crowding into those in which men only should
be engaged. 1t is likewise true that there are
few in which men are employed that are bet
ter suited for women, and we sympathize cor
daily with the latter when they exclaim
against the usurpaton. Each is equally guilty
of injustice to the other but there is one DIFF
ference which should not be forgotten: where
female labor is substituted for male labor the
compensation is reduced nearly one half while
men employed in any business which should be
transacted by women alone. are paid higher
wages. We hope that hereafter, women, in
stead Of forcing themselves into the depart