Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-01-07
The Eight Hour Question and Hr. Morrill,
SDeeeh.

We print another communication from
on" on this subject with some reluctance.
With all our respect for the writer, we must
say, that this, like his former article, has lit
tie to do with the practical question in hand.
In admitting that it is " not advisable or
just )" to give ten hours wages for eight
hours work, in the government shops, - NJ. "
comedies all that is of real present practical
account, on his side of the case. Whether
ten hours pay shall continue to be given for
eight hours work is the question for Con-
gress. And if las NJ" admits,J Senator
Morrill, fairly showed that this is not advisa-
bic or Just, he made his main point and did
a good piece Of service for the country.
We certainly do not deny, and we presume
the Senator would not, that in some coneeiv-
able Utopian or millenial state of society,
the division of the day which - NJ" fayors,
into nearly equal times for work, for recrea-
ton and study and for sleep, would he very
fine tbinr.-the work of course to be the
most effective. the recreation most suitable,
the study most improving possible. But we
venture to say that when NJ" now hires
his garden dug. or gets his house repaired,
be Is not in the habit Of astonishing either
the laborer OF the carpenter, by handing
them their iull day 5 wages at the end Of six
hours, that they may 60 home and play with
the babies and improve their minds. He
then takes the practical view Of the ques-
ton.
Nor would - NJ, " we undertake to say,
though it might almost be inferred to the
contrary, be willing to 20 back to the days
when in England the price of a days work
was penny a day, and the amount Of work
given for the pay was about in proportion.
Our correspondent does not really, we sus-
pect, though be seems to. think that our
railroad system, or a railroad across the con-
tinent. Is such a useless and undesirable
affair. nor would he, we take it, wipe out
if he could the national wealth, which is but
the aggregate Of the wealth Of individuals
and to 90 large an extent in our favored land,
Is accumulated and held by d" working men. 90
For the rest,-saying the point that the
hours saved from labor would generally be
wasted. as to which Mr. Morrill, may perhaps
have drawn too sweeping an inference from
the fact, capable be says Of ample proof,
that such has been actually found to be the
ease with the workmen in government en-
ploy-. NJ" seems to Us TO wholly misrepre-
sent the aim and spirit of the Senator
speech. The things 3. N" tells Us We can
not deny, VIC 30 deny emphaticaliy The
speech, as We read it, Is DO attempts To degrade
or Cypress the workingman, to make ma
chine or slave Of him; but just the con-
trary. 1t is a plea for tie true dignity Of
labor. it recognizes the intelligence and the
worth Of the working man, as a man, rather
than a mere bundle of muscles 1t aiyo-
Gates education for all. even to the extent of
a system of compulsory public education.
This alone is a sufficient answer % .. Il. S.
charge that the Senator fails t5reco-uIze. or
consider worthy of care. the nJ5ler part, the
mind, of the workiaguan. 1t distinctly COM
bats class di>,inc-ion= Ii opposes aristoc-a-
cie- or privileged classes, either among the
people at large, or among the working men
themselves. Al this has been set forth in
extracts from the speech already published
in our columns and We can only regret
that b. NJ should have read them. with eyes
So 4 termined to find fault as 70 overlook
the plain meaning Of the words. and the fair
differences from the statements made