Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-10-03
"1he Labor RefOrinerS."

The "labor relormers," says the Proyi.
dcncc Journal. are dissatisfied because
the laborcrs are making too great wages
on the New Post Office building in Now
York. The laborcrs themselves are of
course content, or thoy would not remain
where they are free 10 depart nj pleasure,
with the certainty of finding abundant
employment elsewhere The men who
take off their coats and roll up their shirt
sleeves, who WELD the AK and The ham,
mer, the trowel and the pick, arc quite
satisfied with the arrangements that they
have made with those who employ them.
| The government desires, the whole mer-
camille community desires, all who send
or receive letters desire, that the post
office should be complete as soon as prac-
| ticable. and the supcrintcndents, acting
on the general wish, urge the work on
ward. The workmen can make good
wages ut eight hours q day, better Mt ten,
and very much better ut fifteen. Some
Of them prefer to work eight hours and
to spend the others, not required for
work. in visiting the park or theatre, or
in reading good ol bad books. or playing
billiards, or in any OF The many other
ways, some very praiseworthy and some
very bameworthy, in which free and
independent American citizen may choose
to pass the time. Others prefer TO work
longer hours 10 make hay while the sun
shines, ""to lay up something for wet
day" to send n boy to college, or to buy
farm or comfortable house in the
| suburbs And each and all have the
equal right TO follow his own Judgment
in The matter, to work according TO his
own views OF what profits him or what
pleases him. And il is nobody's business
but his own. The American workman is
not n surf; he is not under the guardian.
ship of scll-constituted committees, who
60 around getting up conventions, max
ing foolish speeches, and drinking cham
pagno.
| ii all The men who never did fair
days work in all their useless lives would
leave the labor question 10 be settled by
those whose industry and skill are build.
ing up the wealth and opening the re-
sources OF the country, by the men whose
honest toll is giving them the means OF
constantly improving their own condition
aud opening to their children paths OF
usefulness and honor, the whole matter
would soon be settled to the mutual salts.
faction of labor and capital. Ii is the ar.
| tilicial disturbance to which three.
quarters of the trouble is To be traced.
1t is the bad ambition of men who wish
10 live without work themselves and
raise themselves to power on the shoul.
dcrs OF labor, that causes the discomfort,
the antagonism between men whose in
tercsts are Identical, and the loss of SO
much time that the interests of the COM
munity and still more, the interests of
those who lose its demand should be
passed in Industrious callings.
AS there is no royal road TO learning, so
there is no other road to independence, to
competency, than the road of steady and
faithful labor; nor can any system be de-
vised which shall give to the man who
labors eight hours n day the same reward
as to the man who labors twelve hours a
day and by no way except the exer.
else OF outrageous tyranny. can man
who is able and willing to work ten hours
day or fifteen hours day we have
worked Tor many day-be kept from
tho exercise of his own right in the
matter.