New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-20
cined to boast of his facility In versfcaton, that
easy writing is not seldom very hard reading.

The English delegates to the recent International
Trades-Unions Conference at Paris maintained A
resolute attitude in opposition to the anarcbical
| proposals OF Their associates on the Continent
They eyinced hostility to every phase of COLLECTIVE
Ism ana state socialism, and cOntended that work.
nngmen must protect themselves and not be de-
pehueht upon Government legislation or political
support by their moderation, courage and persis-
oency they commanded the respect of the Continent
tal uelegates, and convinced them that there were
ana couid DO no Socialists in comnlon-sense Eng
land. AT the same time their attitude in reference
to the importation of cheap labor was charaoteris
tic of their own country. The English trades
unions Systematically act upon the principle Of
combination, but are ordinarily defeated owing TO
the ability of the employers to obtain fresh supplies
of labor from the Continent. They order a strike.
but are forced to suspend operations if Italians.
Germans or Spaniards can be imported in sufficient
numbers to enable manufacturers to maintain the
old rates of wages or to operate under the former
conditions. The English delegates at Paris COM
planned of the unbrotherly conduct of European
operatives in consenting to leave their own homes
and to work for wages which the trades-unions on
the island prescribed. They charged that this in
reference from abroad often made the success Of
an English strike impossible and entreated the
foreign trades-uniOns to keep their own workers at
home and not ruin the cause of their brethren on
the island. COmpensating advantages they had
none to offer, but cOoly demanded that foreign
workmen in the general interest of trades-unionism
should refuse offers of employment in England and
thereby throw away the chance of improving tho
prospects of labor the Continent for every ex-
portation of skilled labor to England or to America
ought naturally to enhance the value of the skilled
labor that is left behind. English trades-unons
are as nsular and selfish in their views as English
manufacturers.
The combination system is getting its full share
of knocks Just now for the unfortunate influence
which it exerts in many respects, upon dramatic
art Too much could hardly be said upon that
point 1t deprives young actors of all that useful
training which has been the making of great actors.
The repetition month after month, and even year
and year. of the same words and actions in the same
play, is enough in most cases to deaden ambition,
to make the actor careless and slovenly, and thus TO
put him backward instead of helping him to adj
vance Yet until human nature is reconstructed
the combination system must flourish. 1t enables
the people of every city and town, almost of every
village throughout the country to see the success
fu plays and the great actors that most talked
of in the leading cities. 1t enables the managers
actors and authors to command returns they would
never yet without sucha system. 1t is characteristic
of the are wherein everything is fitted to tho
desires of the fierce democracy" The multiplied
ton of cheap books certainly carries vast amount
of good literature where it would never otherwise
20. and it will probably be found that the sum
total Of the star system is Of pleasure and bene
liz To the people.