Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-09-06


washington NEWS AND GOSSIP.
TEE GREAT STRIKE-The posing occurrence
in Europe of most general interest 10 doubtless the
great London strike f" wherein sixty thousand
artizans and laborers engaged not long since In
building ind themselves out Of employment. Up
to this time the result has been to deprive about
900 ofthe citys population of their usual means
of support. The story Of the di ficulty between
the employers and employed is too long to be told
in detail here. Suffice II, therefore, to say that
the employed demand 4 reduction of the number
of working hours TO nine Qns;ead of ten, and
continuance of the rates Of wages they were pre-
vously receiving; which is equivalent to a de-
mand VI an increase of onetenth the current wages
The employed, by means of their organization
determined TO make the demand general, but
commenced il in the shops Of but a single build
ing-contractors firm employing 1900 500
hands. The heavy employers Of the city at once
organized into an association to resist the demand
and the employed refusing to work in the shops
where the strike occurred, the EN- ployers made
the suspension of operations general in all the
large Building shops Of the city. The controversy
is carried on. by means Of managing committees
on both sides-eseh setting forth to an nvestiga-
ting committee Of Parliament long list Of grew
ances, examinations and recriminatons.
Oh ullLlOils OF nave already
been lost to the employed and also the employers
by this state Of things, and from present appear
there is no telling when these heavy sacrif-
ces may cease. The members of the various build
ing trades unions of the city having contributed
all they can to the suppot Of their felow-crafts-
men, and now funds enough for a meaere support
If the30C, O00 workmen and their families involved
In the trouble, are being contributed by their fell
low-cEaftsmen In other parts Of the kingdom. The
employers out Of the city. at last accounts from
England, were preparing To make the cause Of tie
city employers theirs suspending operations also
thus cutting short the means of their workmen to
perpetuate the London strike In the mean while
no riots have grown out Of this disastrous state OF
things Yet there is 40 telling when riots will
grow out Of it-serious riots indeed
The London Leader takes the ground that the
employers pay as much wages for ten hours work
rs they can possibly afford to pay, aud that the
real origin of the trouble is in the exorbitant tax
alton OF the government to obtain the means of
paving public expenses that should never have
been incurred. Everything the laborer or me-
chanic must purchase is so taxed as to cost him
far more than he should rightfuny pay for it; and
therefore his otherwise ample wages (accsrding
10 the Leaders theory prove insufficient.
While this may be very true, 1t is hardly to be
expe, ed that the root of the evil be reached
that Parliament will consent in reasonable time
TO lessen the popular burden by decreasing public
expenditures and taxation.
tits sincerely to be hoped that the present state
Of Affairs may be speedily brought to an end
Else. the prosperity of the kingdom can hardly
fail to be injured 50 general appears to be the de-
termination VI the antagonist interests involved
10 stand out, each on It's own platform, regardless
Of consequences.
We are not competent to express an opinion of
the merits Of the controversy, having seen but
Very meagre accounts Of them, the publications
in connection with the affair on this side being
for The most part confined to accounts of what the
hostile parties have done, rather than of precisely
why they have done it. One consequence bids
fair to be heavy emigration Of Eng lish building
mechanics and laborers to the United States this
Lill. we aPPrehend; such being common result
of sflgnation in the English employment mar
ket from any cause whatever.
IL IS not to be expected that the EMPLOYERS
would consent to give the practical increase of ten
per centum OF wages in finishing their contracts
made before the strike rs that would DESTROY all
nope Of any profits whatever on them, il not bank
ruPt most Of them-the employers Yet it is sim
rerely 10 be hoped that the end may be the ar
rangenent OF some important ameliorations of the
condition of labor in England, in all calIinps
which Is generally but poorly remunerated when
compared with It's remuneration OIL this side of the
Atlantic. We doubt not that the employed are
unjustly suffering-that their demands for better
circumstances are reasonable and proper. The
only question in our mind is whether they struck
the right "lead" in their movement-in Insisting
on AN increase Of wages, rather than taking means
Ia exact from the Government n decrease of taxa
ton; the remedy Of the so well-known organ OF
Their elass throughout tie kingdom-The L.nd.,
IL they obtain the relief they seek, their movement
VIII surely he followed by similar movements OF
labor employed in other callings there; to end In
very general changes throughout Great Britain.
and previously, in very general embarrassments
20 al classes engaged in business In England.
Scotland, and Wales, which will affect the United
states TO greater or less degree. Of course The
grand result Will, however, be advantageous to
labor as connected with the profits Of the u,e ~
capital, point Of SO great importance to the real
interest Of mankind, as that the thinking world
Will take little thought Of the tribuation by means
Of which the result may he worked out.
->-