The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-09

be fails in his chosen pursuit, millions of
acres of fertile land can be had at so cheap a
rate that the mother earth never refuses
liberal sustenance to those who make to her
persistent application for sustenance. That
still more may be done for the workingmen
of the land by proper legal devel-
opment of the system of CO.
operation is exceedingly probable and this
subject, in its various ramifcations, is we'll
worthy of the attention of all the philan-
thropic statesmen of the country 1t is also
proper that new safeguards should be thrown
around those whose lives and limbs are i'm
perilled by their avocations, and the terrible
disaster at Avondale is but one of MANY illus
trations of the peculiar necessity of this
description of legislation in Pennsylvania.
Greater pains should also be taken to prevent
the employment of very young children in
factories and workshops, and every possible
effort should be made to secure to all
the youth of the land that fair
start in the race of life which is
derived from a good early training But
meanwhile all the labors of legislators and
all the concessions of capitalists will be
utterly fruitless in improving the general
condition of the rising generation if the
efforts of various trade associations to pre-
vent the instruction of apprentices continue
to be successful. This selfish policy is strik-
ing at the very root of the future prosperity
of the country, and if it is persisted in it will
infict deeper injury than any other evil
with which America is now threatened.
Even the public schools will be-
come comparatively worthless if,
after children are taught how to read, write,
and cipher, they are denied opportunities to
learn how to work. One of the very greatest
calamities that can possibly befall nation is
the annihilation of its skilled laborers, and,
as matters are progressing now, fifteen or
twenty years hence the full force of this dire
dilemma will be felt by the American people.
Already it is becoming painfully injurious.
The criminals and paupers who increase 80
rapidly in numbers are recruited almost ex-
clusively from those who have never thor
oughly learned a useful trade, and the
supply of frst-rate workmen in any
branch of business is never equal
to the demand. When the
present operatives pass from the stage of
active life the existing provisions far supply
ing their places are SO inadequate that a fear
full dearth of skilled labor in every use-
full pursuit is inevitable, and it will be accom-
panied with vast increase of dependent and
unproductive drones too lazy or too ignorant
to work, ashamed to beg, and only too ready
to resort to disgraceful and dishonest prac-
tices for livelihood. While legislators and
philanthropists are studying up this general
question of protection to labor, and while
they are endeavoring to improve the lot of
the present race of workingmen, let them be
very careful to devise methods to destroy the
existing restrictions upon the instruction of
apprentices. Of all the horrors of Southern
slavery the very worst was the prohibition of
the mental enlightenment of the negroes.
Let us not have even more injurious limi-
tation permanently fastened upon the white
boys and girls of the country.