New-York tribune., 1886-05-08
VIEWS OF A SOCIALIST.
WHAT IT. NJ. HYNDMAN SAYS ABOUT LABOR.
WHY DISTURBANCES ARE TO BE EXPECTED IN
AMERICA-FIGHT HOURS A FAIR DAYS WORK.

Copyright: 1886 North American cao~ No"' "
LONDON. Nav Henry NJ Hyndman stated the
position of the British Social Democrats on thc
labor question to THE 1RiBuNE's representative
,odav Mr. Uyndman was one of tie speakers at
theiast riotous assembly of workingmen IN lra;al-
car Sopare. London and was arrested among others
for ,,citinp that disturbance His eloquent plea
at the trial had much to do with securing MS own
acouttal and that of his associates, ana brought
him into great prominence as the mouthplece Oh the
order which he represents. Like many otner
Socialists Mr.. Hyndman is anxious that the puoiic
shall distinguish between Socialists and Anarchists
The recent violent outbreaks in Chicago ana o'nei
American cities have led people he thinks IresniS
80 confound the two classes Win each o'ne' ~
lowing is his statement:
iaasoues address the Midlothian electors puts 'ne
,o,,c,l issue clouded and envenomed. The deporaoe
outrages at Chicago concern reasonable men eise"e'
Consider the facts nationally In the Ight OF rcccnV Nv
yelopments and the struggle betwesn classes wien
Eve six years ago pointed article In me for
nfohNy Rcrier entitled, Lights and Shades OF Amer-
can Politics. that the great class antagonsm oe'weeu
,aborers and CAPITALISTS between prOeteriat and bour-
ceose threatened to develop into violent s'rHe' soo"
in tho United than elsewhere nearly all the press
ON the other side Atlantic laughed at the Ignorance
Of the English traveller concerning American ins'itu'
tons This surprised all the more as the Ptsonrg
rising was then of comparatively recent date ana there
was already manifested growing disahectiop among 'ue
workers throughout the country have received se'o
ral inquiries business men IN America ana mere rs
70 what views take Of the matter and OF fresueh'
C,eveands attitude present time The following
ia a brief answer:
Since first landed at San Francisco from Melbourne
and sydney In December 1870 have noticed "t each
successive the United States that 1t seemed more
difficult for a workngman to rise out OF the "ase-eArn
ing class especially in the great cities Inc coh"Pso
after each boom assumed more serious character Una"
,ormerIv Not only are wage-earners thrown ont
OF work but the pressure of hard tmcs upon the noe
pendent farmers. of whom there are no ic"er tnah
300 OOO with 800 900 dependents. seemed lncreas-
ingly heavy. But the whole working population OF
America native born and immigrant consider hat nom
est labor mas right 10 its reward The great stagnaton
I'm trade and shrnka prices experienced
have only been felt but resented oy the "aseeah
ers of the United states When therefore, aie" mon'ns
ago. . 600 900 people out of employment IN the
cities or on very timc and farmers were defa
ing in the interest their mortgages In every state IN
the Union il was that the economical disturbance
would soon be reflected In social disturbance ana as
railroads in America for the most obvious and most
Of capitalist monopoly, 1t was propapie
the attack would begin upon them.
Such difficulties always occur In some shape prior
to the rising portion OF the cycle or
trade This tine the Senate Committee had shown
tho workers by clearly tabnlatcd statements thaI
their wages lower in proportion than IN Europe.
Moreover the growth of the knights OF Labor and the
spread OF socialism, not only among foreigners. bnt
among men of American and English parentage were
giving the workers that organization which they haa
previously lacked in America There are
also winch favor the combination OF the people, ana
render probable a resort force. Frst-The workers
as a whole read than they do in Europe second
They have almost invariably been accustomed to hlgh
standard of life. and look TO one still hgher Ihru-
The weaest Of the STATES are men whose fortunes
for the most part the workers have seen grow before
thcireyos They not lost in class with hereditary
wealth as they are here nor Is tAe Proie'sioH"' "a
moderate means sonumerou'.
Fourth-Conscquently the autagonism OF interests
when pointed out is much more glarhs' ana 'hc con-
tras between the nominal itcal and social equ'hy
aud the real disparity deeply felt; men IN iac'
do not recognize 1t rational or inevitable
T,fth-Thcre IA less personal relation be-
tween employers and employed than IN EUROPE
sixth-The carrying and use Of arms. coward from
Europe picks up courage in the United states'
scvcnth-stats,ics being much better kept the work
es can see at a glance who make the wealth and VINO
get H. EIgAth-rhe people more accustomed 10 move
about and to combine with strangers. NInth-Au
tie mere political Issues are quite played out ana inc
social question jumps to the eyes without u'TSulso'
Tentn-The influence OH the capitalist class on tue
State and Federal is clear to all and cor
rpton is too often prscsed for men to DO hopeful OF
neaceful change The knights OF Labor have, tnink
done well choosing the eght-hour law as the hrs'
field OF battle. Eight hours OF hard woiR are cie"rs
enough for any or woman In day. morse "hich
able as ii Is just
Uis an educational step for the workers themselves,
showing them how their hours Of toll and their pro-
duets are divided. The movement accustomed them 10
combination for definite object, and II the RUE Is en-
forced will give the time TO study their social
conlon The working classes are ripe Tor this partc
uIar change in all civilized countries and the movement
can at once be made international To me 1t seems IL
was ms begiu any skrinshns with stUSes ana
novcos prior to this great effort well as to endeavor
10 force into trades unions BY far wldef COM
bination than trades uniOnism is needed
Trades uniouism tsefs merely aristocracy ofiabor
The ouraCcs and have probably embltered some
against tho workers who might Otherwise nave Deeh
friendly. Nevertheless it is the most important
movement by the workers which has yet taken place.
BY itself even If carried, it can be only OF partial anc
temporary advantage TO the workers Improved
machines Will soon to lower wages and throw
men ont OF work but the shorter day will remain boom
IL is step Of toward collcctivsm' though only
nm initial s,ep The hope OF peaceful solution to the
antagon,m bet wecn labor and capital lies In recog-
milton Of that antagoDism and readiness on the part OF
the well-to-do classes to perceive plain FACTS.
President Cleveands message has, In my Judgment,
done rnucn render peaceful solution possipe just
because hc has his weight on the side OF the
capitalists as every anticipated he would AS an
outsider having certainly prejudice In favor OF either
pojt,ca party in the United states ain quite conhceht
he would help the Democratic party and dos'iii more
toward a peaceful settlement II lie went great deal
further in the direction. No one can fear that
capita will little power in the present social
conditions for time to como. 1t surely therefore
the duty OF the Executive TO help the development
Of the social and economical forces represented
BY the growing labor party now struggling
for an outlet below To be really beneficial to the present
and the generation it is essential that the socialism
ton OF the means of production and consequent change
oi,udastral basis should take place peacefully and
gradually
However rapidly the change may come IT would be
discreditable to humanity If In the United States with
universal suffrage Republican form OF government
and freedom Of speech means cannot be found OF CIV
ing 10 an or anzed and educated democracy that con-