The New York herald., 1871-12-15

M,-. Hoar's Labor Bill In Consre.s-Ths
Enter,scs Wedge Of Another Tremenaou.
Revelutions~
Within the last ten years, on the questions
Of African slavery and the civil and political
status Of the African race in this country. We
have passed through one Of the most stupeu-
dous and decisive revolutions ip the history Of
mankind, and now we are on tde verge Of
another. The revolution accomplished turned
upon the wrongs of slavery and the rights of
the black race; the revolution upon which We
are about to enter will be fought upon the
wrongs of the .laboring classes and the rights
oflabor. By the, revolution we have left be-
hind us, the old social and political institutions
Of our Southern States Of two hundred years
of cultivation have been torn up by the roots.
By the revolution which is just before us, the,
social and political institutions of the civilized
world, some of them older than the Pyramids,
will be swept way.
We say that we are on the verge of this
mighty revolution; for in the Labor bill Of
Mr.. Hoar, of Massachusetts,, introduced in the
national House Of Repres sntatfves, we have
the entering wedge of this sweeping revolu-
tion. This bill, reported on Wedacsday last
to the House, from the Committee on ,Educa-
tion and Labor, provides for the appointment
by the President, with the advice and Scon-
sent of the Senate, Of commissions. Of
three persons, to hold Office for two years,
unless their duties shall have been soouse
accomplished, who are to investigate the subj
ject of the wages and hours of labor asd the,
division Of the joint profits of labor and capi-
TIL between the laborer and the capitalist, !.
aHd the social. educational and sanitary con-
dision Of the laboring classes of the United
States, and show how the same are a4eotsdl
by existing lawsregulating commerce, finance
ceivea salary of Eve thousand dollars each,
and may employ clerk, and they shall re-
port the result OF their Investigations to the
President, to be by him transmitted to Con-
gress.
The significant fact in connection with
this bill is that 1t really comes from the
and is 5fered as bid from the
party in power to the International and it's
labor societies for their support
n the approaching Presidential election. It
Is the beginning, 1t is the entering wedge, it is
\ bold move,. and it looks like new departure
For the republican party. In introducing this
bill Mr.. Hoar admitted his obligations to the
and had good word for the
Paris Commune. This, from Massachusetts,
Puritan, unquestionably means business. The
democrats in the House were caught mapping;
but, on motion by one of them to lay the bill
on the table, they were speedily reused from
sher slumbers, and then they began their
efforts to appease the angry lion that stood
before them in the name of the rights OF
labor.
This is beginning, and it may be con-
sidered In the light Of republican compro-
mise with the International to tide over the
Presidential election. But it admits the In,
ternational into Congress as political power
in the land. and. the agitation will 60 on
and gather strength as it goes. What is the
trouble with the laboring classes of the
United States? They complain that through
banking monopoies, railway monopolies. man.
nfonopolies, and monopolies and
Of capital in every shape and
form, under our existing laws, capital is be-
coming stronger aud the laborer weaker-the
rich are becoming richer and the poor poorer
from year to year; and the International pro-
poses to cut out these evils-as slavery. was
cut out-by the roots, beginning with the in
vestigation proposed by Mr.. Hoar. But what
can these agitators do against the combined
capitalists Of the country?- What has been
done within the last ten years by the
agitators against slavery aud
King Cotton, representing in all its .ramifica-
tions in American politics substantial capi-
tai equal to five thousand millions of money!
Why, the laboring masses Of this country,
with few years political training, in
single Presidential election, with the Congress
sionat and State elections of the same year.
may effect q revolution that will astonish
themselves. But once fairly uader way.
where will they stop? The republicans may
hold back the labor movement for this Presi-
Dental election; but what will be the election
of 1876? Who can tella
Personal Intelligence.