The New York herald., 1869-07-07

TIE Labor Reform Quessis..
Thomas Carlyle has somewhere said that
the food questionable right to eat-which il
synOnOmous with the labor questionable right
to work, -untrammelled by ''the combination
forces OF mOnOpoly"-is at the bottom Of every
popular revolutionary movement. 1t is, there
fore, not surprising that in the present awak-
ened condition of the working classes through
out the civilized world the labor reform ques-
ton should be the question of the day. At
the recent convention Of the Typographical
Union, at Albany, delegates were appointed
to attend the Labor Congress, which is to be
held at Pittsburg In Pennsylvania, on the Sd
of August And it is significant of the unseH
ish purposes of American workingmen that
these delegates are especially instructed 10
urge the passage Of resolutions in favor Of
a project of universal interest-namely. the
entrusting of the management of general
postal telegraphic system to the United States
government. This project, as the HERALD
has often conclusively shown, should commend
itself to citizens of all classes in our com
munity
Despite all the extravaganza and nonsense
which found vent yesterday at Harmony
Grove, in Framngham, Mass, the labor
question was logically discussed there, and
an earnest desire was manifested not to pro-
woke useless quarrel between capital and
labor, but rather reasonable equalization
of their respective interests for their mutual
benefit. There is a certain enthusiasm which
cannot fail to excite popular sympathy in the
final resolution passed at this convention OF
the Labor Reform Leagues in the old Har-
mony Grove, however much people may differ
as to the point OF woman's claim to the privi-
lege of voting. This resolution declared that
in denying the ballot to woman; in advancing
interest on money; in aiding great railroad
usurpations to plunder the public; in refusing.
while granting endless privileges to chartered
capitalists, to incorporate workingmen for the
benefcent purpose of cooperation, the Massa-
chusetts Legislature is guilty Of high treason
against freedom and honesty, which next No
vember must be rebuked overwhelmingly at
the polls. Another resolution inveighed
against an exclusive currency, whether of
gold or paper, which it charges with enabling
the privileged few in control to make interest
and prices high, wages low and failures fire.
quent, and therefore advises that by remOn-
STRANGE we petition and by ballot earnestly
second the demand of the National Labor
Union for immediate withdrawal of the notes
of the national banks, to be replaced by Trea-
sury certificates of service, receivable for
taxes and bearing no interest," and the prOvi-
sion of free banking associations, whereby
money based on commodities, can be pur-
chased at cost. The resolutions to which we
have alluded indicate the drift of feeling and
opinion which find expression at the nume-
rous labor conventions now being held through
out the United States.
In Europe as well as America the labor
question is, after all, ''the question Of the
day." The succession of dynasties, Cabinet
changes, diplomatic difficulties and all other
political questions are really Insignificant in
comparison with this question, and at any
given moment may have to give way before
it. At the fourth annual Congress of the In
ternational Workingmen's Association, which
is TO assemble at Basle, in Switzerland, on
the 9th of September, the following subjecis
will be presented for deliberation: First, tho
question of landed property; second, the right
to inheritance; third TO what extent oan
credit be Immediately utilized by the working
class q? fourth, the question of general educa-
ton, and fifth, the influence of Trades Unions
upon the emancipation of the working class.
All of these questions are Of vital Importance,
and their intelligent discussion By representa-
tives of the classes directly interested in them
cannot but result in advantage to all classes
in society. We must, therefore, regard such
labor conventions as those which are to be
held at Basle and at Pittsburg as healthy
tokens of the good time coming, when labor
and capital shall at length learn that there is
no irrepressible conflict between them and
that mutual benefits will ensue from an equita-
bic adjustment of their respective rights.