The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-22

of this responsibility is by acting promptly
and impartially upon the demand for the re-
moval of Evans from the Office which he dis
graces and peverts to his own personal profit,
at the risk of human life
THE WORKING CLASSES IN THE
UNITED STATES.
A SERIES of articles with the above title, by
Mr.. Robert Coningsby, are in course of
publication in the London Spectator, for the
ostensible purpose of giving such informal on
about the condition and prospects of the
working classes in the United States as will
give Englishmen, and English laborers in
particular, an adequate idea of the exact sta
tus of our workingmen as compared with
those of Europe. Mr.. Coningsby is no ex-
ception to the traditional travelling English
man, who finds it impossible to comprehend
with any great degree of exactness a condi-
ton of affairs different from what he has been
accustomedto. Mr.. Coningsby has, apparently,
endeavored to collect reliable information
which will be useful to the laboring men of
England who may contemplate emigration to
the United States with view of lettering
their condition, and his conclusions are often
sound and just. Mr.. Coningsby is often out
in his facts and figures, having evidently OBJ
tanned much of his information from hearsay
evidence, and not from actual observation
and investigation. His papers, however, con-
tain many really valuable suggestions, and
the conclusions he has arrived at as
to the actual condition of the
working classes in the United States are much
nearer the truth than is usual with foreigners,
who generally find themselves unable to COM
prehend our social, as well as our political
system. Mr. Coningsby, however, makes
some characteristic blunders, as, for instance,
when he says: SIN Pennsylvania there are
still remote places where the pillory is a re-
cognized institution, and even the whip
ping-post is regularly used twice a year." 1t
is little rough to fasten Delaware's peculiar
institution" on our shoulders, but when
was an Englishman ever found who could get
such matters right? Mr.. Coningsby also
takes more roseate view of our prison system
than the facts will altogether warrant. He
says:-
''The whole American system in dealing with
fallen humanity seems based more upon Christian
charity than ours is. In the United States crml-
nal is regarded as patient whose moral nature is
sick, feyer-strcken brother to be kept apart and
restrained, but also to be cured. There is even an
agitation for the administration OF chloroform to
criminals about to be executed"
The agitation about administering chloro-
form to criminals we opine is not very great,
and as for our treatment of criminals, we are
afraid that the penitentiary system of most
of the States are something different from
what the writer supposes. Even in Pennsyl-
vania, where the penitentiary system is nearer
to Mr.. Coningsbys ideal than elsewhere, the
curing process is not as satisfactory as it
might be, but this may be in a measure due
to the fact that many of our criminals are set
at liberty before their terms of punishment
are complete and before their 'moral natures
are thoroughly cured.
The advice which Mr.. Coningsby gives to
laborers however, is for the most part ex-
cellent He tells them that energetic, 60
ahead men will succeed here just as they are
likely to succeed in England, only in the
United States they will have more chances
and will be able to get along faster, while
those who are content with being mere labor
ers will dig and delve in America just as they
do in England The difference in the prices
of the necessities of life make the rates of
wages in the United States not appreciably
greater than they are in England, but in a
new and undeveloped country an industrious,
saving, and energetic man has more openings
offered by which he can make his way in the
world. Mr.. Coningsby advises English
laborers who may contemplate emigration to
shun Canada, and to push for the far West,
even to California, and endeavor to become
possessed of farms of their own as soon as
possible, but especially to keep away from
the great cities. In connection with the
chances of laborers obtaining work, he says;-
"rown laborers of all sorts, handy men who work
mlactories and about wharves, the doers OF all sorts
o odd JOBS, provided they are AFRAID OF rest anu are
NOT Iastldous about the nature OF their {men
VII aso think, be sure to find work IN the Uhlted
otaes Ihey should not stop i'll the large clues put
push on into the small and rising ones. hallway
eAcaVators too, are always in demand, at rates
varying from six shillings to seven and slxpence
aay In every large town placards are 10 De seen |
posted up announcing the want OF SO many tnou-
sanus Vi Ihese men, l was told, however, ny more
Inah one English NAVY whom / found at work on |
hnercan railways, that they are more driven ana |
nave TO work harder m the States than |
IN england. They don't at yer so much as |
uuI @ CANCERS does at home, but they've got quiet
way continually showing like, till II almost
breaks art to to the work said one OF |