New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-02-26


in turn upon the English labor market. and compelling
rates OF wages than would otherwise have been re-
qured If the aim OF the nation had been directed to te
payment OF the largest possible compensation TO i own
working classes rather than to the the maik
of the world at the expense or humanity lseil
The possession Of these wonderful deposits OF coal ara
iron fund for the payment Of adequate wages 70
labor IN Britain IL equivalent 10 our virgin soil IN
the United States enabling both nations to pay the hg
est possible rate OF wages WIN thf bss
been deliberately and reckessy thrown away by com
petition between the Eglsh manu- sesdy
pressure upon the wages LABOR In order 70 Keep up le
faT bS S Sommodes 81 Is mistake to suppose
that this reduction IN price has been caused py 'no COLL
petition OF foreign nations win Grea. D1h , for
It's own consumption, and that Belgium onY Turns Oua
onetenth much iron az Great Britaln anu rs 1
Governed as TO price solely by the rate at which Great
Britain is willing and able to furnish the remaining nine
tenh II 1t were possible Tor beigum 70 ate he pTce
for the total products but 1t Is simply ridiculous 10 appre
hend in view OF the natural resources OF ehe 0ou"
tries that any such change can ever be ehected -
The most Interesting Industrial and social Question OF
the age IS therefore the policy which VIZ 10 VI Coy ~
ard iron And the royal commission, now making an ON
cal inquiry into the exhaustion OF the eoa ~ us ny
vestigate whether by wise and suitable reguatoh .o
annual product Of coal cannot be SO 81 o
ducon than IL has heretofore received an u Pests.dtf
aware thot such regulations must heees1'gg at ance
vii "Pp P sreo ,rado advoSated In Great Britain
| VcIy' little reflection, however, is required to
show that 10y far the greater portion Of the legsaon
all enlightened nations Is necessarily Oh proeeve anu
restrictive character and at this day no enhghtened
statesman wOudadSOcato the deliberate sacrifice OF iOc
f S eIer s 90 Ss II pded in but fails
to be applicable in tho presence OF eNeeptonabe facts
resources. The protection OF fe liberty, properly
and social order the title to lands and persoDal property
rest entirely upon protective laws and all provisions Tor
the protection Of capital and health and the establish
freedom OF the ndiy idual and surely legislation looking
20 the wses possible of national resources and the
|
material upon which the structure Of the national indus
try aud prosperity and the welfare OF the WORKING classes
rest Is not merely natural but necessary step In tho
progress OF industry and the development Of civilization
IN country In the world are 20 many proofs Oh inc
wisdom Of this caurse to be found In the history OF
British legislation in reference 10 the working classes
during the last - years The repeal on the corn laws vas
measure Of eminent protection to the WORKING ciasses
relieving them Of the taxes imposed upon food for the
benefit OF The landQWner ana OF the landowner aohe
because the condition OF the agricultural laborer could
not be made worse but could only be improved by any
change 1he seics OF laws rtkltlmg inc employ heht
OF women ana children IN factories hnd hMes are not
produced the happios results on inc moral ana physical
dton ol the working classes The laws recognizing
the egal existence Of friendly societies. for the encour
agrment Of building aS5ocaonsi me conversion OF the
posofiees into 5ayngs banks for the working classes
tced by the government Of the working classes, On the
payment Of small periodical nstellmentsi for the
acknowledgement Of cooperative stores and associa-
lions; for "parmershps OF industry m winch The
wofmanis allowed 10 have an interest in the profits Of
me stottcs nfbSr-g the estabbmo Of free
reading rooms libraries, and museums, by vote Of the
conrse of Wsc icgislaton Enthusiastically protective re-
srictve and enabling persstcnty advocated aud
cessuily established BY the most sagaciOuS, liberal and
uanthropic statesmen Of The present ago. and resulting
in 90 marked improvement m the condition OF the
In the rate wages that it H. scarcely possible longer to
deny tie st step toward securing to the working
laon az protects them from the evils which seem TO be
lnseIarable from the spirit OF unresiraned competition
between nations and between men, which experience has
shown result IN tho utter disregard Of the moral and
physical condition and social welfare Of the working
Cd l1t lcgy
This wise Of leglslaom may he said 20 be but
fairly Initiated in England but ihe Intelligent observer
until al special privileges ch interfere with the nor
he rsn,oved Jhe effect VIII undoubtedly be rise in
wages, already apparent and Ills result h snqueson
ablS mait.f ~ deep concern 10 The manufacturers and
eersiisis OF Greet Britain who fear that Il viii deprive
hem u their ability to control the markets 81 the world
a. they nov do. with The products Of their mills. But
The distribution between capital ana labor may, ana
must und9nbiedy es easnssa pS' ,n1 Tsectd
bccsu-c the control u The fuel Of The world that 70
piiHs Prnviderce fot it, usr IN the hands OF the
Ansio-saxon race 10 Europe and America, who alone
mnorc but for tho possession Of the mineral fuel In
snch quantities. snd for the violation OF the natural
laws which should govern The employment and com pen
salon Of labor Tho Transition 70 more equitable Dasis
production win 9py enable gser sppl them mg s
NTH coal and IRON 10 raise their labortng classes
England. without by any possibility enabling them TO
keep up any effective competition IN INC markets OF tue
world for the supply " the required for the future
progres,. Development, and civilization Of mankind.
RE Of royce T. Eged ussf % hot Ply y os .,
OaHp,rsa, az may b. possible 70 ctiHgsh pOrerg
aS ssIap,y ope,uiirss Rroggtoaf az i,s n irhic1 ~,
industry "a nor wnghed dorm bghe sgeefs Of British
to Ino h I. . suggestive and for humanity encouraging
fact that the agitation and rescSsness which character
Great Britain and the United states, who not only
far In OF all other countries In the possession Of
free dsrusSon and prompt Obedience the popular
voice. he result OF constitutional government long IN
duced by the logic Of experience and facts, and
modify their legislation so as 60 conform TO the Just de-
covered and made plain TO the COMMON seise OF the
Whom by reason OF such legislation tho wages Of labor
IN Grca Britain have reached their normal condition,
there will no longer be any occasion Tor rs TO consider me
question Of protective or POhibory tariffs but Ia the
mean time, TO the people OF the United statss VINO, In
S0mpsrson with their European neigh6ors suffered but
little violations Of the fundamental principles of
SSraagS eseSs rae at fich o, rants
and riH BE- supplied from GbToad, rh'fe me present
s ssS .s J s,% G S a. rS eai e 9
g cell o,g oior and hus o6a,doi business rhieh 50
Iog as our present Of agcs Is maintained, cannot De
conducted IN ne United States eren without profit or rs
can impose geA dg on yoys,gm y ,ooS as @H
for baGia0 TIM Of iron "a Europe or % ms country;
ea me expense Of ,rgnso,tG,9,a The . decision OF
classes themselves. and 10 the great body ~ the farmers
in the United states, the labor employed in Il must
I'm the maiu take 10 the soil and larger yield OF agrcn
turgl products be insured The surplus 40 produced
seek market the open marts or the world aud
the mouths that would have been fed this side OF the
Atlantic will simply he fed elsewhere. although not 80
abundantly and generously. But II must be remem
bered that hdicrT may be Ne price W bread IN Europe
AT ne ors There he iron cH be made topd DC ne price
wheh ne operatrss could AFFORD 10 PoyD me iron
Works had bee PLACED vhere tie 0,ain Is 0roica and That
me cost Of transportation thence Is gust nch deducted
from me price chich The fd1ner voud hare receped me
oJdia had b6en consumed al home
The question also which concerns the West
than the East because the loss caused by transportation
from the West Is greater and the final decision OF this