American Republican And Baltimore Daily Clipper

AMERICAN LABOR. We have endeavored to impress upon the mechanics and laboring classes of this city, the duty of supporting those who favor the protection of American labor. They must see and feel, that prices have depreciated in consequence of the competition of foreign pauper labor, and that, if no measures be adopted by government to prevent the increase of this competition, American laborers must be thrown out of employment entirely, and their places be supplied by the European paupers and criminals who are transported to our shores.

The following article exhibits the condition of things and the consequent feeling in New York, where it appears, that the foreign mechanics and laborers are rapidly superseding those of the United States; and that, as a necessary consequence, the latter must soon either be deprived of bread, or be driven to renounce the trades which they have learned and resort to other modes of support. Look abroad through the workshops of every kind in the city of Baltimore, and the same result will be seen. They are rapidly being filled by foreigners to the exclusion of Americans, and every year increases the evil. Foreign governments know how to protect their own subjects; but here some affect to consider it illiberal to advocate a preference of American to foreign mechanics and laborers. Why should our government tolerate the transportation to the United States by foreign governments, of all their criminals, paupers and the most worthless portion of their population? Heaven knows that we have enough of that description of persons amongst us without throwing open our arms to receive those whom foreign countries are rejoiced to send us. We ask those most deeply interested in this subject, to consider it well-to look at the consequences to their own interests-and to make up their minds upon the all-important point, whether or not the present system should be continued. If they be willing to work for half wages, or to be deprived of work altogether, of course they will not object if the whole contents of the poor houses and penitentiaries of Europe be emptied upon our wharves-but if they desire to have employment, and to be fairly compensated for their labor, they will unite in the efforts which are now being made to secure their rights and to promote their interests. We ask then to give the following a deliberate consideration, and then to make up their minds as to the course which they will pursue.

American Labor. We adverted, a few days since, to an article in the New York Tribune, deploring the wretched condition of labor in the city of New York. According to that paper, many branches of mechanical industry are reduced to nearly the same state of wretchedness with the pauper labor of Europe. It is painful to believe that, in this free country, where, it was fondly hoped honest industry would never lack bread, our countrymen and countrywomen find the labor of their hands inadequate to the procurement of necessary daily sustenance. Our people find themselves unable to subsist upon the same kind of food or to inhabit such dwellings as content the peasantry of Europe. The same low wages will not afford them subsistence. And we trust never to see the day when our American laborers shall be compelled to support themselves upon the husks and refuse of the products of their own toil.

We desire to call the attention of the laboring community, and especially of mechanics, to one important fact. Their labor is degraded, both in respect to its character and price, by the inordinate influx of foreign competition. No one can deny the truth of this. The artisans and other operatives of Europe, have habits which our people will not, and cannot adopt. They come into our midst and underbid our citizens. Labor is cheapened. The American mechanic will not live in a garret or a cellar. He will not compel his wife and daughters to perform menial outdoor labor. The consequence is, the American is driven from his business and compelled to look elsewhere for support.

In view of this state of things, the New York Express says:—“We see no remedy for the American, where the foreigner underbids him, but to learn some other trade or turn farmer.”

A melancholy consolation truly! He is to surrender, leave his house and lot, and with his family proceed to the west, or "learn some other trade."

Let the American laborer, proud of his freedom and his equality, never cease to bear in mind, that the immigration of those European crowds who degrade his occupation and deprive his family of bread, is encouraged by political demagogues for the purpose of using foreign votes to control our elections, and fill their own pockets with the rewards of office. And let him also remember that a paramount regard for his own country is patriotism, and the protection of his own family a high and solemn duty.-Rochester American.