The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-02

exist to some extent, would not fine eradicate
and improve it, Lord Macaulay once said:
THE remedy for the abuse of
newly ACQUIRED freedom is more freedom
Would it be considered right that, because
man has been incarcerated in prison for a
number of years. and then coming into the open
air and the bright rays of the sun pouring down
upon his brow, places his hand before his
eyes; it dazzles him. He would fain return
to prison and turn his back upon human
ty. ask, would it be wise to permit him to do
so9--or rather allow him to freely mingle with
the people with an opportunity to: become &C
customed to those conditions to which he was
stranger for years.
The working men, whose hours of labor are
reduced, have more time for thought, for cult
ure, for refinement The men who work the
longest number of hours have no time for
either. They go to work in the early morn and
return late at night, wearied with their toll and
drudgery. After partaking of their spare meal
they throw their tired limbs upon their beds to
rest and to recuperate those powers just suf-
ficiently to be prepared for the following days
labor Can there be proper appreciation on
the part of such man of his rights. his duties
or his privileges? / think all will agree that he
cannot. The man that works eight hours day
places higher estimate on his home, his family
relations and his duty to his fellow-m and to
the State. He is safer citizen, a better hus-
band. more devoted father. His is not the
vote that is purchased at election times. His
aspirations for, and belief in, citizenship Is OF
far greater Importance to him. His habits i'm
prove, his ideas are more expansive, the exer-
else of his privileges are sacred in his eyes.
The man who leaves his home early in the
morning cares littl. for his personal appearance
when he knows that he will return to his home
again after dark; while the eight-hour workman
who passes in the streets, both going to and COM
ing from his work in the daylight. is more care
full of his personal appearance. He will require
papers; he will require books; he will insist
upon surrounding himself with those comforts
in his home which he would not desire were his
hours of labor longer The abuse of the priv
ilege of any leisure time at all is certainly
among those who work the longest number of
hours, and receive the lowest wages. Long
hours OF toll and low wages are twin sisters for
they find in the rum-shop that glitter and dazzle
which is absent from their homes. Ii anyone
will doubt the truth Of these assertions let them
at any time stand from to o'clock in any OF
our busy thoroughfares where the workmen
pass on towards their work, and notice the diff
ference in the appearance in the apparent char
acter. In the carriage of the workingmen who
start from their homes at and those who leave
at in the morning
| maintain, further, that the long and dreary
hours of toll of workingmen must sooner or
later tell upon their physique and bring them to
an untimely death A man has no more right to
unduly tax his body than he has to take weapon
and destroy his life at once. Labor is the only
possession of the workingman, and he should
use that economically as he possibly can, so
tnat IL may last MIN Tor q long numper OF years,
to bring him that reward which an extravaganza
expenditure of it would deprive him..
Believing. as do, that the reduction of the
hours of labor increases the independence, the
self reliance. the self-respect. the manhood of
individuals; that it enarges the sphere of his in
telligence, it is to the best interests OF our
country, the perpetuation of our institutions
and the success of our commercial and indus
trial welfare that the hours of labor should be
reduced to eight
Viewed from every standpoint, from that of
the employer as we'll as that of the employe. it
is to the interest of all alike; it is demanded
upon social, economic, sanitary and moral
grounds. 1t is one that cannot be too soon
achieved and while improving the condition of
all, Injuries none.