The Indianapolis daily herald., 1865-12-25
For the Indianapolis Daily Herald.
The Workingmen aud the Indiana
Lcgisiaturc--Ehe Eight Hour Qucs-


MIR. EDITOR Sir: The action Of the late
Indiana Legislature upon the numerous peti-
tions presented 60 them from the workingmen
Of this State. doe, not disappoint the cXpecta-
tons of a large portion Of the intelligent work
ingmcn Of the country. 1t was anticipated by
those presenting the petitions, that some such
cheap way Of disposing Of the question at this
time would De rc.orted to-. The object Of the
workingmcn. however. has been attained, i'm
bringing to light the feelings Of those Repre-
-cntatvcs, who when seeking their election,
were loudest in their professions Of honesty
and their truthiulnes, IN representing all
classcs Of community. instead of the none ed
few.
There are many things which, perhaps. are
too often overlooked by representative men,
that 40 the present time. enttle the working
men 10 some consideration i'm the affairs Of our
country. Ihree-fOurths Of an the voting pOpu-
lation of the United states are composed Of
men whose hands are hardened by daily
toll, and whose labor fashions and
brings into existence that representative
OF wealth. which Is concentrated in the hands
aud l. the support Of. The other fourth of the
community. let when The question of voting
l. practically tried. every vote in the hands of
these workingmen j. just as potent in deciding
who are 10 be the representative men rs the
Wealthlcst man of the country But notwlth-
standing this. the political machinery of this
Government has AWAY been managed by and
run Tor the exclusive benefit Of The moneved
aristocracy and whys Because. from the
first formation OF this Government up 60 the
present time. the WorAingmen have been tied
. 10 the wheel 81 labor 80 closely. and - many
hours of the day. as 20 hc unable 10 cultivate
and III their minds for aS,utc thought. or ee-
waite their intellect, above the one idea of their
labor. and thus have ploddcd on. seemingly
content 20 let The more fortunate ones, whose
time was more extended. by mean. Of their
wealth, for intellectual cultivation. manage al
fairs themsei,cs. And they have heretofore
done II, To the entry satisfaction of the wealthy
class.
IL is bat few years since twelve hours a
DAY was days work for labariug men: but a
reform was instituted. and the hours of
labor were reduced o. ten. Al that time en-
ployers raised The cry Of ruin 70 their interests,
and starvation o. the laborer. IL such "A project
should be carried into effect. But the work
ingmcn forced the experiment. and the result
his fully justified the movement. No employ
ers were ruined hyit; no laborers were starved
10y II; no moncycd men wrapped themselves
within the mantle Of their dignity. cncrcled
4 by their dollar and cents. nor refused 10 build
their house, or Improve their lands. or invest
their money, because they were compelled 10
pay a. much for ten hours work n was their
wont 10 pay for twelve. The world moved on :
but the shortened hours oflahor enabled work
/ inGmen To- devote more time O. intellectual i'm
/ proVcmeat. and that improvement led 10 me-
chanlval inventions aud practical results that
have made such revolutions In the commercial
and financial circles as gives an impetus 10 the
business ~ the whole world, beyond the con-
ceptions Of The highest intcllccis OF past ages.
IT. THIS intellectual improvement that has
madt Tor our country that love 81 liberty. aud
that sterling patriotism which filled our army
IN the late struggle tor national Ni>ience with
the bone and .iucW of the land and ~uccrs~.
iully carried o., through the hcr, ordeal in
safety, and forever secured o. as a united and
free land.
judging of the future from The psl. the
worAlneaon believe the time has arri, "a when
the adN autlg,s of g further reduction in the
hours 81 labor. may Doe a. beneficial to The
whole community. %, 10 has proved 10 be- In the
pa't. The sumo opposition 90 the measure
~ presented a> ~ Nurr No new arm.
ments have or en- bc riyon lo coun.
teract The reasoning H- o. tho result.
that will Dee oht4iutJ from IL. adoptlon
Tho cry of hard ilmr. cumius. and present
heavy government tlNts. Co be- paid from canl.
tai. - equally failat ion. and void OF sound
reasoning. starvation 10 tho labOrer from re-.
duccd wages T. a. void ol truth as 10 was wears
ago. Taxes mas hc heavy. but who pays thrmy
Not the man with -iH1.uNN invested Ina GOVERN.
mont bonds. ior they are exempt from faNa.
ton. Not the m1n who builds u house. A. am
those Who occupv must INV !, bi.h.r r',,, =
cause AT rbet.nt as, t,,,,,., - ~ - ~
net rrnut 90 tht owner. rs though 100 govern.
az fsfafff,,4. until fhr li.f ,,o,,iI -, ~"
hurthcu.one. and sim the firf MIA in,,I.
tally rturn. th4f ..r.nf.r. anil ,,t On. :
money -trader. mu.t and do pay these taxes.
-. 10 j. equally true Thar fhe LAW of ,lrp,r,t
anil .unplg reustD. enc pfi,...,f I'm r,,,,t,..if
ties. and Labor l.no rNrrt'fian a. th, ri.i. a.,
reducing thr hour. oflahor ~ ,isht. ,rin,Ls
ad,mand Tor onr-hfih more ahorcr.. and sb.
sorb so much 90 thD SURPLUS lallafin. element
and hy the greater demand enhance if.Nalnr'
There - lusi sn mg.h D. 'iUr lo ho performed ~
support the mhlMimi, 40 ue earth. ANA h
must i'c done. apd ID viii b. done. and viii be-
pals Tor in proportion O. fa. amount ~ lah0rers
a. do it.aud no caut.n. philosophy ia mone,el
men, Nhlio thtt are I'i ht tIc light 81 ln-
ltiii-' hf' ana tAH. il. ''i Ni iur present day.
e. Ni'-H i tNl "iii .Iiirf arguments O. au ma
iihilti lrh-il. Nut .farr Mill not permit. The
Wnlhlut HfN Dave NNftrHf.U. fn stand united