, 1872-12-25
LONDON.
4 Great City il Da7Aness---ttacon7cD
ic-sas OF The S;:uatiGl.
The Trades-union Question
Trc7n Our O,1n Correspondent.

LoSDoS, Dcf ., 1o1-.
Scarcely have the policemen bee i1orelVen
ere another class, upon whose Teo'at luz
comfort of the public almost equhs oepenos'
haye revolted. It's mercy, tbpeoPie say'
that the two did not strike togethes II honaon
YVES both in darkness and vitEoy 1ts ponce, &C.
cent folks would have good de'to DC airsao o.
If you listen to gray-bearded Aen oithe upper
class, they will tell you SOC y ls IN an un-
precedented condition; g spit OF lnsurrcctlon
against established arthorits, o1 lneanorolna-
ton and license lis at work; aoor Is learning lts
power and is abusing it. I cannot lind, how
ever. in nv reading. q per,d in modern English
history in which the 'n.ne thing was not
hejno said, Ei~cumstncos and conditions
change, but there are Always timid conserva~
tiyes and rash dcstructfes. England is not 80
badly OF as when laborers were burning
machinery md the peasants firing the stacks.
But the form of thestruggle is unquestionably
new.
THEiRADEs-US1oNs.
Twenty years 40, the Traacs-Unions we're Of
small account. Tey we're disiked, but they were
scarcely feared IN the Legislature, not half-a-
dozen men in England have apolosized for
them. They VIE committed to violence and to
folly, Had th.r earlier rules been successfully
established, ngiish industry would, at this
moment, be lille more than a name. But the
needs of eoci.y and the progress Of education
hare done so1ething. Trades Unions too have
stood moro ut Of the way Of progress, and hare
not eougE EcGulouely to sacrifice
the futse to the profit Of the
hour. !, proportion as their extravaganza
has beco1e less. their political influence has
bscome aore- The members Of the various So
cieties pssess yotes and Parliament has given
q legal sanction to organizations which once
we're fcnally under its ban, Noted leaders in
past st,l1es are named Royal Commissioners; !;
they peach il Dissenting pulpits, and write in
Qu.rtrly Reviews. Members Of the aristocracy
patrolizo them, and bring them into club
smokng-rooms and University Pro-
fesscs stand upon their plat
forms ard encourage them to
e1tr:nes. a little while ago, it seemed as
though the workingman wes the most fashion
abb" member of society. The Tories court him
1s1ae cities, scarcely dozen dare give him words
Of counsel or zebuke. Under this fostering the Or
genizatior Of the Ttades-Union has grown strong,
and with strength comes tyranny. 1t sometimes
looks as though this large giant, Industry, was
going to stop in his labors, and to smash every
thing within his reach.
4 1ASG-HEADED TyIANT.
Il the philosophy of the gas-stokeCs now on
strike is to be adopted, Eglish trade must stand
still. a man may dislike his master, and may
throw down his tools and walk away but, il a
master dis.ikes him, and finds him nalschievous
OF incompetent, the master must ask per-
mission Of the Trade-Union to which
the man belongs before he can dismiss
MIN! That is really the issue. Again;
4 master must not employ whom lie likes. A
workman may be the best in the city, but, if not
member Of - the Union," the master is not to
employ him for an hour Yet, again; if a par
ricullef company or firm has dispute with it's
worhmen On q subject which concerns the par
ticular firm, and that 1rm alone, and if the dis
rute eliminates in q strike, the employees under
all sinailar companies or firms, however Tar on,
and utterly ignorant though they be Of the guar
rel, are to strike TOO These things do We all
see st this moment with open eyes.
BLEEDING Us.
It Tas c. little cowardly, their moGe OF Fro
cedure. When strike takes place in the build
ing trade, amongst the coliers, tho printers, the
bakers, or any other calling, weeks notice is
ci7ec Each side then has time for reconsider
stion. for arbitration, for comPromise' e But ut.
conceived stupendous idea- They would
put their hands upon the gas-tap and say,
::Now give us our terms. or well put london in
tie darE!" This is literally the case. The MAN.
ne on the afternoon Of the strike. He Was agi-
tated and anxious. ~ declare" said he. thst
I hardly think there is enough in tho gas-hold-
ers to light 8 tenth OF the lamps in Lon
don t0-11GlE. 11lASlue IL. CaA y YOU
shake hands with the men?'' "Impossible
They are determined to Try and teach US we are
uobodies. II we went down on our knees to-
day, and rplored the other companies to do the
came, they would find q fresh cause Of quarrel
next week" But the news! No gas IN the
streets! Our Offices left in the gloom OF the
candle, OF exposed to the dangers Of naphtha and
parattinei '1vas difficult to believe it. Then
for run upon the oil-shops.
s'BRoHEs 1oHrs.'
We are not absolutely in the dark. This is the
fourth night Of the strike. and gas is burning
above me as write But the Inconvenience has
been great. The large lhoroughfares are miser-
ably dull. The gas in tho street-lnmps and in
thc ehop-vindows has been 60 low that We have
not seen each others faces as re met on the
nayements, On the ground floors, and
In the basement, the lights usually 60 out
In the suburbs all but tho leading roads are
lighted The cry is to econonise. You can i'm
agine the distress Of the families who depend
upon gas esoyes for their cooking operations or
for heat. The weather has become suddenly
cold. and We want all the heat we can get. 1t
bas wierd, uncanny look, this London, in the
dimness OF a q gas-strike." Men and women
At by like spectrcs, The objects in