Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-30
English and American Laborers.

competitors, in which he compares the
manufacturing operatives of the two
countries. verv much to the advantage of
this country. Upon the whole he contends
that we cannot compete with the English
in the manufacture of cotton, but at the
same time admits that American opera
tives are better class of work people.
and herein we have an important advan-
tage over English manufacturers. This
statement from close and practical OBJ
server of the value of intelligent, educat-
ed labor over ignorant, uncultivated
labor is one of deep Importance to
all who labor and employ labor, and
a testimony to the worth of general
public education as we'll as to the char
acter of American laborers. Quite
as important is what he says in regard to
the habits of the people of the two coun-
tries in regard to using strong drinks. and
the advantage of temperance over intem-
perance to all concerned When Eng
lands manufacturers have to acknowl-
edge that education. temperance, and
habits Of self.reliance and independence
among workmen are factors to be reck-
oned in the competitive struggle between
the industries of the two countries. there
10 hope that these qualities will be more
cultivated in that country than they are.
and that the opposition which they have in
this country will be entirely overcome.
The writer says
The average American operative is
undoubtedly more sober, more intelligent.
and more industrious than the average
operative of this country; and in this re-
spectsal1 American manufacturers have an
advantage over us. They have their diff
culties with the labor question, as it has
been termed. no doubt but on the whole,
these appear to be of less serious char
acter than are experienced in this country.
am not unmindful of what has occurred
In the United States since my visit-the
great railway strike, and the wild and
riotous outburst Of passion in Western
Pennsylvania. But it must not be forgot
ten that there is greater reason to antici-
pate such occasional disturbances in the
United States than in Europe. The North
American continent has, for long series
of years, been the haven of refuge for all
the turbulent and discontented spirits Of
Europe The advocates of the widest po-
litical and social theories ever conceded
by man are TO be found there, vested with
the most ample license for the propaga-
ton Of their opinions; and it is not sur
p,ising that they should make some con-
verts among the ignorant sections of the
population in the more recently settled
States Limiting my remarks to New
England, which is really the great centre
Of manufacturing industry In the United
States, / am bound to acknowledge that
the patience with which the operative
classes have submitted to the privations
Of the past six or seven years Is worthy
both OF admiration and approval. When
was in that portion Of the country the
shrinking process was In full operation.
And most painful process it must have
been to an Industrious manufacturing
community. Not only were wages being
lowered rapidly, but week by week the
owners OF every class OF property were
compelled to look helplessly on while the
value Of every article they possessed was
diminishing, and while they saw the saw
ings. perhaps of lifetime, engulfed by
the revolution in prices over which they
had not the slightest control. The COM
bined effect of the monetary and COM
mercial crisis from witch the United
States is Just emerging upon the opera.
tive classes can hardly be understood or
appreciated here. When wages came to
be reduced, II was not question of five
or ten per cent. but of fifty or q hundred
per cent, and in some cases even of a
higher ratio. Yet heard little of strikes
and disputes between workmen and their
employers in the textile manufacturing
districts Of New England. The Amer-
can operative possesses more individuality
and more independence than is to be
found amongst ourselves. He works
longer hours, and does not hesitate to take
the fullest advantage he can of the aid
which self-acting machinery gives him.
His style OF living altogether is higher
q rule he has more comfortable fac,
tory or workshop, and a more comforta
BILE home; he is better fed. and he is bet.
ter clothed; but in order to maintain all
these advantages he is conscious he must
exert himself. New England has no place
for idle, loafing, or drunken work-people.
~ would quite as soon," said large en-
ployer OF labor in Massachusetts to me.
shave thief on my premises as drunk
ard !" and the expression was characters
tic of the difference with which this de-
grading vice IL regarded in the manufac-
turing districts of the new country and
the old. The late strike of the cotton op-
eratives in Northeast Lancashire furnishes
an illustration Of the experiences of en-
ployers in the two countries. 1t was
stated as one Of the grievances of the Lam
cashire work people. that in Burnly
weavers were required to attend to, or to
"tent," six plain calico looms instead of
four. Why. in Fall River City, found it
not an uncommon thing for weaver to
.'tent" twelve such looms, while the tent
ing Of six or eight by one weaver was as
common practice as the tenting of four
in this country offer no opinion upon
the economical value of the two arrange
ments. found practical manufacturers
in the United States who doubted if
anything was gained by giving weavers
such large number Of looms; and in
one Of the best-managed mills visited
the Pacific Mills, at Lawrence CITY
Il found the weavers were all
limited 10 four looms. In no case. how
ovor had ,hav any assist anna ,rL..a.. =: