The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-12-01

the general interest and prosperity Of
tho State, insensiblo to the affective
lessons of the ordeal through which
they have so recently passed learned
nothing, forgetting nothing, nor re all
zing that they are only the shadow VS.
of the power they once exercised, ,
while not only their soeptre but their
dominion is rapidly passing from them
into tho hands of tho speoulator and
the money lender, and Of those who
fccd and fatten upon the vices, the
weaknesses and tho miofortunes Of
mankind.
But notwithstanding tho deere pi-
tude and decay Of SO large q portion
OF our former property-holders, the
mouied influence still weighs its
strength in opposition to the rights Of
labor, and availing itself of the re-
sources at its command, has assumed
not only to determine the wages Of the
laborer, but to fix his sociai status
and to treat him as subordinate and
as an inferior and dependent, to be
coerced into submission by the dread
that resistance would result in the loss
of employment to himself and Of
bread to his family. And the work.
ingman, like the bridled horse, un.
conscious Of his strength, has been
content to eeeppy tho. abject position
assigned to him Of toll and drudgery,
Of penury and degradation, for the
soanty means Of subsistence doled out
to him, while his children have grown
up uneducated and unrefned, without
the means of improving their condi-
tlon, reckless Of the past, hopeless Of
tho future.
But although in these struggles
hitherto the advantage has generally
been with the capitalist, tho working
mon, by realizing the Importance Of
concentrated effort and of proper or
ganization, are meeting their employ
crs, on more equal grounds, insisting
that they shall have voice in deter.
mining tho value of their labor, and
in many instances these demands havo
been complied with. Success has en-
couraged others who arc pressing to-
ward the same goal, and 7 am cheered
in the hope that the day is not dis
tant when the employer and employed
will realize that they are mutually
dopendent on each other; that tho
rights of one and the interests of tho
other are perfectly compatible and
equally deserving Of recognition and
respect, and that all will acquiesce in
the sentiment that fair days work
is entitled to fair days. wages. In
communities where the system of COM
pulsory labor existed, the antagonism
Of labor and capital was greatly ag-
gravated, the capitalist being the mas
ter, and tho laboror his slave, whose
labor and person alike were under his
control, and who regarded him but
too frequently only in his legal rela-
tion of a ohattel, 10 whom he had no
other interest and felt no other SYM
pathy than the amount of labor ho
could exact from him, or what ho
could sell him for in tho market.
But this system Of coercion and
degradation which defed the claims Of
humanity and the restraints of law, and
which in debasing labor, injurionsly af.
fecterl nll, both white and colored. who
lived by it in the order of a wise and
benefcent Providence, suddenly stricken
mortally and irretrevably TO the earth,
the relation Of master and slave we're
instantaneorsly abolished, and The
workipgman was made free TO, dispose
of his person and his labor IN whatever
direction or manner he might deem
most advantageous, while in many cases
| aremnant of.the old habits remain tho
recollection Of kindness received on tho
one hand and Of faithful service on the
other large majority arc yet 10th 10 70.
cognize the full equality before the law
ofitheir former slaves, and grudgingly
dole out to thom their scanty earnings
| "a though IL wasaa gratuity and not n
right, and their defferenial acourtesy is
but too frequently repaid with arro'
gance, exac,ion and abuse. Thess
exhibitions Of bitterness and injustice
aregreatly to be, ideplored, and require
the prompt and efecsual interposiiion OF
law TO protect the workingman in his
riaktI ands,o enable him to fally realize
that he 10 the owner Of his,ownt labor
and entitled to far compensation for
| Il; that he 10 the Protector of his wife
and children; that his home Is his satic.
ti,ary. where none can :nolost him or
make him efraid /; ard thai he 10 secure
in lis. right Of life, liberty and the pnr.
auit Of happiness.
II should be tho earnest effort Of every
l,,, N III sepenra a Jho,,,o = l,oxv.var b,Ip,