The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-11-01

'vention of machinery, give us ground for
caution, lest our old supremacy be shak-
'en by the energy and talent Of the New
World, while it also gives us reason to
hope that the exceptionally high
rates of wages now prevailing, may be
mitigated BY substituting wherever it is
possible, mechanical for manual labor.
Looking to the present condition Of our
iron trade, there is nothing to Justify Sc
rious misgivings. According to the last
report Of the Commissioners of Customs,
the average rate Of the value of pig iron
exported in 1870 was 81 l9s I'd per ton
: in 1871, E3 Is 8 in 1872, IS Os lid.
But the demand for pig iron continued
nevertheless unchecked The increase in
the quantity exported in 1872 over 1871
was y per cent. The increase in price
ranged as high as l08 per cent.
The statement here made by Mr. Brassey
gives the lie direct to those ignorant or in
terested parties who would have us to be-
ieve that the Trades Unionists of Great
Britain are driving the trade from it. The
advice which Mr.. Brassey gives is one that
they ought to follow, if they do not wish
to 90 back to their condition. Here is
what NIr. Brassey advises the workingmen
Of that country 10 do Our artizans may
believe that the profits Of former days
were 50 large that employers can afford to
pay the present rate Of wages without
raising their charges to consumers There
is but one means v which this fallacy can
be exposed. The wurkmen must become
to certain extent their own employers.
In a cooperative establishment, created
ia part by his own har learned savings,
upon 70 apporti,n equitably the earnings
Of his business between labor and capital
In this double relation he will learn how
great are the difficulties which beset the
employment Of capital in productive in
dustry in a country in which competition
is So keen as it is in England. The CO.
operative principle, in its application to
the business Of distribution, has been al
ready most successfully developed. My
object, however, Is to encourage working
men to create co operative establishments
for the purpose II production. The ac-
emulation Of the necessary capital is an
obvious difficulty. But as wages were
never So high as at present, So this OBJ
stacle can be more easily surmounted than
at any former time. English workmen
are less easily deluded by tall talk and
sophlstry than the more excltable popu-
lGtion of the Lstin race, and | would
earnestly invite them to apply their prac-
teal sagacity to the difficult yet hopeful
experiment Of cooperative industry. The
first thing to b. done is, to save some
thing from their present high wages
FOrcthought is an especial duty in "A pc
Rod IT prosperity. At no distant time
the progress Of our commerce may sustain
at least a temporary check 1t will be sad
indeed if the receding tide leaves multi
tudes Of our highly paid workmen be-
hind, without any provision to meet
time Of adversely. These are words
v hich working men Of all classes and con
ditions would do we'll to study. 1t would
be sad indeed were the present prosperity
to be productive Of no good result. The
great poet has said there is tide in the af-
fairs Of men which, taken at the flood,
bears on To fortune It is, however, but
seldom that a second chance is given, and
the opportunity once lost is lost forever
and there will be no excuse for the work
ing men Of all countries ii they allow the
present opportunity to slip without making
a provision for a permanent improvement
in their circumstances. With respect to
those who think manual labor ungenten-
teel, and who, instead of learning some
useful trades, crowd into occupations where
the supply far exceeds the demand, Mr..
Brassey, in concluding his able and valuable
gave them some good counsel,
which parents and young men would do
well to follow. 1t is unnecessary he
sand. to dwell on the evils which must en-
sue from disproportionate increase in
the non productive classes Of the commu-
nifty. Ny fathers advice was often sought
9 by parents anxious for the future Of their
sons His counsel always was, that a
young man, whose destiny it must be to
make his way, unaided, through the
world, should begin by learning trade.
1t is a laudablMambitioh in parent to
endeavor to raise his family t. be ter
station in life. He cannot bestow on his
children too high an education. But q
wise man will be on his guard, lest the
enjoyment of such advantages should
render those occupations distastefnl,
which afford the most secure and ample
livelihood to those whose lot it is to la
9 Dor"