The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-20
Encouragement of Paupcrss.a.

incidents OF the recent strike aMCES Enc tong-
shoremen Wages having been reduced from
l4s 10 Us by the merchants, the men refused
to work. A body of emigrants we're sent BY
the Commissioners of Emigration to take their
place, but though they were paupers subsist-
Ing at the public expense, they too refused to
earn dollar and halt g day ty working.
Accordingly business has in many quarters
been bropght to o stand, and ships are unable
to dischsge cargo for want OF laborers. A
meeting Of longshoremen was held on Thurs
day evening to take counsel on the state of
affairs; and with great difficulty the officers
prevailed upon the meeting to adopt by bare
majority resolution for compromise with
the merchants, splitting the amount in discus
sion between them. The merchants refused
yesterday to compromise with the laborers
they will adhere to their determination to pay
twelve shillings and no more. It is clear,
therefore, that labor must cease for the present.
We do not believe the case Of loDgshoremen
differs materially from that of many other
trades, though others may not be as noisy.
There are in many quarters signs Of a determi-
nation to resist the forced decline in wages by
perempt0ry refusal to work. Men say:
Provisions are high, rents high, clothing high,
we will not consent to work at low wages. We
have reason to know that these sentiments are
shared by a large proportion ofthe operatives
at present in this city, and will be acted upon
when the time comes
These are nottimesw when we can mince words,
and we therefore say plainly that the men who
hold these notions are fools. II is not in the
power of workmen to fix the price of labor or
the rates Of wages These depend on the rela-
tive proportions OF demand and supply, and are
as much out of the control of either the work
men alone or the employers alone as the stars
or the moon. We have sll seen, and that quite
lately, that workmen will insist on as high
wages US they can get: employers will do the
same. If labOrers should become so plentiful
ard work 80 scarce here that men could be had
to work all day for ten cents, no sensible en-
ployer would give eleven; it would not be wise,
or prudent or fair. The work men might CON-
plain and strike and riot the Legislature might
make laws, and demagogues prate; but the end
of it would be that the employers would stick
to their offer of ten, cents, and the workmen
would take it. All attempts to disturb the
natural balance Of supply and demand and
wages, either by Legislative acts or popular VIC
lence, only create mischief and never achieve
any beneficial end.
We have sufficient faith in the common sense
ofthe workingmen to believe that knowledge
of these cardinal truths would induce them to
abandon tl,cir present course, were it not for
the pernicious action of another class o
society. While the workmen are refusing
to work for 81 so day, and idling their
time in the Park, the rich are busy right
and left in devising extensive charities
One man sets apart q portion of the
enormous wealth he has gained by feeding the
social extravaganza ofpast years, to setting up
a soup kitchen, and giving soup to twelve
hundred men every day. Another prominent
member of society hits upon o clever little
scheme for presenting hundreds Of cotton
dresses to the poor. Others contrive o great
ball, whereby thousands are placed in fund to
be givtn in charity. Others contribute-on
to this, another to that charitable institution;
and thus, within the last month or so, pro-
baby something like one hundred thousand
dollars have been raised or spent ia aims in this
city alone
1t is this aims giving which causes the
strikes and the obstinacy Of workmen.
1t is vain to fatter ourselves; mankind does
not change; if you would move the masses
you must lead them by their interest. "At-
tack them by the bellies" said the Duke Of
Wellingto ton to the Prime Minister of England,
on the occasion of riot; aud SO the bakers
stores were shut, and the rioters went home.
Let US take hint from the Duke. Suppose
we turn these emigrants out Of doors--the
fellows who turned up their noses at twelve
shilliDgs day-let them sleep night in the
Park, and go without breakfast next morning.
Suppose we try little of the same regimen
with the longshorcmen, and the other stout
fellows who won't submit to diminution of
wages. What would be the result?
Why they would laugh at Us. Bill Gays, he
won't submit to be cut down, and won't work
at all; 20 he has bowl Of hot soup at Mr..
Stewards and smokes his pipe sulkily in the
Park the rest of the day. Pat is ready to
knock any man down who wants him to work
for less than he got last year; he has his eye on
Mr.. Gerard, and intends to see that he gets his
share of the ten thousand dollars given for the
poor-for the poor, mind you, which means Pat
and his friends-at the Academy ball. Fritz
has been living very comfortably at such
ward soup house for some days; and on the
whole he is satisfied with the arrangements
despite the want of pepper in the soup, Of
which he complains loudly-and will continue
TO dine there for the present. In the afternoon
Fritz difcourses on communism OF q lager bier
saloon.
We challange denial of the truth of this
picture. In plain words, you have provided
the poor with food without work, and now, you
ore prepcsterously expecting them to 20 to