Year: 1873

ZATlONs.


We find in the Boston Deily Globe
an explanation of the reason why so
many young men rush to the cities to
accept the position of clerks, while so
few take to the trade of the mechanic;
and we quote the paragraph for the
purpose of founding a few remarks
upon it:


Gone REASON Why The
multiplicity of clerks and the scarcity
of young men following trades in cities
are matters often commented upon, and
the expressions of opinion in regard to
it are almost universally derogatory to
the first aamed. 1t may never have
struck the people that the school Of
instruction in the mechanical arts is
practically closed nowadays. Any one
who wishes can be a clerk, but not
every one can be a mechanic, no matter
how much he may desire it. The trade
organizations, limit and prohibit the
taking Of apprentices to various
occupations, are cruel combinations
against the youth of the country, and
| criminal conspi4acies against the
best interests Of society. Under their
sway, there is growing up a vast
community of idlers, hundreds Of whom
are driven, almost BY necessity, into
crime"


There are two classes of persons who
exert a very lalefnl influence upon
society one comprises the capitalists
who by combinations seek to close up
! the avenues Of labor. aud the ether is
made up Of trade associations wh'ck
prevent men from exercising their
inailcnabie right to labor whore they can
find work 1t is difficult to say which
of the two i the most reprehcgsible
The dcspotism Of capital and the
tyranny Of the rich are favorite themes
upon which 10 ring the changes opon
all public occasions but the greater
despotism of the trades unions has
been permitted to pass without
comment The result is that, as stated
by the Boston Cube, many men arc
not permitted to learn trades unlass
they will make degrading pledges, and
they prefer to enter professions where
such dstastcfu conditions are not
imposed The consequence is that
there is a dearth of mechanics and q
plethora Of clerks. Would it not be
we'll for mechanics to reflect upon tho
great injustice Of compelling everybody
to submit to their dictatioa as to the
manner Of learning u trade and the
right to practice it wherever and
whenever the apprentice may please
Are they not really excrting greater
despotism and oppression than they
ever have to enlure at the hands Of the
rich capitalists of whom they so frequent
ly complain 1t is we'll known that in
the United States, which boasts Of its
republican institutions, there arc
certain trades which no negro and ne
woman would be permitted to learn
1t is true there is no statute law
prohibiting any person of whatever
shade Of color or sex from taking out
) indentares of apprenticeship to learn
anything they please but there ID a
higher law of combinations, which is
enforced with cruel certainty, which
prevents not only the blacks and the
women from having a fair chance in
the struggle for existence. but also cuts
off many white man from following
the bent of his genius This goes to
prove that 1t is always dangerous to
play the part of the oppressor. The
moment we become despotic in one
thing we acquire dangerous love OF
power and soon carry tho thing to
: excess. The right of everybody 'o
I strive to become rich by honest
:. intelligent and patient labor is wholly
: inalienablc, and it was to establish this
right and freedom to worship COP
according to the dictates of his own
conscience that the Puritan first
planted his foot upon American soil and
laid the foundation of future empire.
We recall few eloquent words
lspoken by Mr.. Peter Cooper on the