Year: 1871

Now It will readily be seen (and coming


from the per OF one who wrote against


Trades UnioDs) thai as the hours of labor


were lessened the purchasing power in


creased, and consequently increased con


tentment and happiness. Long hours of


labor debars the workman from the opDor-


tunity Of mental Improvement and Of social


enjoyment, and units him as husband


ana father and citizen from fulfilling his


duties to his household bis State or country


Arouse then, fellew workmen, be united


and firm; let not this fair land left to YOU


by those demigOds, the founders, be par
cellsd of, an empire at time, to land


sharks, without any pretext without any


guarantee in the constitution, by corrupt
legislators. Arouse, then, and guard not
this corruption alone, for their-name Is le-
giOn but do not allow the government to
admit the hOrdes Of Asia to land without a
solemn protest on your part against the
whole system as at present carried out a
system Of slavery, entailed upon the reIa-
tives OF the immigrant, in the event Of non
ful6llment Of contract, more direful in its
effects, especially to bis family, since, should
be fail to cancel the debt Of transmission
bis family is liable to be sold to liquidate
the debt, and Onee sold oan never regain
caste, and after death, AcOOrdiPg 70 their
belief, eternal misery aud this is a system
about to be carried out unless you adopt
strenuous resolutions not to place 10 power
any SET of mea who will lend their influence
to introduce aud perpetuate worse cOndi-
tion Of bondage than that from which this
nation has but recently emerged,a at 50 much
cost of blood and treasure. The working
classes can alone redeem this country, but
not through either party rs at present. but
BY determined effort on their own part to act
conjointly. Let, then, the Plasterers take
the initiative in this movement, for whilst
we are bound i'm our Trades Unions to
maintain present privileges and contend as
such for those cardinal principles, viz short
hours Of labor ard higher rates of wages,
we must adept more radical views and de-
msnd the removal Of other oppressive laws.
I would earnestly recommend that when our
privileges are sssailed by employers, or an
advance requested by US, that We should
endeavor to conciliAte, and adjust, BY ar
btration, the points in dispute, since, in the
history Of strikes, detriment to one Of the
parties has ever been the result, therefore
not to be desired-but as a last resort.


| would further urge upon the several
Unions the absolute necessity Of enforcing
the apprentice laws, since in the present
imperfect method in the distribution Of Ia
Dor, through class Legislation, each distinct
branch is necessitated to make stringent
laws and limit the number to be thrown
upon their trade. All writers on Juris-
prudence have agreed tnat it requires two
to form contract, but in the case of ap-
premiership, one Of the contracting parties,
has, in my judgment, the right to state upon
what terms a third or PASSIVE party shall be
admitted to learn the trade or calling, since
be is at the expiration Of stated period TO
be thrown upon the trade, and affect that
branch he bas acquired, if il be true that
nat the law Of supply and demand il the


vsCnlatlng DOWer