The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-12
Tho Strike and the Strikers.

Tho Strike md the Strikers.
colored man made an agreement 10
work Oh Adger's wharf at one dollar and
half day. Yesterday morning, rs he was
about to begin work, some colorcd men,
representing themselves to be members Of
tho Longshorcmcn's Protective Association,
went up to him and said that thoy would
beat him 10 death, If lie dared to work for
less than two dollars and II half day.
They said besides that at night, when the Ia
borers on the wharf were going home, they
would whip every one OF them for not obey
ing the orders of the association. The
colored man to whom they spoke, and whom
they threatened, was so alarmed that he
left the wharf and went up town. This
statement was made by the man himself in
the hearing OF the writer.
For the intimidation of this colored man;
for the riotous conduct and assaults of the
earlier days Of last week; as we'll MS for the
insolent clustering of Saturday night, the
Longshoremen's Protective Association Is
alone responsible. The association had the
right to make rules to govern its own mem
bers and could punish any Of them by fine
or expulsion for an infringement of its re-
Sulations. When the society, however, de-
cided that the longshoremen shouil re-
ceive two and u half dollars day-work-
ing only q certain number OF hours--and
endeavored to prevent, and did prevent, by
threat and actual violence inolfensivc men
from working for less than the prescribed
price, they transcribed their powers and
interfered, in manner both illegal and
unwarrantable, between the workman and
his employer.
This is not q question of race or color; 1t
applies to white and black alike. Every
man may obtain US much rs lie can for his
labor, and the employer judges for himself
whether he shall or shall not give the work
man the wages for which he asks. When
the bargain is once made, whether the
wages be twenty-five cents day or twenty
five dollars day, no man or body Of men
can lawfully prevent, by intimidation, the
carrying out Of the bargain.
These longshoremen who bully and beat
men who are working honestly for living,
ore the enemies Of the public peace, and
they are 10 less the enemies Of the work
ingman. There are hundreds OF colored
men in Charleston who are willing to work
at q dollar or dollar and half q day
less than the association price. They
have wives and children for whose daily
bread they are ready to toll and sweat.
The wharf-owners are prepared to employ
them. When they attempt to go 10 work
they are met by mob Of associated long
shoremen, and are greeted with sho wer Of
brickbats, blow with club, or thrust
with knife. They must allow their fami-
lies to starye, or else work In danger of
their lives.
All that we ask for is fair play Let every
man work who will at the best wages he
san get. To refuse this may be Radical
doctrine, but 1t is not the doctrine OF any
respectable men in the State, whatever their
color or condition. The striking longshore-
men and their Radical abettors are now
striving to starve the frugal and industri-
Gus laborer.
The law Of the question is perfectly clear.
Men who assemble together for purposes OF
Intimidation and violence are guilty OF riot
GUS conduct, and would be severely punish
cd if the city authorities were impartial in
thought or courageous in action. AS it is,
the protection given to the laborers has
been just too late to be efectual; just weak
enough to make the rioters believe that the
authorities wink at their lawless ness, and,
to prevent it, will do no more than they can
help. 1t is to be hoped that the Mayor will
in time know his duty and do it. II he
should not, and the existing order Of things
continue, we must look to other quarters for
the security Of our merchants, the welfare of
our commerce, and the rights of the work
ing man.