Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-30
Suffering in Yankeedom.

The STRIKES" for higher wages in the United States
arc of deep significance. They Of far more impor-
lance in their bearing upon the present war than may
appear at frst veE. Commencing several weeks ago
they sill going aud rapidly spreading over new
districts and embracing classes Of Iufsrers What
ia the cause OF this widespread movement among me-
ehan;cs and aborers There is no scarcity of provs
ions Flour bacon and other provisions are to be bad
il not in abundance, at least in suicency. Blu. the
cost Of all articles of prime necessity is advancing
while the price Of labor remains stationary. Food and
clothing however, not so plentiful in YGnkeedop
now as they have been. For awhile after he war
commenced, there a TuPerAbuadAnce Of everything
there Trade with US was suddenly stopped, And all
those articles which we're raised and manufactured for
our market were thrown upon their hands This gave
immense suPlus for home consumption. 1t sWelled
he supply far beyond what it had ever been before and
greatly in excess Of the local demand This very
materially decreased the cost Of living II also telded
70 lower tina price OF labor for in densey populated
country competition among Arzans and AborerS is so
great that they keep their pAJ fixed at rate
higher than is barely sufficient % enabs them to live
even Whsn the nscesres Of life are to be purchased
a! the very lowest figures.
Toe surplus existing in the early part of ths war il
exhausted and the people, having ceased produce
Anything for the Southern Market gauge their supply
to salt the hons demand The Confederate States fail
70 furnish cotton for manufacturing purpose6 aud hence
there is growing scarcity of cotton goods. In the
meantime tae country Is being flooded with "green-
backs - and .4us, from the combined cause Of d.
mnished supply OF food SclOthng aud increased
volume OF paper circulation ths expense Of living is
IL A IL IL
of hcur and bacon pieces these articles beyond the
reach of the working clauses unless they are CORES.
pondiDgty femunerAted for their labor.
The relation Of labor TO capital Is very delicate It
Is one Of the most difficult things to adjust properly In
al the sSence of political economy This is peculiarly
the case where mschAne4 operatives aud laborerS
numeroua and where wealth is concentrated in the
hands Of few As We in the UAited States. Waite
dependents in such community have few If any, legal
remedies for any grievance resulting from oppression
By the rish poor Iaborer grumO.sj at the pay lie
receives he il more likely ilcur the penalty Of dis
msa fr2m service than increase In his wages.
The Yanles nabobs nebr think of SppsAsing hungry
rabbls BY adding enough TO the price OF their labor to
enable them to bay bread They prefer to escape from
the CRY ef distress BY bAnishing them from their
pigment In this desperate extremity, the poor Snf-
erers have no RECOURSE bu. resort to open violence.
YGnkeedOn Is rapidly Fastening to this state OF
things There Is no scarcity Of food thsre but IL is
reaching figure which the poor cannot pay They
demand more for their labor but taul far their de-
msnds have not been complied with. What are they
TO doe They know that the whereWithAl TO supply
their want is there; AID this is more provocative Of
outbreak ban if they we're the victims Of famine A
hungry p,rAtvs would have no inclination to join
mob thers were nothing eat within hs reach But
he viii not long endure his paDgs when surrounded ~
plenty fAmishIng tiger would not remain quiet in
bis Jungle within striking distance Of anything that
would sAt lts his hunger lion would not rest quietly
in his lair suffering for food while surrounded BY the
smaller intualupOn which he preys though sxtrsOrd-
nary eIsrOns might be necessary to Sezs them. Il