The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-03-29
Labor and Capital.


contriving and employing means to in
crease the rates Of wages in the several
callings-some with more, and some with
less of success. The ordinary instrumen-
talities of trades unions, combinations,
bills of prices, committees and the like,
have bcca -esorted to, and in some in
stances strikes, with prescription of those
that continue to work on at the old rates.
Under such circumstances, it is natural
that the employers should also combine
to make the resistance equal to the pres
sure and then the question is, not which |
party is in the right, but which is able to |
hold out the longest, in a condition that,
to both, is distressing and injurious.
1t is not probable that these movements,
ON the part Of the working men, ever oc-
cur without the existence of some actual
suffering People Of those classes, as
whole, usually continue content while
they are able to live as they have been
accustomed and pay the expenses OF the
week with its earnings That they have
not been able to do 50 during the past
winter, and are not now, is probable; and
vet it is easy to understand that such u
state of things may exist without any
fault or oppression on the part of their
employers. We may sympathize with
the operative who finds himself poorer
than of old, worse fed, worse clothed, and
reduced to a meaner lodging, and yet
imagine several reasons why this may all
be, and no blame at all be chargeable to
the master. Indeed, the latter may be
suffering, though in another way, more
than the former his capital wasting
away under the effect of unpropitious
seasons, or locked up in unsold wares; !;
and he even descendingrapidly to poverty,
while, for the sake of his credit, he feels
it necessary to keep up appearances, and
continue his manufacture, upon the
strength of hope for better times Many
manufacturers-and some good and noble
men that we know of in this city-never
forget the bond which unites in one whole
the interests of the employer and the en-
ployee; and it is no uncommon event that
many hundreds of the latter are kept at
work and paid wages, when it would be
greatly for the interest of the former to
close his shops, suspend his operations,
and await market for the goods he has
on hand. ".
1t is mean and bigotcd view Of hu.
man nature which assumes that the mas
ter is always tyrant, and the workman
always the victim of oppression and it is
equally 50 to assume that the workman
is an irrational creature, influenced only
by desire to get as much as possible out
of the wants of the master. There is a
broader and better view-and truer one
also-which looks upon both as parts Of
the same great system for the production
of common end, for a mutual good
each necessary to, and each sympathizing
with the other. And this-where there
are no extraneous causes Of excitement
is, we believe, in general, the feeling
upon both sides. The laborer desires
that his employer shall prosper, and love-
to think that he is attached to wealthy
and rising concern; and the employer
contemplates with pleasure the fact tha
his workmen have been with him yeal
after year, and that out of the profits o
his trade he has been able to make then
contented and happy. This is, we ar,
convinced, the true philosophy of thu
case; and it is only when it is forgotten
by one side or the other, or BOTH tina
difficulties like the present occur.
When men suffer they are apt to be un
reasonable. Discovering what appears t,
be the immediate cause of their diff
Guilty, they forbear to go farther, ant
against that, right or wrong, direct thei
enmity. The workingmen of this cit,
suffer. The immediate cause of com
plant is, that they do not get none.
enough from their employers to suppl,
their wants; and, therefore, they charg
the employer with oppression. The ac
tive trouble, which usually commences il
the lowest ranks-with the poorest work
men--is fomented by persons fond Of mis-
chief or excitement, busy-bodies, individ
uals fond Of hearing themselves talL
When excited, men are credulous, an
give heed to reports and rumors which, i
their cooler moments, they would di'
credit Meetings are called, heat il, ger
I. Grated, rash resolutions passed, and raShe
: actions determined upon; and body {
respectable and comfortable working N,
+. chanics find themselves, they scarcel
. know how, transformed into a herd {
slaves, sternly resolved upon freedom, an
: painting to be revcnged upon their stOn.
D hearted taskmasters. Then comes
!, trial Of powers Of endurance-,nast'
1t against men, men against mastor. Th