Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-09-21

The late labor demonstration in New York has
called forth considerable discussion in the papers
Of that city upon " the eight hour question, 1t
is treated by the formal OF Commerce very fully
and with the calmness and thoughtfulness char
acteristic of that paper in dealing with matters
Of finance and labor. The Journal holds that
those do very cruel thing towards the laborer
who urge him to constant efiost to shorten the
hours Of toll No amelioration Of his condition
ever came or ever can come from such attempts.
All experience proves the fallacy of the oft-re-
peated statement that the workingmen, as class,
viii produce as much in eight hours, If the
change were made, a. they would under ordinary
circumstances in ten hours. Start with a sufi-
eient number of I" ifs' and the thing would be
feasible. If the laborer entered into the scheme
with this purpose steadily in view; If he hus-
banded his strength and made the best use of the
spare hours; IL he trained himself in the interval
for a special effort to be put forth during the
prescribed term Of work, and then resoluteIy
applied his utmost energy to his occupation, the
product of his eight hours would be greatly en-
HANGED. But to believe that all this will take
place simply because eight hours becomes the
limit of the labOrers day is to suppose that this
change will be a greater instrument of human
reformation than all the influences heretofore
brought to bear on the race since the first pair
dwelt in Eden.
The Journal argues, also, that even if the la
borer could do as much in eight hours as he now
does in ten, the change would not be good for
him. Work is a blessing, and men do not work
too much. No man was ever injured by it.
Care, anxiety, and accompanying clogs Of va
rious sorts may break the worker down. but
plain, hard work, cheerfully and faithfully per-
formed, never shortened q mans days, or planted
thorns in his pillow, or weakened his mental or
moral constitution. II eight hours work will
bring laborer all the necessaries OF life, IL
would still be for his advantage to work longer
that he might accumulate resources for old age,
that he might provide fresh resources for cul-
ture and enjoyment for himself and family, and
that he might cheaper the products of labor
70 al his toiling brethren Noresolutions Of con-
ventions no heroic courage on the partofleagues.
no legislation by Parliament or Congress, no royal
decree of King or Kaiser, no strikes or patient
persistent fOrtitude on the part Of workmen, can
alter the eternal ordination that fewer hours of
work mean fewer comforts for every working
hand or busy brain. That cannot be altered.
1t is not that capitalists refuse to grant, or en-
plOyers resist it, but that il cannot be done in
the nature Of the case. All that there Is in the
world comes only as the product Of brain and
sinew strained and tasked for this service. If
moro of this product In nominal amount were
given to nominal labor 1t would purchase him
no more CT that he is seeking, its purchasing
power being cOrrespondingly diminished. When
there is more to divide, the workingmen get
more. Al those who achieve any great thing
for themselves or the world work not only eight
hours, but ten, twelve, or even more hours.
TO their own added peace Of mind and length of
days