The New York herald., 1866-04-29
Strikes and Combine nations-Labor versus
Capital.

Capital.
The shipcarpenters, joiners and caulkers Of
the city recently demanded that eight hours
should constitute q days labor, and should be
paid the same sum as the days labor Of ten
hours had previously been. The employers
refused to meet this requirement, and the jour
neymen accordingly ceased labor, resorting to
the usual trade organizations to withdraw all
laborers from the yards till the builders should
come to terms. The effect of this step has been
TO cause the builders to combine, in their turn,
against the journeymen; and they have now
determined not to employ any Of these latter
unless they abandon the trade organizations
and 90 on with their work as soon as practical
BILE, without allowing the eight hour demand.
The journeymen, therefore, seem just now to
be in danger of getting the worst Of the
dispute
II is the old question of labor and capital
still; but the practical fact at issue just now Is
simple enough. II is, which is the stronger Of
two combinations--thc combination of labor or
that of capital. However any one may natu-
rally .sympathize with intelligent labor in de-
manding what it believes to be rightfdl con-
ccssi,n, it ought not TO be encouraged to
persevere uselessly and to its own ruin. Upto
a certain point the demands Of labor, however
made, are conceded. The competition for labor
on the part of capital carries II as high as it
can go. But II 1t goes to the point at which its
demands are refused, and endeavors TO force
them by combination, then 1t sooner or later
inevitably forces combination on the other side
also; and the moment 1t has done this the
balance Of power is against labor. Work il
suspended for time, but workmen are i'm
ported; the demand draws in q supply Of the
discontented from other quarters; there Is even
tuaily glut and wages may go even lower
than they we're before. Consequently 1t Is only
wise when combination has been resorted TO
on both sides for strikers and employers to
make some arrangement as soon as possible.
Another point against the strikers Is that the
financial tide has turned the other way. To
demand the same wages for shorter day Ii
to demand, in fact, an increase of wages. IL In
too late for this. Demands for increase sue
ceeied while the tendency was toward expan-
sion IN the currency. When dollar was every
Gay peCOmlnS WOrtn iess meu hhu w h"'c
more Of them, and strikers were successful.
Now IL Is the other way. Contraction Is in
progress. paper dollar becomes constantly
worth more, and If there Is any change In
wages IL cannot be an increase.
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CHuRcHEs.-Wh en-
the late war broke out belligcrent feelings
were displayed where one would have least
expected 10 lind them-that is in the churches,
whose special mission is to preach the gospel
Of peace. The Church North and the Church
South were OF loggerhcads. 'Convocations and
conventions disputed points which were
merely secular and had more bearing upon
political views than doctrinal matters or
religious tcne,s. The disputants In the several
branches Of the unlimited number of churches
involved in controversy seem 10 have learned
sense since the war has been concluded, and
are now disposed 70 harmonize and forcgo