The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-28
Ghe G1ttelI9enrer.
WHEELING, DECEMBER rs, 1891.
The Condition of British Labor.

The Condition Of British Labor.
Mr.. A. W. Campbell takes up his
lcttcr-writing for the INrELLldEScEh at
an interesting point in the effort OF the
British rural .laborcr to do something
to better his condition. Tho London
Chronicle OF December 70 gives in full
the speech OF Mr.. Gladstone, which Mr..
Campbell had the good fortune to hear,
some striking comments OF its own, and
one or two other things bearing on re-
markably interesting situation. Hero
are two pregnant extracts from Mr..
Gladstono's speech, disconnected as to
place, yet having manifest and dircful
connection rs to circumstance:
Wehavc in many parts OF the country not only
stationnry, but Il decreasing rural population.
look upon the decrease OF the rural population
call itwhat you like, and explain II as You like
II look upon II US n great national calamity.
There are 10 efforts that ought not TO be made.
there nrc no just sacrifices that ought not to be
encountered, In order that, proceeding upon
sound principles we may, II possible cndcavor
they wish to stay there. and 10 stop tho process
which. by leaving the rural laborer In n condi-
ton where he can hardly hope 70 keep his vile
mud children even with MI insufficient supply OF
the neceSsarics of life, by putting stop TO that
state OF things, restore his moral and his social
freedom.
Well, then. touch very tender ground: but It
the rural populations, that which is indicated by
theLyorl 'work house" (IIcar hcar) II Is n In
ncntable fact In the mds. Of our civilization.
and at the close Of the nineteenth century, the
workhouse Is all that cnn be offered TO the In.
dustrions la6orer at the end of n long and hon
orabc life. don't enter into the question now
In DETAIL. ldOn't say that 1t Is an easy one:
don't say that 1t will be solved in amomcnt; but
] do say this, that until society Is able to otter
the industrious aborer nj the end OF long and
blameless life something better than the work
house-lhear, hcarl-soclcty will not have dis.
charged its duties TO its poorer members. and
the aims OF this remarkable conference will not
have been fully attained.
In its leading article the Chronicle
gives this impressive grouping OF the
two grand divisions OF British labor:
The expanding trade and manufacturing in
dustrv OF our large towns naturally draws n con-
siderable population from the country: but we
have to deal with q state OF things in which the
towns are ortystockcd with labor and in which
the country districts are dcnuded OF the labor
nctualy required for the proper cultivation of
the land: while at the same time both town aud
country laborers arc reduced TO the lowest posi-
BILE standard OF subsistence.
In the same number OF the same news
paper is communication from Mr.. Z.
Schnadahors., Famine in London"
from which we take the following:
Sir:-The accounts you published OF deaths
from starvation in East London show that fam
and yields its ripe, black fruit of death on the
approach OF winter. For thirty-tive years have
!aborcd as honorary pastor OF church IN Ro-
man-road, Bow. My recent election TO n seat on
the school board Is entirely due 10 relations TINT
have sprung up between me and my poorer
ncighbors, and is likely 10 entail upon me very
serious pressure Tor the extension OF the relief
have been able to distribute in previous years.
Employment in winter Is wanting for some OF
my poor friends. and Is woefully slack in the
case OF Others. As matter of fact GO per cent OF
the population in this district needs charitable
assistance at times, and 1t should be so admins
tered as 10 keep alive the spirit OF courage and
Sclf:help.
This is the doleiul testimony OF Eng
lishmen given before Englishmen, where
it would be challenged quickly if there
were any ground OF fact on which it
could be challenged. 1t is but part of
the testimony OF day as it is found in
one English newspaper. Observe the
situation, almost incomprehensible to
the American mind. Labor leaving
rural England, which needs but cannot
+. feed it, and going TO urban England,
which does not need it and cannot feed
the labor it has,-out OF the irying-pan
into n roaring fire.
Both town and country laborers,"
says the ChronicH, care reduced TO the
lowest possible standard OF subsiss-
encc." These are the masses OF the peo-
pic whose condition is being discussed,
the weakening backbone OF Great Brit
ain, the kind. OF men and women who in
The United States OF America have COM
Portable homes, are comfortably clad
and comfortably fed, who maintain and
educate their children, who can lay, up
& something for a rainy day. After being
"reduced to the lowest possible standard
Of subsistence" "a short cut by starva-
ton to the grave, or the workhouse on
the way to q pauper's grave.
They have scarcely hoped for better.
The present movement, which has
brought out Mr.. Gladstone's admirable
speech, aims first OF all, it seems, 10 fill
these people with the hope OF better
day in Great Britain. Heretofore emil
grafton or heaven has been their hope.
The British free trade policy which has
built up the town at the cost OF the
country. starves the labor OF both; yet
this policy must not be changed,
because there must be cheap food-for
those who can get it, and to change
would, it is thought, make wretched
/ situation more wretched.
IsGitstrange that the rest Of the world
turns with disgust from the economic
policy which produces these results in
its own home? Would it not be strang-
serif the agriculturists OF the United
States failed to appreciate their own
condition as compared with that Of
their British brethren ?-if the city
wage-earners could not understand how