The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-22

When the eight hour agitation was inauGu-
rated by the joumeymen of this city few
weeks ago there appeared little chance that the
men would obtain their demand Year after
year this question had been brought before the
public in much the same form, but in spite of
the legality OF the demand capital had in
nearly every case proved too strong for labor
The great difficulty of strikes is that men must
live, and the working classes seldom have
sufficient resources to enable them to stand
siege. However, there are moments when
capital can no more afford to fight than can
labor in its normal state. The increase of in
telligence and organization among the working
men enable them to recognize this, and by a
proper selection of their time to strike they
compel capitulation.
II may be said that the triumph they have
achieved is only temporary and that the EN-
ployers will discharge them as soon as they
have no further pressing need ofther services.
This, however, proves nothing; for exactly the
same thing would occur if there never had
been strike No employer ever keeps a
workingman one hour except for his own
benefit, and the journeymen know this we'll
The argument put forward by the instigators
of the present agitation, that the eight hour
principle will put it out of the power of the
employers to revenge themselves is in the
main true, because it will tend to carry the
work into the winter, and so avoid slack times
There can be no question that whatever tends
to remove the present system, with its alter
nation of busy and idle months, will contribute
to the well being of the working classes. This
may appear a small matter to those who look
on man only as a machine out of which as
much work as possible is to be got; but the
millions who toll may well be pardoned if
they fail to accept the interest of few thou
sand selfish men as of more Importance than
their own happiness
We have unquestionably entered upon q
new era, when the principles of political
economy at present in vogue will be trampled
under foot. Though the indications at pres
ent are not very threatening, there is coming
rapidly a time when labor will entranchise
itself by the means by which it has been
enslaved. The influence of the masses-and
they are the workingmen-begin to be felt in
all free countries, and is everywhere diverted
to the one object. knowledge is felt to be the
real source OF power, and the people thirst to
acquire it. They feel that they have been
oppressed and brutalized by the old system of
labor, and they seek to overthrow it. But
social emancipation is always more difficult
to obtain than political freedom, because so
many interests grow upon abuses.
The manner in which the struggle has been
fought out in this city between the workers
and the capitalists reflects equal credit on the
good sense Of both There have been no
breaches of the peace and no violent invasons
of the rights Of others. The demands Of the
men were reasonable enough, and have the
sanction of the law. 1t is, therefore, to be
hoped that whatever i'll feeling may have been
temporarily created by the conflict of interests
will soon disappear. AS the effect of the eight
hour principle will be to increase the intelli-
gence Of the working classes by allowing them
time for self-improvement. we cannot but de-
sire its general adoption
Spanish Insults to the American Flag.
The government at Washington seems at last
to be awakening to some sense Of the national
dignity. The President aud his supple Secre-
snubs from aristocratic England but they will
not suffer threats of actual violence to 90 lln.
punished. 1t would appear that some naughty
Spanish dons, viewing America by the light OF
our recent official action, have mistaken the
| bird of freedom for a goose Acting on this
misconception the commander of the Spanish
war ship Borgia undertook to blockade the
Edgar Stewart, an American vessel in the port
! of Kingston, and even to threaten the Wyoming,
an American ship-of-war, when the captain
wished to escort the blockaded vessel out of
port. At our latest information from Kingston
the Wyoming and Borgia, both made ready
for action, had steamed out of that port in
company with the Edgar Stewart. Consider
able anxiety is, therefore, felt to the result;
but, unless Spanish brag has something
more than talk about it, we can be tolerablv
safe in the belief that the Wyoming will
fulfil her trust in protecting the Ameri.
can flag as well as the brave little
Kansas did at Aspinwall the other day
in the case of the VirEnius. The
details of that gallant affair, which we publish
to-day, reflect high credit on Lieutenant Com
mander White and his trusty crew. His
management of the matter was marked by
a dgnitied courtesy, a thorough sense
of duty, caution and frnness in action
! which is something of which tho American
people may be proud, particularly when COM
pared with the insolence and offensive bearing
of the Spaniard ending in such miserable in
competency.
! Evidentlythe President thinks the Spaniards
are going little too far, and we rejoice to
think that there is limit beyond which the
insolence of foreign nations cannot safely be