New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-20
wbitt,escy. Thomas Ewing. Joseph Vance. Thomas
Corwip. and Samuel +. Vinton from tOhio. and Ed
- na,oa from, Missouri.


ward Bates from Missouri
While agree and sympathize with you IN all pos
sbe efforts to promote tho welfare Of the laboring
classes by securing to them steady employment with
remunerative wages. am quito suro that Won Will
agree with me in repTObating the combinations ana
influences which seek to extort through trades
unions the largest possible amount OF money for the
smallest possible equivalent in labor. Ten aud eight
hour systems and the "strikes" consequent upon
them, have been most prolific source OF mschlet
and evil, pecuniary and social. to the Iaborng
classes. The despotism of these " unions" has Do
come uncomfortable. Master mechanics are not per-
united to labor in their own workshops. Less IMAM
half the number Of bricks formerly laid by journey
men are now arbitrarily held to DO days WORK.
And the number of apprentices by whom trades arc
to be learned is limited and fixed, not by master
mechanics, but by the unions" in Few years.
therefore, we shall be wholly dependent upon for-
eieners, subject to the control of trsdesunons for
our mechanical labor
Meantime thousands Of boys who ought and, but
for the evil influences just referred to- would nave
been learning trades by means of which they would
become useful citizens are either variousy seeking
precarious support from temporary employments OF
By unavoidable idleness acquiring habits when
consign them to our houses Of refuge and peniteh-
tlaries. There arc at this moment hundreds on
fathers and other hundreds Of widowed mothers
looking in anguish and DESPAIR upon the fate when
awaits their sons-a fate which but for tho tyranny
Of unions in preventing boys from becoming APP
prenices might be averted Heretofore the lntelli-
ligence enterprise, public spirit, patriotism, and
virtue, personal political social and moral, OF the
mechanical classes have been our boast and pride
Through these agencies villages have grown into
cities and our cities developed into wealth and
power | knew nothing in early life OF these mis-
cradle eight and ten hour systems. and owe what
ever have since enjoyed Of success and cOnsidera-
ton to the habit, as apprentice journeyman,
and q small beginner on my own account OF da-
voting from eleven to twelve hours day diligently
and cheerfuy toactive and beautiful physical labor
What we want first is a governmental policy, State
end National, which will place the necessaries OF
life within the reach of the laborng classes at
rices that ranged through the forty years preced-
ing the breaking out of the Rebellion. Consequent
upon such change. labor would be in free demand
at rates which could not be njuriOusly affected by
the exachons Of capital on tho one hand, or by per-
nciOus tra1esunion de3potism on the other. Let IL
be remembered always that tho real purpose Of
these combinations-for which are unhappily
indebted to the worst specimens of English French
and German Radcali5m-is, first as Socialists" and
then as Communists" to SOW the seeds sf agrari-
ausm and infdelty among US. These tnsldious
enemies to all that is good and virtuous and hope
ful affect the welfare of the laboring classes. And
yet not one of these agitators is found laboring
himself or seeking employment for Others except
through agencies that derange and embarrass the
in iustries upon which the mechanical and laboring
classes must ever rely for employment and support
DIFFICULTY OF RECONSTRUCTION.
Reconstruction, from the beginning most diff
cult problem, has been embarrassed by want of
wisdom ut Washington and by embittered memories
in the South. The disOrganizod condition Of tho
Southern States attracted thence bold and unscru-
pulous Northern Adventures, who. associated with
disbanded soldiers, the cankers of long war;" re-
manned to deyastate conquered country. Bhese
wretchcs have inflicted upon South Carolina Florida,
Louisiana, &c. &c. the worst possible specimens OF
State government. AT the iufamles perpetrated in
these and other Rebel States civilization bIushes.O
And yet those who suffer from carpetbag dishonesty
and oppression are themselves largely to blame for
It, When rebellion was conquered, If the white IN
habitants yielding to the inevitable and recognizing
their former slaves rs freedmen, had treated them
kindly and offered them employments with reasOna-
BILE wages the designs of carpet-baggers would
have been tbwaried. affirm this because there is
undenable evidence that in localities whore the
law of kindness prevails where masters endeavored
to oonciliate their former slaves they were uni
formly successful, and that in such localities not
only nothing is heard OF war between races, but
reconstruction has been practically accomplished.
These instances of good sense and forbearance, l
regret to say, are exceptional. For the most part
those who rushed into rebellion TO divide the
Union are now as aggressive and defiant as they
were when Fort Sumter was fired upon. Unable to
establish Confederate Government, they seemed
determined to avenge themselves upon tho freed
men, who, but for the madness and folly of their
masters, would have still remained in bondage.
The White Leagues" of Louisiana were only too
accurately described By Gen. Sheridan. Such or
CARNATIONS not needed to subserve the purposes
of good government. They are banded together to
hunt hound, and, if needs be- murder the negroes.
Reconstruction, therefore, seems as difficult and
distant as it was at the close of the Georgia.
always less ultra and moro practical than South
Carolina Alabama, has reGstablished law and
order. North Carolina, UNANIMOUSLY governed for two
or three years, seems to be doing better. That
United States soldiers are required 10 some excited
sections to protect freedmen cannot be doubted
The officers in command shonld be men of intelli-
gence and prudence acting only when the duty is
clearly m9erative. In Louisiana there has been
nothing but misrulc. disorder, fraud, corruption,
anarchy and violence from the close of the war. 1t
difficult to ascertain which party or what faction
is the worst. Gen. Grant was not. fear fortunate
in his early appointments of Federal officers do
believe the Kellogg Government worthy of the
sacrifices required to maintain it. The Congress
sional Committee recently in New-Orleans may find
a remedy for the evils which have so long scourged
that fertile and rich but miserably distracted State
TIE OLD WIG ELEMENT AT THE SOUTH
7 cherished the hope, when peace was restored.
that the old Wings of the South some of whom
luctantly consented to Secession and nearly all of
whom were forced into RebeliOn, would form