New-York tribune., 1867-01-07

EJE COlJ1ERY INPlOSIONS--MONkMENI IN orrp-
sI1IoN TO The TRADES .UNIONs-cmncAL STATE
OF AFFAIRS IN INGIsND-INDUsTRIAL PARTNER
SHIPS
Prom Oar Special Correspondent
LONDON Dee %, 1866
The old year is dying hard in Old England Since
nv last letter there have been fghtful explosions IN
two of our great northern eolleries, causing more
loss OF life than many battle has cost ms which Is
remembered as a landmark, and has left a name
which stirshe spirit of every Englishman as he sees
IL on the colors of some of our hard worked line
regiments The coliery explosions viii he forgotten
in a year and yet these accidents have have brought
out more heroism, and of finer type than ever
went 10 the winning of battle only the men who
died in che gallant effort 80 rescue their comrades at
the Oaks and Take Colliefies didn't wear red coats
and were not bent ON killing anybody. The nation
is much moved by this terrible calamity, desolating
swarming aud industrious district Just at ChI1si-
mas time, and already funds have been subscribed
suffcient 10 meet the material wants of the suffer
ers and probably to insure fair prospect in the
future for widows and orphanS-a poor salve. no
&loabt but all that we can do for the moment B'lt
what comment the whole affair is on our so-called
national representation This is question which IS
waiting for scientific inquiry where the poor men
who do the worlds hard work must necessarily
die while wise ponder and debate. The remedy
IS not TO seek. There are, ] was nearly say
ing hundreds but / fear that would be
overstating the case, but dozens Of Onr colieries
which have been worked for generations without
the slightest accident from explosions. Certain well
known and very costly precautions as to ventila
fion and careful supervision of the workings is all
that is required to make mems lives safe. But have
we not inspectors Of Mines TO that these precau
fions are takeug Yes we have inspectors but in the
first place they are selected from the master class
whose lives are not at risk aud in the second they
have not the power TO order the necessary alterations
in pits where ventilation is grossly neglected, and
the work gs are carried in utter disregard of the
chance of explosions. II is only another instance Of
the Irter want of representation of the mass of our
people in the present legislature, and of that old
bgotry of letting things alone which has nearly run
its course on this side the Atlantic.
Then 90 help out our merry Christmas and happy
New Year, we have a very general slaokness of work.
cry from the employers that orders are leaving the
country Letters to The Times showing that in Bel
GUM the skilled labor Of men is paid only 2S day
while woman NAV be had to do the coarsest labor
AT rs and a boy Tor Ii2s chorus follows as 10 the
Sins of the British artisan, who, in his supreme and
nnthinking selfshness has been running mp wages TO
81 and 81 day. rate which can never De held, and
IS bringing down his e0uutry 60 a speedy industrial
collapse. These cbjurgations and exhoriabons are
having their effect in several directions. There is
the midland districts to organize opposition societies
10 the present Trades Unions the fundamental prin-
ciple Of whose action shall be the liberty of every
man 10 work whatever hours aud for whateyefwages
1Is pleases. Now J. for one, anu glad TO soc this
counter organization, because the system of
the old Trades Unions has of late produced
= new disease OF the most serious kind
ia our labor world. The English arti~an.was always
as;iffnecked and not oyer-refine, sieciman Of hl-
Saanity, who took rather pride IN not being moved
Ny ideas, and in tie narrOwncss OF his sympaihcs
ontsde his own class. But suppose in all the civil
Hed or uncyilized world there no such dogged
worker the year round. We gained onr European
supremacy in manufactures ard trade partly, no
'oubf By the start we got in the times Of the old
war but ton times more by the fact that the English
neehanc worked long and worked thorough, aud
week BY week and yeaT by year placed third or 50
more wrought iron cotton yarn aud Better cf IFS
lS'pd at the disposal Of tie buying world than amy
Frenchinan GcDnsn on Belgian conld do in the
saine period. The old war has been over these 30
years and shn, up 10 yestorday-or say mp 10
the last fow or five years this supremacy
mas been more than sustained. But since
Industrial evil war has tskeu It's present threat
si''ng proportions, yery marked change has taken
place ia this matter The Trades Unions have taken
70 the use Of weapons Of limiting production as
iaey bad every right 20 30 IN q state of war aud
osy only borrowed shaft from tbe masters qniyef
Bsf their method ias been most unfortunate They
hate Insisted 0a tie men working slack" or
kalkiDg, toe phrase Is not, indeed, In 80 many
"os6, tgf pmticaiiy, iTas1auch the amount Of
voif Which they have allowed their men 10 do I'm
day has beeh mach less than they could a.d ought
setuslly 10 have DONE sAnd 50 dawdling has newt
ASly fO!Swee, sag BOD ses@pea gesA ig " tEsig.