The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-17
Work for the Workingmcn!


Working with will, working together,
and working with set purpose Trades
Unions of the United States may change, for
the BETTER without violence or threat, Tie
pecuniary and social condition of the stall
wart sons of toll.
The working classes of America have, in
numbers, the political control OF the coun-
try Their votes, cast together, would de-
feat or make victorious the most powerful of
parties. Their strength, well directed, would
secure to them all that they properly desire
Their voices, pitched in unison, would be
heard wherever men work, women weep
and politicians cringe and lie and steal
Intelligent, timely, generous labor can con-
quer all things. But the mere strength OF
numbcrs-without union OF purpose, intelli-
gence of action and enlarged liberaliLy of
| thought-muSt soon be overcome. Therefore
must The Unions work understandingly.
They must know what they want what is
possible and what is impossible, what are
their own natural rights and what are the
acquired rights Of others. Surrounded by
pitfalls and snares, they must walk warily
but bravely.
Hitherto the working classes in this State
men from whom much is expected, have had
as body, but little to do with political
affairs. They have been represented and
we'll represented, in the State Legislature;
but they have not made themselves heard in
Federal politics, and they have not turned to
good account, in any way, the undoubted
strength they possess. Now they are organ
izing, notably in this city, and their first at
tempt to walk alone is watched with jeal
Gus care.
The main object Of all combinations Of the
working classes is to obtain just compen-
sation for their labo. Unless the laborer is
fairly paid for his toll and sweat, he will not
grow broader in thought or larger in brain.
The artisan who earns cup of water and
crust SCOTS at book knowledge, and lives
and dies in ignorance Unless the wolf OF
famine be kept from the door, what will the
laborer care for his Cwn development or the
future of his children? Mechanic and arti-
san rrSt be paid enough to enable them to
live decenty and comfortably. To secure
this beyond doubt, is ,hc primary object OF
all Trades Unions.
In most of the discussions to which this
question OF wages has given rise, the Trades
Unions OF Charleston seem to have overlooked
a most important fact. Marching directly for
ward with their eyes set upon the goal OF
higher wages, they have apparently diSre-
garded the influence exercised upon their
interests by protective tariffs, high taxation
and class legislation If the purchasing
power of their wages be increased, the effect
is the same Us when wages are raised and
commodities are unchanged in value. When
the aborer receives his weekly wages he
asks himsef-Hew many pounds OF bread,
how many yards Of cloth, how much COM
fort in food and clothing, will this money
buy? Reduce the price Of commodities, OF
articles OF necessity, and, wages remaining
the same, there is an immediate improve
ment in the position Of the workingman.
Combination will give the working classes
fair price for q fair days work. Free Trade
will give them every article Of necessity, at
the lowest price at which it can profitably
be produced in the place best adapted to its
production And the same policy Of hoslil-
| ty to Free Trade which compcls the work
nwnlan 10 pay premium upon every arl'-
Gle of clothing, for the benefit Of the monop-
oists of New England, is at the same time
crushing the masses throughout The land in
the interest of the privileged few. The peo-
pie, the consumers, are taxctl-in order that
the coal and copper miners, the iron manu-
facturers, the spinncrs, may grow sleek and
rich. Business languishes, the shipping
trade OF the country passes into the hands
OF the foreigner, there is no activity in any
branch OF manufactures. The nation is
ground down by monopoly, by Protection.
A few men heap up their millions; the many
starve!
The insidious arguments of the Protec-
tionists must not lead our people astray
In Congress the South is represented 10y per-
sons who are bound hand and foot TO the car
of New England Monopoly. No help is to
b, expected from them. The people Of the
South must speak for themselves. They
must make Free Trade test question.
Casting aside the slang OF party, all our pco-
pie, and especially the working classes,
should pledge themselves to support no man
or set of men who will not work for Free
Trade, as well as for Low Taxation and an
honest and economical State and National
| administration