The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-06-06

through the silent and powerful voice OF ns
people ct the polls. The elect. Sns "
place within the next six months I3ah nov
whether we are 10 return to constitu 8on~
government or be launched into future ANARCHY
aud ultimate despotism.
Labor Strikes I'm America and Enstash.
A telegram from Worcester, Mass, pub.
lished iu the HERALD of this morning, reports
that the strike among the shoemakers at Ash
land eliminated in riotous demonstration ON
Thursday, because of the manufacturers en-
ploying men not members Of the st. Crispin
Order. With a band of musicians at their
head these strikers paraded past the building
which they threatened 10 destroy. Luckily
some forty citizens armed themselves, and,
with the aid of force Of twenty.
five State Constables, which arrived just
in time, prevented a violent breach
OF the peace. 1t is very natural for
mechanics and laborers il they believe they
are underpsid, to ask for an increase Of pay;
but that demand ought to be made in an intel
ligent and straightforward manner and accom-
panied with proof that ii is founded in justice-
Reason, argument and the strength Of good
cause are the props upon which they should
lean. Ii they attempt to effect legitimate
purpose by Legitimate and illegal means
the law will be found strong enough to put
them down. It's q very proper thing for those
who live by the sweat of their brow to de-
mand full remuneration for their labor in q
legal, open, constitutional way. Acting thus,
they will command the respect and sympathy
of the public but the moment they seek by
violence or intimidation to compel employers
to comply with their terms, that moment they
will cease to gain respect or sympathy and be
visited with the censure of law-abiding cit-
zens. II the shoemakers at Ashland who
have ''struck" find themselves unable to carry
out their views, and witness the result in tho
poverty of their families, they may be very
sorry for what they have done and regret that
they did not exercise more discretion and
little diplomacy with the employers.
That there is tendency among trades assn
Citations in this country at the present time to
''strike' cannot be denied We think that this
tendency does not spring from any desire on
the part Of workmen 70 act illegally or inn
properly, but is caused by that excessive
taxation which ''grinds the faces Of th6pOOr,"
increases the cost of their living, renders them
unable to save a dollar and throws many of
them on public charity if they are but ono
week out of employment All this is matter
for the attention of our legislators, If they can
ororo f;,ra from, Ahoco cOrr,rpt opd ufaynOssa
bargains in which they are bought and sold
for money, like sheep in pen, bringing eternal
disgrace on that grand structure Of liberty
reared by the genius and valor of Washington.
Happily for us the history of American
strikes cannot be compared to the history Of
years in England ''strikers" have displayed
something Of barbaric character. They have
not hestated to commit murder in the accom-
plishment of their designs. There has just
been published the report Of the Commissioners,
Mcssrs. Barstow, Pickering and Chance, who
ment to inquire into the origin, progress and
extent of the Trades Union outrages in Man
chester and within a distance of twelve
miles of that city. This report reveals most
extraordinary and criminal state Of things.
Messrs. Meadows, the owners of large brick
For doing this their men struck. A man named
Wilde took work from Messrs Meadows ct
their terms. He was attacked and nearly killed.
His arm was broken in two or three places
Who assaulted him? For the preparation Of
this horrible outrage the President of the Brick
makers Union, one Slater, paid fourteen
pounds. 1t was agreed at full meeting Of tho
committee that this sum should be so paid
money paid for the commission of murder or On
attempt at murder. Slater was brought to
trial for the crime, convicted and sentenced to
twenty years penal servitude. He, how
ever, remained but two years in prison, Wilde
having been induced by threats to sign
memorial for Slaters pardon. Slater Was
once again free man. He was reappointed
President, and poor Wilde, who had exhibited
o Christian forgiveness towards the man who
had planned the attempt on his life, was
obliged, by threats, to leave the country.
Twenty-Five thousand bricks were destroyed
on the works Of a Mr.. Simpson. For this
'job," as 1t has been termed, fifteen dollars
was granted by the Union and the work was
conflded to the trusty Slater. Mr.. Simpsons
''offence" consisted in employing non-union
man. A policeman named Jump was muir
dered by the Unionists, who took part in the
outrages at Messrs. Clifords' brick works In the
Ashton district. Ward, one Of the murderers,
was convicted and hanged; 'but," adds the
report, ''the Amalgamated Union subscribed
towards the defence of the man charged with
the murder Of Jump, with full knowledge
that the murder was committed by the men
returning from the destruction Of Messrs.