New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-18
LABOR IN ENGLAND.
ADRIAN 8. HEwITTs SPEECH AT PH1LA-
DELPHIA.

Mr. Abram 8. Hewitt made o speech OF welcome
NJ the dinner given last week by the Convention OF
Pig Iron Manufacturers in Philadelphia to Mr. Bell,
President and Mr.. Whtwell, an associate member
of the British Iron and Steel Institute. The follow
ing is the substance of the address:
England the world tho apple alton OF mineral
coal % The smeting 81 ron ore TIE lnV,nPn 81 ,e
ton blast; the steam hammer; the Bessener
nrocess the saneps regrueratiye furnace; tie Want
well stove; the steam engine locomotive ana sia.
tiOnary contributions which, taken awaV, "Oulu
relngate the world to a condition OF barbarian
which the Imagination refuses 70 contemplate
We cheerfully recognize the prinacy OF England IN
the CONAN OF Industry and Justly proud That &c
belong Which IN the pursuit Of material ends has
them the means OF asserting the Tlght of mdn
10 free nj II establishing social order upon
the eternnl principles OF truth Justice We
nze nar the world OF Industry, so IN tno DOMAIN
OF poll los, she taken step backward. and We
have learned from her history winch belong equally 10
U.S. that every introduced ard every st
pJllttca principle established, improves The cOndOn
OF the WORKING c!isses. ana adds 10 tue fud avaI's
their better remuneration. While we o'k "th WON
the mechanical ami Industrial achIeN EN- MS OF
Great Brtlin during the last hundred years we ire
tnat rather due 10 the steady proGr-a
yac mas bee made IN bettcrlng tue condition Oh the
they erjoy. as the result OF better appea'm ~
forces auu wiser ieSIsiat.on Dsseu upVI
sound economical principles.
TIE RISE OF WAGES u ENGLAND.
The steady rise Of wages measured by their purcbas
ing power In England during the last quarter % cen
fury especially Is tho most encouraging feature III Tie
history OF maukind-a very rainbow OF promise TO the
patient sons OF throughout the world because by
comparing the past with the present the bcnpncent 10
nuence OF sound legislation the welfare or tho work
Iug classes thus becomes matter 90 antoue ueui'h
sration. The abolition OF the Corn Laws regaId as
tine turning point IN the welfare OI me usla classes
Throughout the world. because II was practical FecoR
It's mos enlightened nation that the supposed
interest OF special c4sses when they govern, must
yluld before the fOice ~ p"DAC OpuOII 10 -5 Iast
claims OF the governed Tie immediate result OF ms
change In English pOucy was aud continues 10 De
decided Increase II tAe suUotaAsa! ES1ueIa'ioh
paid tor daily Labor.
But advance Of wages where there IL no previous
training tor Their proper USE Ii not necessarily Den
Eff ana a'er years Of experience pdulic sentiment III
England has arrived az the CONCLUSION tht tine general
education Of the masses IL e>echt! Tor their steady
progress toward hlgIcr social pane Aui IL sre1 20
that the step when nas b-n recently taken IL Ii
gland toward the compulsory education Or he misses
rpite OF opposition OF scsn Interests seeAin ~
retain their hod upon mere muscular iOrce, 10 Ie *
clu,iOn al mental devoOpment, WA add ENORMOUSLY 10
tile productive value Of tae wOrklIgm@n ana cn 4Dc
MN To secure raIr ~ conPrhdloA JIly lue 10 So
increased value. There DO tnose who iasslY look
upon OF III England. tue result % tnIs be-
tine supremacy OF British Industry will III cons q1ence
Of the improved condition 81 the working isss pass
d"a'i hut II Is TO the hOnOr OF "l'ldH l.. fois.eI
presence here we Hoped TO have tonight. that
win the true instincts 0i sate.nAp' such d. no A
hiDted wlen lie was Tie e!Vqlent C'@mpol " '-o
UaOn IN tue time Of ito peril, ne was able 10
discern IN the history O EIgsh Legislation IN Its eEecs
upon BTItsn INDUSTRY Ao Iun Aal ID" 10. 80 -
productive In proportion to Us Intelligence and hat 10
LioFo Ver'ain IN, "1s oi'i Do u 80 r
By the OF ING people better cddca
ton ana u ulgner culture
ARBITRATION, AND EXHIBITIONS, AND COOPERATION.
Fox the same reason tue establishment Of the British
Iron and steel Institute mar4s a IN the inter
national history OF industry, and Inferior 10 import
to the general advance in the British iron trade
resulting from It's establishment IL the introduction
and estaDisueus IA England OI tAe prlncipe
arbitration set emeut OF Disputes pct Teeu
tine employer AMI the empoyed a. TO rates OF wages
Arbitration no. ONLY pours Oh upon ne troubled "aters
industry. but in ftct oil TO the machinery Of trad
keeplug motion without jarring ana soppige from
friction. Great britan also ha- the merit
having originated International Exhibitions o Indus
try which III the judg. OF all Intelligent men nave
done for tue rapid progress Of civilization THAN
any human agency aud Tor the working Classes
especially have Deen Of lncalrulaDle benefit.
Here there y another phase OF recent industrial de-
veopnent In England well in tnis country, wnIch
suoud attract the notice OF all thoughtful men. in ITS
upon the Question OF the economy OF prOduc-
uun ana Tie consequent augmentation " Inc wages
fund refer TO the seady grown III the SIZE and COM
eteuess ~ the establishments devoted TO the pr0duc-
Ton Of IRON. and, from the magnitude Ot the capital
necessarily employed, their consequent transfer rOm
individual 10 corporate Ownersnp. without entering
INTO the question OK tue comparative OF these
respective kinds OF prOpUeiOrsAp, desire To direct
special attention tue facility wUlch these corporate
bodies 0nr Tor interesting the WoFAr directly IL Tue
ownership ami the prOnis OF the BUSINESS, winch.
generally awaited must result ID the nIt eXtihc ION Oi
strikes aad LABOR dlpG.eS ul .1eteDJ aISe5 Increase
OF the Working Glasses, Measured not Dy
but by the he me ami improve their moral
and social standing Now, Ldsahd, ia ner CORPORATE
manu- urnG cOn anes, >ucu dS CrOssle an III Her
legislation when makes IrSt provision Ior farner
sup OF Industry mas sct us III eAaWpie VI WISE
forsi gnt winch have, confess, been slower 10 Oi
10 De accounted Tor " tue Ics tut these lie aCJst
menis conflicting interests more nee sssdry anI
feasible IN older AMI more dnsely populated countries
thau N new worn HAo ours where as yet the ioIcea
nature teen apprO priatcd Ou.y To moderate
Nevertheless the example Is before Us, aad
recognize that To Us hlEldhd 10 sredt Iee scuoO OF III
dustry, wuicn have neen wrought OUT Tor us WITHOUT
cost wlscst institutions. tue most compete M
cunerY, the best processes anu tue VsI aufihceu Or
gauzltOns Tor tao conduct OI industry whcn the ex
perience OF tsee and enlightened nation oven "lAg
caIi u! energy IA, been aOic u cldOOrIlc.
You, gcntlemen aud OaT distinguished guests will,
sure, pardon this enumerat0n Ot the phases 0 IL
dustral and s0c!I profess especially apparent III Il;
Euglsn iron trade II view Of tAe supreme inpOrinee
10 s mere OF qICsOn OF wage, aud, aDOye ali. OF
the ability OF EIgLni 10 pay 81 AMY tlcredsiuS rae
OF wages. aOty which sne Is thus surely augment
Ing by discoveries % her men or science and the
inventions OI her mechanics ID htr wise ana progress
legislation, LOOKING {" the future education aud
moral eevtOn of working class to the settlement
OF ali trade disputes ana 10 tne recoh'FAcon 0f ner
industry on the enduring basis OF practical nagmoAy
between labor ana capital.
IRON TRADE OF THE FUTURE.
Every step IN this drectio is benefaction to the
United States well to England and drives
na coffin OF international restrictive egIsla-
ton; and no Will hal more enthusiasm than
this or American ircnu Ster- ana Their dlstlu
gushcd TIE advent 81 III" Lay wneu al Darrcrs
10 free commercial intercourse hrt"ern the nations can
safely removed Dy the equalization Or II
industry which the enlightened statesmen and scientists
OF Great Britain nave done ana are doing 30 much 10
bring about
the interest OF world AT large. Although the bust
ness OF making iron In everywhere passing through
stage of stagnatlOH, yet It's future growth
predicted 10 almost tbe same certainty a. we have
learned to calculate the ~ the heavenly bodies
IL 1856 when the annual production OF the world
100000 tons aIter - careful investigation
tur-d predict tUat the produ ton OF wouid
reach l4DOOUcO tons IN 1875. IAs limit passed last
year wneu tne prOdIct reached lj,OJJ,NO tons.
/ do not think that risk my character US q
prophet when | luuuge the belief tDat Dy the
close Uf the present century 2o.OOO0O tons per
aunum will be- required 10 supply tne wants or
There gentlemen In tins room who Will live
this predctiOn verified FOR II covers Ony the life
ny ls1n mn.
half tile annual supply, aud rhe Oeen able 10
ratio tli the present time. But Mr. Bell
Mr.. WDItwelI. Win ali natural conn n
the Resources Of the mother country Will admit they Will
tasked TO their utmost 10 with tue
demand for irOn al Its inevitable or progress
the total gate shall beyond 200O9,0t0 Be-
tween England and ourseyes. tnereiJte all possibility
LIE MA nf