Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-02


~ " aI.a5t u.-s,s O. return rejected communications
The Laborcrs' strike In MaSsaehusetts.
The "rrepress5le conflict" between labor and capital
which has broken out IN Massachusetts, in the form OF
"strises" for higher wages by mechanics and abo5es
is destined sooner or later override that other "irre
press5la conflict" between sections which has of late
absorbed so much Of the attention Of politicians and
bumauitarans The cry Of "bread or blood which has
already been heard in the streets Of New York viii, az
some day perhaps not very Distant drown the l9ude
"sareSs for freedom % the slave. Already in the yer
sparsely settled communities Of the Hireiug States
sparsely settled in comparison with wda, the Old World
s and they 90 become, the competitor of labor has
reduced the wages o., the workman 90 the loves, living
standard and iu che manufacturing towns Of Nassacha-
sets, fierce ls1re-to1 IS now raging among hire
lugs against their empoyers-au iusurrecio1 peaceful
now but prophetic Of carnage enough in the future
The psuper problem which has so often couyllsei tie
social systems Of the Ola World aud has overwhelmed
- m8ny dyuasties is beginning TO demand solution 10
tieHreing States of h, country while yet the Territories
of the West invite immigration and the South stl opens
It's markets for the sale Of Yankee fabrics. How w &c oe
when dense population crowds the ui,eiug States when
no more Territories reuln 90 tosetted when the South
refuses % buy the products of Yankee bor when the
more De fed win have made bread dearer and th.
1aore band. TO- work w have made labor cheaper. Does
any sane man believe chat New England system, which
snow s5u,b, 20 5s imposed upon Che southern Stesvi
s1sb.s them To- mee, chat ezgacys Does any sane man
doubt tla. ,he Free Society oftae North Is destined I'm
coming years 90 be- completely revoluIouzed, aud their
boosted Free Institutions upurneJ from their very ou1
D. ..
All conflicts is that for b-cli-lud such conflict the
HireE1g states have some day to face We have no
reason 20 doubt chat when 10 comes 10 viii follow the
path Of precedent passing through the historic gratl-
lions Of tumu, and bood-hej and anarchy 20 de-pot-
,s unless in their extremity those Involved a t should
learn wisdom from bs people they have so long magued
and outraged and adopt tda institutions OF the South.
We have been led into these reflections by the follow
ing article from the New York Herald:
The strike Of the shoemakers at Lynn is extended 90
other towns of Massachusetts, aud threatens 20 become
one of the most serious questions that viii sg.-le New
E-rI.rd and perhaps a the Northern free labor COM
uiuaiues for wears 90 come.
.I is no, local outbreak provoked by some tempo
rlry and transient i, has ts origin deep iu the
foundations of the social system OF New England, and
te evil is not reueGei u tine 10 viii shake that system
90 It's centre For wears capital has been growing u pow
or there and under tle form o corporate associations
has seized upon nearly every power IN the state Mas
sa.lu-sts alone lls nearly I've thousand OF these soul
less corporations, WELDING ORR influence which no man
has been able withstand for tte last quarter OF cen
trrv and governing alike che legislation aud ,hc labor of
che commonwealth. Years ago % made "a mighty bug
vain effort under Che iule'ou- cry or protection to
home industry to obtain control of che policy oil le Tue
Ion. and though Go failed .a ta.t t BIAS never re.a4l
I'd it- course .g Massachusetts, and many other of the
Northern States i'm mauy of them legislation has sue
cuubcI 20 i power su3 che horer has been degraded