The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-18
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
a Letter from tho Hon. w. S. uenere,
TO THE EDITOR or TIIR NEWS.

TO TIE EDITOR OF TIIB NEWS.
Twas panied TO sec my name used, by one OF
the speakers Mt u late meeting or the wOrkngmen
OF Charleston, as the champion OF class. While
have ever been the friend OF the worklrgman and
mechanic It. is evidently In bad taste for any mar.
ticuar clasd In community to array Itself
against al others; anu while I fully appreciate
the compliment rendered me by my comrades Of
the nrts, must feel that am equally indebted to
many WARM friends in almost every clsss OF our
community for the high honor conferred upon
inc, In being selected to represent them in so hon
orabc bohy as our Senate Of 1866; and would
further say that IL ia my opinion that any one
who'would consider the interest OF but one class
OF his community in such plucc, IL unworthy OF
the position TO which they had elevated him.
So far NJ the organization or our industrial
classes into societies. for their mutun protection,
benefit and elevation, IL concerned, this Is hut
right and proper, and eminently a move In the
right direction; but when they do this at the OK.
pensc OF all other classes, and with n view to
compel n larger support than competition will
warrant then hayc they lost sight OF the high
aim for which they set out, and no movement can
succeed which expects to build UP one intc-nst ut
the expense OF pulling down another equ en-
titled to support. In my humble iudgu this
Is not u time for exciting discOrd between cnl-
ploycrs and employees, and If our sensible work
Ing men will look the matter rightly in the face,
they will nnd that IL Is not the disposition Of
those who are now afrorlng them place for
earning support to opprcss and grind them; but
that the want OF u better support Is to bo laid ut
tho door OF our common misfortuncs. The Ruler
OF our dcstincs has tried us in scathng furnace,
and those who are worthy will come out brighter
for the trial; but let no man think he hns done
worthy act, when, combining to help his fellow
man, hc forces another to pay the costs OF his be-
neyolcncc.
AEancc ut the condition OF our community Ia
sufficient to show that tic present suffering of our
working classes Is not the result OF disposition
on the part OF employers to opprcss their cni-
ployccs; for IL this WAS the case then the first
class would be enjoying the luxurlcs OF wealth,
while the latter would be enduring even scycrcr
trials than what Ia now their lot. Can you who
look back to days OF plenty without taxation now
expect to enjoy those haIcyon days In the midst
OF repeated loss OF crops, which have always re-
wardcd yon in past years with employment COM
petcncc and comfortR Can you expect the same
results with fields stripped by caterpillar and
drought hear you answer, mol Then do not
blame your fcllow-msn, nor an AI-wIso Proyi-
dence; neither set yourselves up against either,
but, accepting the situation like men, let us all
determine to uphold one another, till Gods bless
Ing shall at last reward our endurance, and give
US once moro plcntcOus haryests, and oyerruling
the present tyranny, relieve us from these taxa
tons which are grinding our city and Statc to the
dust.
II may he asked why some are now crying ont
under these dincultcsf Z answer, it Is because
the lessons OF the war have been forgotten, and
that close economy which would make both ends
meet Is lost sight Of in the effort TIC like some
OF our ncighbors who arc moro thrifty and pros
porous than ourselves. Let US go hack to these
lessons, though they are hard to study, and we
will ind that there arc very few who have patient
ly toiled on that are not better Off to-day than
they were five years ago. Accept the lessons
then, and, instead OF banding together to force
others who are not ablc 10 do more for you unite
In common brotherhood, determined that by
greater individual exertiOn and strict economy
you will be more useful TO your community and
to each other. AS an evidence OF the correctness
OF the last piece OF advice, and also as q proof
that employers are not cnricntng themselves at
the expense OF the employees, will state, In con-
cluslon, that the economy forced OH three OF my
employees, by the condition OF business In the
past two years. requiring me to hold back part
OF their pny, was the means, when the Improve
ment In business enabled me to meet these en-
gagcments, III enabling them TO undertake the
purchase of moderatc-prccd domlcils for their
families, while Jour humble servant still pines for
his own vine ana ng tree.
Very respectfully, yours.
WILLIAM s. HRaBREY.