New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-23
dense ignorance which seems to have setted
like Egyptian darkness over the Capitol.
THE IRJSTOCRACY or THE NOD.

THE 1RISTOCRACY or TIE NOD.
This il the best country in the world for
men who earn their living by manual labor.
This is for all of us a subject OF congratuia-
ton and pride. The majority must IN every
civilized community be employed In TINS way
and the political system which best secures
their welfare, other things being equal,
may be regarded as best adapted to the
wants of modern society. But, on the other
hand, there are drawbacks to the advantages
derived from this state of things. There are
men who would like to labor with their hands
if their fellows would let them, and who must
starve if they do not. And there are men
who would prefer to make their living In
some other way, and find it very difficult
Two facts illustrating these points have just
come under our observation.'
For several months past the new TRIBUNE
building has given employment to large
number of skilled and unskilled laborers. 10
the latter, it has been paying as wages TWO
dollars day, about as much as two-tnirds OF
the school teachers and clergymen OF the
country receive. A few days ago they de-
handed an increase of fifty cents per day.
This was more than was paid on other build
ings 10 process of construction in the city,
and we declined to yield to it, Offering
the strikers an increase of twenty-five
cents, which they refused. They thcreupon
left work, and appear to be in such
comfortable circumstances that they have
passed their time Since then, lounglng In
Printing House Square and tho City Hall
Park, in fresh paper collars and new-dyed
mustaches. taking an aesthetic pleasure IN
contemplating the handsome FACADE OF the
new building, so far as it goes, and dlyerting
themselves by throwing an occasional brick
at the dozen men who want to take their
places, aud support their own families by
doing the work at the reasonable wages these
idlers have refused.
The other fact we have referred to is equally
significant lawyer advertised the other
day for a clerk, requesting applicants to state
age, requirements, and qualifications. lie re-
ceiyed in one day over one hundred re-
Plies to his advertisement, from men oil
20 to 80 years Of age, all of whom
wrote fair hands, some excellent; all
were acquainted with the routine bust
ness of a law office; some were attorneys
already admitted to practice, graduates OF col
leges and universities, and III several IN
stances the applicants were also accomplished
stenograDhers. These men asked salaries Of
from eight to fifteen dollars a reck, less than
the strikers in front of our building were
demanding for eight hours day OF the mere
labor of their hands, requiring no intelligence
whatever.
Now, we have no objection whatever to
mans selling his labor for all he can get Tor
it. 1t moy be said to be worth all it VIII
bring in the open market. If by making com
binations with his fellow workmen he can raise
the price of labor, his employers have no re-
course but to yield to the organizations or look
for labor outside of them. But here the line
must be drawn vigorously. No workman
who would rather be idle than work for
what his labor will bring, has right
or law on his side when he tries to
keep others from working, either by force or
intimidation. The second fact we have men
toned is startling one, and worthy OF the
widest publicity. 1t ought to be known every
where, throughout the country, wherever there
are young men hesitating whether they will
trust to their hands or their brains for a
living, that at this hour, in New-York,
educated men are demanding the highest
and most arduOus kind Of clerical
work at wages which hod-carrler
scorns. The men of education have no or
ganization, no Unions which will support them
in idleness. They must work or go hungry,
and their labor will therefore bring only what
employers find it profitable to give. 1t is an
awkward argument to present to the advo-
Gates of compulsory education, to show them
that learning to read and write drives man
into less lucrative work than carrying the
hOd.