Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-05-07

profits Of the landlords of whom they hire
their tenements; when they read in the
eneWspapers the income returns of the
wealthler classes, which are increasingly
heavier while laborers find 1t more and
more difficult to meet their weekly bills, is
it strange that the inquiry forces itself
upon their minds, Why the pressure of the
times bears so heavily on them, and so
lightly upon others? Why are the rich
growing every year rapidly richer, and the
people who work for wages poorer? With
their minds full of such questionillgs, and
their hearts full of discontent and misgiv-
1ngs, is It strange that new theories OF the
rights of labor Should penetrate easily and
strike their roots deep?f g. Ha9
Whether the old relations between labor
and capital are right or wrong, It is evident
enough they are not operating in the old
way. They are working more than ever
before for the advantageo of the rich and to
the detrinlent of the poor. None of the
defenses of the old system of which certain
newspapers are just now so profuse, ac-
count for those new results of its operation,
which are giving such a stimulus to the
strikes that are prevailing all over the
country Itseems idle to discuss this ques-
tion precisely. as it would have been dis
cussed seven years ago, What the artisans
want to know is, why they do not partake,
as formerly, in the prosperity Of the other
classes. 81 lN5a Hti3 1877 q .3iTif 2
Itseems to them a great paradox and p1z-
zle, that political party which has been
more successful In accomplishing its aims
than any party ever was before, party
whose rallying-cry has been "the rights of
= labor, whose constant protest has been
against the injustice of toll being compell-
ed to give its earnings to pamper wealth
1t seems to the laborerS most incongru-
Gus and paradoxical thing that such party
should have brought the country into a
condition in which they receive q Smaller
share OF, the products Of their industry
what they were, led to expect when per-
suaded to vote with the Republican
party. ~ That party has brought
them into, this cOhdition,a. :. and they
seem disposed to rely on themselves to get
odt0f it.. Their methods may be wrong
but they are not mistaken in supposing
that they ought to find some relief from so
very unexpected consequence OF great,
and what is claimed to be a successful re-
Yolution in favor of the rights of labor.
: Their discomfort, which is not causeless, is
becoming so widespread and universal
that it becomes one of the chief duties of a
faithful press to enlighten it. The hour is
2 at hand when these infinite multitudes
OF replning workmen will feel them
selves insulted by boasts in their
presence of the equalization of con-
ditions in the South, when so much
new inequality is introduced into the
North. The laboring classes are relatively
much worse off in consequence of tbewar
What they repine at is not that they bear
their fair share of necessary burden-for
it would be unmanly to complain of this
but that the new policy works in such a
manner as to transfer their earnings into
other mems pockets. @ No platitudes about
the impolicy of strikes or the folly of de-
manding ten hours pay for eight hours
IL A.
laborers with the general impoverishment
of their condition while others are making
aunwonted accommodations. oa.a Td
= 1t they try the mistaken methods, failure
will cure them of their error, and increas-
ing distress will keep them in search of the
right remedy. Itis all very well to preach
cooperation, which is excellent in princi-
pie and deserves earnest encouragement; !;
but it does not meet thepresent exigency.
The great mass of our laborers are too
poor to cooperate Under the most favor
able circumstances, that admirable system
would be OF gradual introduction and
slow growth. How shall artisans who
must pinch their families to save during
the month enough pay the next months
rent, contribute funds to set up new
establishments for ship-building or5iron
smelling, or any of the numerous employ
ments of which the returns may not come
back in years The very few who have still
a little money left in the savings banks may.
cooperate with advantage in some kinds
of business; and wherever such a move
nent is possible we wish it might be
promptly begun. But the evils whose
pressure is the heaviest are the fruit
of political causes, and admit only of po-
litical remedies. Shortening the hours of
labor will merely diminish production,
raise prices yet higher. and render wages
still more. inadequare to supply the neccs-
10 IoI
certain to learn by experience, when in
creasing sufferings will exasperate their
discontent. By next year they will be pre-
pared to seek relief in better administra-
tion of the Government. ots71aI .uoslaiTl