The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-02-23
The Wages Of Labor In the South.

In 1869, Lord Clarendon, then Min
lister of Foreign Affairs, directed all
British Consuls abroad to furnish re-
ports Of the conditions of the work.
ing classes in the various countries to
which they were accredited, which re-
ports were published by the British
Government under the title of Re-
ports from her Majesty's Diplomatic
and Consular Agents respecting the
condition Of the working classes and
the purchase power OF money il foreign
countries"
Thirty-one countries are thus re.
ported in this volume, which contains
. fund of information that will prove
of great value to the commission re-
Gently created by Congress to examine
into the Same question, especially into
the relation Of capital and labof in
this country. A careful comparison of
the condition of the working classes
and the remuneration received by
them for labor in all these countries
with the same facts hero shows that
the United States is prominently
more favorable for the laboring man
than any other country In the world.
For the price Of labor in Asiatic Tuf-
key ranges from twelve and q half
cents to twenty cents . day, increas-
ing gradually through Russia, Ger
many, Belgium and Holland to
England and the United States, where
it varies between fifty cspts to three
dollars day. Nor Is the increase In
expense to living always in the same
ratio as that of wages, for rents are
higher In Russia than in England, and
one Of the Consuls says that an
English artisan would require to earn
twice as much In Russia as he would
in England in order to live a. we'll.
In the United States the condition of
working men, those who perform all
kinds OF heavy manual labor, varies
very materially in the different eec-
tons. In the large cities, he receives
from one dollar and . half to two dol
lars . day, and can barely exist upon
it. He is In continual fear of want
and constantly urging his just de-
mands for moro pay or less expenses.
But in the rural districts he lives with
more e4se and less care. And in no
section Of the country can he find all
the conditions for remunerative re-
turn for his labor, easy and pleasant |
living, and . certainty Of growing |
competency, more fully developed |
than in the South. The negroes who !
perform q large part of the agricultural |
labor, especially in the cotton, sugar |
and rice fields, receive 9 full eqpiva-
lent, on an average, of . dollar per day,
their rent and rations, and |
in some sections and at certain seasons
much more, and the more provident
Of them are saving money and accu-
wealth. If any proof of this
be needed, examine the reports of
some Of the Saving banks, especially
that of the Freedmen's National Trust |
The question of the management of |
labor in the South Is one into the discus |
sion of which we do not propose to |
enter 1T present. We only design to |
point out the profitableness of labor |
itself to the working man. II . negro |
with his constitutionally slow motions |
can be employed probably at the |
price he demands, the energetic and |
industrious white man, working for
himself can make It much more profit |
able. He can find improved lands,
with houses, aud all necessary accom-
ready for occupancy at
once, on reasonable terms to lease or
sell, or rent on shares, In almost any
part OF the South. All he wants Is
money enough to sustain himself and
family for . year or two, and he is sure
Of making comfortable living and .
pleasant home.-zhe South.