The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-29
The OharIcston Strike.

ioH'SiOTciHcil, Tue snip carpenters, tic house
painters, the lalors, and we know moi what
other fractional parL Of our toiling human
ity, have suspended their work and dcmun-
dcd higher wages. Without pretending to
enter into the merits OF the controversy, ant,
without even calling tho attention Of those
whom it concerns to the simple principle
that proper wOrkmnns union is defensive
and not offensive, we must say that We think
the present conflict is most unreasonable.
The strike ordinarily is the resort of the i'm
povcrished workman against the thriving
proprietor. In the present instance it has
been precipitated by knavish politicians.
1t is an attack by labor upon the proprietor
just when he needs every favorable circun,-
stance for the re-cstablishmcnt OF Il business
on which, not his support only but that of
his hands depends.
So long rs the world endurcs, VIC suppose,
the contest between labor and capital must
80 on, and with the same varying fortunes
as those which attend the competitions OF
the bull. and bears Of New York. The man
Of means will naturally cndeavor to secure rs
ei - 80 iSlulh itS ilScSlliIcHlc anu HIS
risks and his losses as he can; and the man
OF muscle will seek 10 appropriate the larry
est proportional share OF the profits which
he has toiled to secure.
In normal state OF society we should
have no occasion to dcprecatc such IL con-
ilict. We might trust in tho operation OF
the laws OF political economy, as other COM
munitics do, for the regulation of wages
This interest has method Of adjusting itself,
if not in accordance with the highest prin-
ciplcs Mt least in such way ms contributes
to the general prosperity and to the wealth of
the State. The conflict is unequal, for usually
the employer has some means TO fall back
upon, while the workman cannot afford TO re-
main idle for week or month without incur
ring the danger Of starvation. This is one of
the safeguards against the interruption OF
those general and useful enterprises in which
the capital Of country is invested But If,
rs sometimes happens, tho laborcr triumphs
and secures larSer proportion OF wages
than would properly and naturally accrue to
his work, his success invites competition
among his own class. The supply soon be-
comes greater than the demand, and Us the
number Of workIncn increases they under
bid each other to obtain work. Thus capi-
tai RECEIVERS its lost ground, the abor-ratc is
resumed, and the ringlcadcrs of the strike
are obliged TO leave the country for want Of
ence of the English operatives. The vnri-
GUS combinations, often tumultuo,Is and even
violent, which have sought TO fix an arti-
iicinl scale of prices, haYe proved hut y
mere eddy upon the broS"' acep stream of
the national prosperity. IiftM the depart
ments OF industry I'M incXorablc law, the
law OF supply and demand, has prevailed
like decree Of fate.
Mr.. Buckle calls attention to the fact that
the Revolution in England which eliminated
and collapsed in the Protectoratc of Crom-
well, was more Of an industrial than po-
litical movement The like remark may be
made in reference to the French Revolution.
It is suggestive circumstance that each of
these national labor-strikcs resulted in a
personal government, which crippled labor
and exied liberty itself.
In Charleston strike just now is, as' we
have intimated most unfortunate. AS Adam
Smith has abundantly shown, an increase of
wages is absolutely dependent upon, and
must be III proportion TO, the increase of
funds from which the payment is to be
drawn. Where the revenues Of n business
and the stock invested in it are limited, the
wages OF the labor employed must of neces-
sity be lower than in the wealthy establish
mcnts of u ilourishing community. To sug-
gest New York prices as standard for
Charleston is simply prcpostorous. We are
just beginning TO live; capital is not abun-
dant; the profits OF trade arc uncertain;
men OF tho highest Accomplishment and char
acter arc reduced TO salaries which satisfy
the necessarics of life, but afford little more.
The season is not auspicious for strike.
And il IL were, might not Captain Stoddard
and his obscquious cohorts OF longshorcmen
prudenuy and modcstly wait-until their
betters were served?
There were, we doubt not, exceptional
cases of grievance represented in the recent
muncrativc and where the industry needed
special recognition, because it required the
labor of the brain os well as the hand 1t
was Gil unfortunate circumstance, however,
that the most inferior kind Of labor was the
most clamorous in its demands and the
most riotous in its demonstrations; that it
is Radical League with q Radical leader
and Radical ward who have presumed,
in the name of the laboring class, to demand
the control Of the wharvcs and shipping of
Charleston. It will not take long to settle
this business.
The present population of Williamsburg
County is: Whites. $500, and blacks, IL, 1856.
Total, i7,47G In 1850 the population was
Whites, 5ls7, and blncks, lO,3O2. Total,