The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-29
The Wants of the. Working msn.

What can be done for the ;workingmen OF
the lands How may they obtain. living
pay for their work? How may they find
leisure moments for their own education,
and for adding to the comfort of their fami-
liess How may they become happy and
contented citizens OF commonwealth
where all have On equal voioe in the con-
duct of public affairs, and where individual
progress should attend, the growth of the
general prosperity g This, in the South, is
the problem OF the times; one which presses
for simple and lasting solution. ~ -
1t is apparent to even the casual observer,
that, the artisans and mechanics Of this
State, for example, are poorly and INSULT
ciently rewarded When they are fully en-
ployed, they may, by pinching and con-
rtriying, keep the gaunt wolf from the door,
and find bread and d'meat for those who ere
dependent on them. But even the most
lucky dare hope to do no more than live
from hand to mouth. letting each day take
care; OF itself, until trembling arm and
aching joint can strain and strive no more.
Here in this broad country, the Mecca of
the Industrious and hardy emigrant, each
tday is consumed in y struggle for existence.
The brain is dulled and the muscular frame
| is jaded, only that the morrow may witness
the same dreary round Of work and toll
toll! and work. For the poor privilege of
living, the laboring man, the eworking Glass;
must slave from dawn to night Tho rich
grow more rich-money makes money-but
they who WELD the axe and hammer the
iron, who till the soil and hew into shape the
virgin forests Of the South, are unable to
better their position, and are stripped Of
that cheerful con6dencein themselves which
is the cornerstone Of Improvement, and the
unerrihg indication Of the coming Of better
times ...r,r s-a-a .;.,l!...
The depressed condition OF the working
Glasses is, we freely admit, largely accounted
for by the absence Of capital, and by the
distrust excited in the public mind by the
reckless dishonesty and extravsgent ex-
senditures of the Government Of the State.
There is little activity in the circles which
give employment to the artisan and me-
chanic, nd'thousands of hardy workers are
debating with themselves whether it is better
to fight out the fight in South Carolina or to
seek q new home in the cities OF the TEEN.
ing West. These staunch men will be needed
here to build mills and erect factories, to girdle
with iron the whole extent of the State, and,
unless they are confident OF obtaining higher
wages elsewhere, it is best to remain at
home.
Where the wOrkingmen and their employ
ers bear together the hard knocks Of adrer-
sily, neither class can rigLlfully complain of
the other. The workingmen, however, are
not satisfied. They know where the shoe
pinches, and theories aud columns of figures
will not content them. When they ask for
bread, it is useless to give them stone.
Now, we are far from desirous Of seeing,
in this Southern country, that active oppo-
sidon of labor to capital which in the Old
World has nearly ceased. There the war
was bitter and sharp. Thousands of pains
taking men were con strike" for weeks to-
gether Their employers bore the loss Of
profit and waste of means as philosophically
as they might. The trades unions assumed
gigantic proportions. With increasing
strength, they practiced more. forbearance,
and the end Of it is that no serious strike
takes place in England until the permanent
Committee Of oiArbitratiou, composed Of work,
men and employers, has finally failed to
make a compromise or agree upon reason
-. .