The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-06-18
AGAINST WHAT TO STRIKE.

We have received several pamphlets
which have been published by the Repub-
lican Congressional Committee, relating
more or less directly to the labor-reform
question, which is now largely agitating
the public mind, and which, from the want
of just and comprehensive appreciation,s
on the part of both laborer and capitalist,
has resulted in so many strikes in New York.
and other northern and western cities. But
none of these pamphlets, in our judgment,
touch the real cause of the evil complained of,
nor do they propose any remedy that looks
to an effective amelioration Of the condi-
ton of those who complain and suffer.
Their condition, we all know, is bad enough.
Much the larger class of American labor
ers-those who are doomed to muscular
toll from their earliest years-will be found
without much intellectual culture, and with
no thought of its value to themselves or
their children. To them the weary bonds
age of labor is handed down from father to
SOD, as the only legitimate inheritance that
falls to their lot. These men, constituting
millions in this country, toll on from one
years end to another, earning, even in their
prime, but precarious subsistence, and
having no hope, in later years, of making
any adequate provision against their old
age. They generally have large families,
for the blessing of offspring comes to the
poor rather than the rich,) which are DOOM
ed to the hard and cheerless lot of poverty,
from which there is no reasonable hope Of
rescue so long as the refining and elevat-
ing influences of society are withheld from
them in the inadequate returns they receive
for their labor.
When we see the bountiful returns which
nature gives directly from the soil to the
hand of labor, we cannot doubt that, left
to herself and her own benefcent opera
tons, she would make ample provision du-
ring the vigor of manhood for the wants
and necessities of old age. But the cum
ming of human laws intervenes, and the
profits of the poor mans labor-the lions
share of what he digs out of the earth or
impresses in value upon manufacturer
goes into other hands than his own; goes to
build palatial mansions for the man of capt.
tai. or the man who has the culture and
brains to command capital and so WELD it as
to take the lions share of such profits.
1t is the old story of noble race of men,
amiable and ight-hearted, working on
from day to day, the year in and the year
out, in the very brick fields of Egypt, with
their means taken from them by cruel
system, the working of which they do moi
entirely see, but of which they see enough
to know that they are compelled to deliver
their constant stale of bricks"
At present they are crying out for eight
hours work and ten hours pay. But this
will not help them, even if their seemingly
unreasonable demands are complied with.
1t only puts upon their shoulders fuller
tale Of bricks. The fault does not lie witt
their employers-with the men who organic
and direct labor in this country-but ii
another and more cunningly concealed
direction. Practically, all the currency o
modern commerce, and all the money tina
manufactures and moves merchandise, j!
borrowed capital, so-called-money Loaned