The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-09 00:00:00

THE WEATHER.

More strange irregularity, further sudden leaps
from cold to heat and vice vend, such Mr. Allnatt
has to report of the past month. On the IGth of
June the temperature was 10.5 deg. below the mean ;
on the 7th it had been 15.2 deg. above it—a
height of temperature well nigh unprecedented
so early. The average of the mouth ranged from
60.2 to 72.0 deg., making an ultimate variation of
21.8 deg. The difference between the highest and
lowest day temperature was 20 deg., and between the
maximum and minimum night temperature also• 20
deg. ; and the variation between the highest day and
lowest night temperature was 32.0 deg., which is an
unwonted fluctuation for June. On the nights of
the lst and 17th Fahrenheit's thermometer was only
0 deg. above the freezing point. While the ther-
mometer thus fluctuated, the barometer varied only
an inch. The rainfall was 1.12 in., an inch below
the average.

FOREIG-N NOTES.
STRIKES IN THE UNITED STATES.

Labour In the United States has tried a great spring
campaign against capital ; but the victory of the latter
has been complete. Nearly all the numerous strikes
which have been carried on for many weeks past have
ended adversely for the workmen. The employers have
starved out the employed, and work has been resumed in
most cases on terms dictated by the masters.

The most important and the most remarkable of these
contests was the strike of the coal miners of Pennsylvania.
The wages in this trade are very high, and most of the
colliers were satisfied with them ; but a discontented
minority, through the influence of their trades union com-
mittee, brought about a general cessation of labour. As
we have previously remarked, this strange turn-out was
favoured by the employers, who, protected from
competition by the heavy tariff, hoped to increase
the price of coal. For six weeks their cupidity
caused widespread distress and inconvenience. - Thirty
thousand mil ers were thrown out of employment, and
many branches of industry were so hampered by the want
of fuel that thousands of workmen rho had no connection
'Arid' the strike suffered quite as much as the miners.
The Pennsylvania mine-owners are free from competition,
and the stoppage of their mines, therefore, ahnost implied
the stoppage of industry in the neighbourhood. The traffic
of numerous railways and canals was wholly or partially
suspended. The fires in the iron furnaces and mills
went out for lack of fuel, and the ironworkers had to
Await until the miners thought fit to resume work. This
they are now doing after six weeks of this useless and in-
comprehensible strike. To the miners, of course, the specula..
Lion has been wholly a losing one, and how an increase in
the price of coal—which from this cause can be only
temporary—can recompense the owners for six weeks
total cessation of business it is difficult to divine. They
have largely promoted the movement in favour of Free
Trade, for it was only by the aid of Protection that this
mode of raising prices could have any chance of success.
Flagrant terrorism disgraced this industrial move-
ment. Not only did the majority of the colliers
not desire a strike, but in some counties work would
have gone on had not the unions insisted on all the
districts joining the movement which originated in one
only. Although the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania
is situated in the midst of the most civilised portion-
of the Urion, the mining district itself is moun-
tainous, wild, and almost beyond the reach of
the law. Terrorism was therefore triumphant.
A mob of semi-barbarous Welsh and Irish colliers
could force any body of peaceably-disposed labourers into
obedience. Disorder and bloodshed frequently occurred,
and besides numerous murders, fox which the offenders
will never be brought to justice, the house of a mine
superintendent was in one case surrounded, and an
entrance being forced, he was beaten until nearly dead. In
collieries where the miners and their employers had agreed
upon terms, the strikers interfered and compelled a further
suspension. _ _ _

Save that the strikes in other branches of industry
have failed, as did this one, most of them are not note-
worthy. In Washington, however, grave difficulties arise
between the negro and the white workmen. The union of
white bricklayers, for instance, has declared war against
the blacks, and will not associate with any whites who
work with the "inferior race." The highly-superior race,
seeing the ill effect of strikes in general, are afraid to go
and do likewise. But they adopt this system of "sending
to coventry" as a means of keeping down black labour.
The printers are doing the same thing. But the country
has affirmed the equal rights of the negro, and, as the
Times correspondent remarks, neither printers nor brick-
layers can undo the work.

RECIPROCITY BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.

The American Secretary of State has invited Mr.
Thornton's co-operation in the movement to bring_ about a
renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty between Canada and
the United S:atc.s. Our Ambassador is said to have pro-
mised his aid, and negotiations, it is expected, will be
actively pursued. The former Reciprocity Treaty was
productive of great benefit to the commerce of the two
countries ; but, on the protective principle, the Americans
annulled it in 1866. Now they want it back again.