Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-07-30
THE COMING STRUGGLE.

THE COMING STRUGGLE.
The indications are unmistaLable that We
are on the eve Of contest whose shock will
startle even those who felt the throes of the
bloody revolution through which We have just
passed. The forces on either side have for
long years been marshaling themselves under
defiant banners. and now, ripe for the battle,
they are about to take the field. This COLI
sion, even before the late civil war, was por-
tended, and with the precision of prophecy
it was pointed out by some as the great ca
lamity that would befal the institutions of
government in America. We distinctly re-
member the alarming warning contained in
friendly letter Of the great historian Ma
CAULEY, who freely gave his views of the
dangers which he believed surrounded the
then happy republic of the United States
Looking at the tendency of the people, as
manifested in their history from the founda-
ton of their government. to submit to the
Grbirdmenf Of nlgorities, all questions arising
in the administration of their affairs. he pre-
dicted that the ultimate result of this policy
would to cast into the arena of politics tie
Tighi property, and place them at the
RS IF the popular suffrage. The con-
dJ the faction that aow rules the nation
len to precipitate the strife which must
nevitably engendered between wealth
Abers-capital and labor In the
ess of their mad career, and in that
i /
tse, they have ignored the laws of
Il planted themselves on the BAN
FIN
e 7 1t him take who has the power,
nd let him keep who cam
he schemes of cOnfscation which now
ben the property of more than one-third
people of the country are in couso>
q The determined purpose expressed
dother magnates of the anarchists
to equalize the rights of labor
Pitaf: The principle which will lie at
foundation of the partition of the lands
South will be, that as they were ac-
! by the toll of the slave, and were made
urce of wealth in which he did not
sSbly participate, he shall now under the
-spensation of the a." man and brother" era,
i've not only indemnity for the past but am
pie security for the future. He is to be put
in possession of the property of his former
master, not as an aveDger of treason, but be-
cause he was the chief instrument of its ac-
QUESTION, and IS therefore, entitled to enjoy
it. But the principle here applied is equally
applicable elsewhere. Under a system of
labor more oppressive and less remuuerative
than that which distinguished African slaves
~ in the South, colossal fortunes have been
amassed by the capitalists of the North, to
which, By parity of reasoning equally as
forcible, the factory operative is entitled in
the same proportion as that which is about to
be awarded to his luckier fellow-sufFerer of
the South.
The organizations Of workmen throughout
the country demanding higher rates of COM
pensation and exemption from exactions OPP
pressively imposed upon them, together with
the restiveness of labor under the heavy levics
Of taxation upon its hard-earned fruits, are
but the premonitions of the approaching
storm. We repeat this contest is impending
and it must come. What are to be the re-
suits, it is not for US to say. But that gem
eral disruption and anarchy are to be the first
consequences we think all must believe to be
inevitable. In such a condition of things
the first impulse would be to seek personal
safety, and that would be found only where
the POcer Of protection exists. Where that
ability would reside it is easy to forcsee 1t
must be in those military organizations to
which collidinS interests, without common
arbiter for their settlement, must in the ma
ture of things give rise. That organization
will be the much-dreaded and fcrcest of all
governmental devices-a military despotism.
And if the American Republic, like that of
Carthage, finally falls under % the rule of him
who wears the sharPest sword" its own folly
will be justly chargeable with the causes that
naturally lead to such lameutable result.
A CORRECTION.
Tn our CHG show" article Of last week, in !