Year: 1867

-. 49, - =
previous ates The Lssaiators sscrbsd that primitive
strike 70 ideness and malice and they obliged the farm
iaoorers 70 resume work, under penalty Of three DAYS
IN we SOCKS Tor dsobedence 90 the law while
IN she building trades exposed fine and imprson-
ment st the discreuon Of the magistsate& tse .


since shss period the EnGsh statute Book has teemed
with laws vainy assuming 70 settle the differences be-
tween the eployer and the employed Their failure 70
secure the harmony which should exist the relations
painfully illustrated in the strikes in progress In
that country in common with our No law, how
LEADING slemsnts as the relations bsssesn man and we
All that law can accomplish IL 70 prevent violence and
- the employers will not consent TO physical conflict
TO settle the tssues its officers nnd themselves aayed
exclusively against the strkers II is unnecessary to
refer TO the threats and the Vengeance often executed
the artisans whose poverty o. cupidy renders them
sufficiently mean and uuprncplcd 10 take the situations
Of those who were dissatisfied But society a. m ind
ferent spectator proclams through the law that for the
sake OF peace such men must be protected


For several centuries the English Justices Of the peace
In accordance with law passed In the reign Of Elizabeth
the statute, which was imperative in later times
repealed. Its imperative character resulted in
making strikes popular In the early portion Of this GEN.
tury.


The English statutes in relation to labor were COM
paratively mild in their character when contrasted with
murderous codes To- cheek idIebss Of rsshef ssrkea
They condemned the dler or the striker death Tho
n solo ns sS aSs as y





obliged him % work in irons on the public Streets and
the Russians banishad him 60


journeyman is invested with the same liberty his
employer Either may refuse work; but they must


We can appreciate the feeling which animatea arsans
and laborers engaged strike when others willingly
crowd into their places at the old ates Of wagea II
were in Of the hatred and madness which such
common circumstances inspire, We might bo able to
realize some idea Of their intensity by perusing the
criminal records Of our courts M the ns Of Dante or
Of and disappointment than those Of the
men engaged on strike who are compelled 70 hear
the sounds the hammer the plane the trowe and the
other instruments Of industry when used by the rival
forces OF their employers


It's scene which would immor.asS g. mooern pam.
more painful The striker is often transformed 70 cu
pt judge and prison the final arbiters OF the
that the artisan or laborer when nauguratng strike
contenplates violence TO secure the ends do
SUMPTION but il is an undeniabe truth that those who
take tho positions of the strikers are generally wayaid
and assaulted
genius OF monarchial institutions, but they are opposed
TO q republican form OF government in which every in
terest is supposed to be harmonized. They may be
necessary evils in Europe where labor though i'll paid


circumscrbed and where the artisan Is IN position
Of modified slavery. The slothful changes Of the Old
World sometimes demand that the car OF reform shall ba
propelled by organized but illegal forces In America,
however, the spirit Of change is rampant and the OPP
preston Of the radesmen seldom survives the agitation
In which II s denounced.


There another formidable obstacle to the success OF
strikes here. We constantly receiving the skilled
hands of Europe who eagerly seize any employment
their arrival and combination TO secure an advance
the Of regular occasional work results in the
engagement Of these emigrants at the current wages


It Is with intention to discourage the mechanics
and lab0rers who engaged in an effort to obtain
higher wages that we would call attention to the results
OF the strikes since the We do SO In order TO i'm
press on all interested the necessity OF caution The
instances in which Trades Unions have failed to
the advance they demanded, far outnumber those in
SuCcoed0d The strikes OF the Dalnter0
shipcarpentes and other artisans attest this fact and
they still sufficiently fresh In public recollection to
ronderfurher reference IL the results OF
these strikes given In detail would oblge those
engaged in a similar movement TO pause before they
proceeded step further IN the enforcement OF their de-
mands.


Although there is no statute this State against
combinations the spirit and letter Of the are
opposed to them The genius Of American institutions
opposed all organizations which may on emergency
be used to enforce any demands without legal 1t is
we'll that the Legislature has remained silent on the
great question involved for the State regulate
wages without invading private right which civilized
and barbarous nations have long since pronounced
sacred. II the law makers at Albany or elss-
where exercised the power TO increase the rates
Of compensation for labor they could aso Of neces-
sity enact providing for their reduction Then pre-
surning that the honorabes in the State Capital
are not immaculate, what security would the compare
lively penness artisans Of this city have against their
peria directions the back OF check to have bill in
irodoced and passed. reducing the wages Of their men
about fifty cents dayf Thus II will be seen that the in
tcrests Of the working demand that the questions
involved shall be decided exclusively by arbitration.


Whatever differences may arise between the parties to
the labor controversy they must, l events SET
tied peacefully The law and the community at large
demand this. blow inflicted by striker transfers
public sympathy the assailed for any attempt to
coed by physical force invasion of the fundamental
basis OF society," which proclams that man shall be-
come his own avenger


The present rates Of wages remain now to be con-
sidered in order to present some idea OF the pros
pect OF this labor movement With this view pre-
sent the following table of compensation paid to art
sans In 1850 and the present year.