Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-08-16
4 Oai.

We have published some extraordinary state.
mcnts in regard to what makes coal so dear,
from the Philadelphia Inquirer. The writer
with great sleacity and remarkable clndor
pointed. ont the shameful tyranny of the bruta
miners, thc weak yielding Of the superlnten
dents and so called managers OF the mines, anc
showed c1nciusivcly that the high price OF Goa
is the result of direct conspiracy to take ad
vantage OF the public necessities IN spite OF rea
son, Justice or legal authority. We were not
prepared for the sad conclusion. The writer
with the piouS resignation OF u martyr, IN we"
of this conceded outrage, folds his hands medk
-, ooi /, ei.,,' Cha, IA ali ,hc Ncystuic State
there is no help for it, The miners are ia
the majority. They are bold and reckless men
and if their requests arc not complied with, vii
not only prevent by force others from working
in their places at cheaper rates, but will, with
out hesitation, murder the superlntrndcns OF
proprictors of collierics that have the temcrity
TO conduct their business contrary 10 the cX-
pressed wishes OF the miners and their assist
ants. Justice is easily Sc. al defiance in the
coal regions; the miners will not inform one
against the other, even in cases OF murder,
much less minor acts of violence, and Woe to
an outsider WHO would attempt even to be
their prosecutor in court OF law or witness
against them his HE would not be worth 4
days purchase. These desperadoes control the
coal Interests OF our great State. Aud not I'M
til their present brutal power Is wrcsted from
them and their employers placed at least on
an equal with them, will there be change III
the condition of the coal market. Under the
present system coal will become just as dear as
IT pcaSeS the miners to make 1t.
But who does not sec that these lawless men
must control not only the coal interest but Nc
State itself, if there is no remedy Tor this evil
They will commit murder. will they? They
viii not allow jury trial They VIII have every
thing their own way? No law shall reach
tbo,op II NAV suit the PcnnSyNanians to sit
dnwu, onic,lv and hold their lives and liberties
ot tho discretion of the lawlcSs ruihans they
Inv, thus described, hut what have the other
States to say about 1t?
l.r, those who see this outrage in It's true
hpht. and rnncrdc the wrong thus done 10 the
whole nation, mako nj least some show OF effort
In redress IL hy their own lawful authority.
We have heard some weak whining over 1t IN
PENNSYLVANIA, but there has been no earnest
movement there to put it down. We 10 not
say that If this continues the wrong will he
patiently borne 10y her sister States, but we do
saw that it will be best Tor all concerned that
her authorizes should lead the movement in
the djreeti@of law and order. There need be
no fear Of The result il they do not ialtcr. A
little wholesome hanging will take that concet
out of them, and effect radical cure OF the
entire distcmpcr. 1t IL our opinion that neither
murder nor hanging will occur, II the authorl-
ties take hold of the the subjectas they should.
" y ,/owHal of C0mmcrcc.
The N. Y. Herald says that the coal out
rage" UPON the people arises from the action
OF certain CAY atallsts.
'Thc price, is from eight dollars fifty cents
to eleven dollars Il ton, according to the quality.
1t ought not TO he over four dollars. At that
price the coal miners, capitalists, dealers and
railroads would be sufficiently remunerated.
How is il, then, that the whole community Is
taxed more than hundred per cent, on this
necessary article? 1t is a mOnStr0us injustice,
and the rich mining capitalists, with railroad
and other munopolists, are guilty Of it. As to
the plea made in behalf OF these capitalists and
monopolists, that the high wages OF miners
and mining laborers is the cause, it is all bosh.
These workmen can be well paid, and then the
price would be romuneratlvc at Jour or i've
dollars ton. The combinations of capitalists
and monopolistS are the real cause. The whole
people Of the United States are thus taxed
for the benefit Of few individuals
or q particular interest. How long is this
iniquity to be endured Congress
should Immediately on reassembng abolish
The duty on foreign coal. THIS would have the
effect at once to bring the price down probably
two dollars ton, and would tend to break up
the monopolies, which, in the end would cause
a further reduction. 1t would be Just as reason
able to tax the bread we cat as to tax COAL
Lowell, Mass, is just now excited over an
t tempted wholesale poisoning case, where
- o. M;as Minnr daliherateIv esSaved To send 70