The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-29
The Tyranny Of the Mob.

1AS" biiS AIoNIuGuCuOuuEnA'
The New York EneniAg Post publishes
vigorous article on. the local troubles
under the head Of "The Commune in
Pennsylvania" II intimates that the
grand idea Of the coal strikers and con-
spirators in that State is substantially the
same as that Of tho communists who are
now holding their orgies OF blood in
Paris. The article shows very clearly
THAT II Is the despotism OF the so.called
Workingmen's Benevolent Association
which has ruined for o time the great cOAl
business oil the country, and is now pre-.
senting an example Of riot and violence
which cvcrybOdyiis weary of Contem.
plating. Tho principle on which these
Sclfconstituted masters Of the labor pro.
coed, is not only that the capitalists shall
pay certain wages whether he can afford
It or not, but also that the laborer shall
be prevented from working for anything
less than the appointed wages, be lie ever
so willing himself, nay even if no DO
prompted by fear Of starvation tohimseIi
and his family. Their only maxim Of be.
nevOlCnce appears 10 be obedience or
death. Both the laborcr and the capital
ist must take his choice.
1tsccms 10 be slowly coming out that
this WOrkingmens Benevolent AssOCia.
ton Is after all u forced concern, which
the labOrers have Joined, in many instan.
ces, from Compulsion or terror, or at the
very best on o Misrepresentation and
Misrepresentation Of its real principles and
designs. That 1t is an .unmitigalcd des.
potism there can DO no doubt, AM multi.
tudes of the labors would rebel against it
II they were not prevented by fear Of
the consequences. The Evening Post at
tOchCs great importance TO the questions
ut issue, and maintains that the troubles
which have now arisen, should be made
the occasion Of settling once for all the
true principles by which labor and capital
must govern themselves. ltiustitlcs both
the owners Of the mines and also the rail.
road corporations, in all they have thus
fur done in defending their rights Of
property and urges them 10 persGvGre to
tho end, and thus TO twin q complete
triumph for law and justice, for true
principles Of economical science, and for
the permanent welfare Of the country"
This is, no doubt, sound advice, though
10 act upon 1t will be productive of rather
serious consequences. To say nothing Of
the cAlamities 1t Is pretty likely to bring
upon the public In the short supply of coal
and its consequences, It will also ruin n
vast amount Of capital now employed In
the mining business. Mines are soon IN.
jured II lett unworked. Buildings and
machinery of untold cost will rapidly 60
to decay. Canal boats, steamboats,, and
the running gear Of thousands Of miles of
railroads arc lying idle and useless, daily
dcterloratlng in value, while the canals
and railroads themselves are so much dead
capital constantly getting out OF repair, Ii
Is not easy 10 estimate the amazing loss
and waste Of ever y kind which are thus
oCcasioned by an unlawful and ruinous
conspiracy of u comparatively small mum.
Der of men, with mistaken view Of their
own interests, to break up one OF the VI.
tai industries oil the United States. There
are laborers enough to be had, lahorers
eager to work for their support, and that
oil their families, but they are forbidden
on the penalty Of death by these magnates
OF the Benevolent Association. This sort
oil terrorism must Of course come to an
end, and so must that Of the Communists
in Paris; but one cannot repress the wish
that the government, both in Pennsylva.
mia and in France, were strong enough to
prevent proceedings that are 50 ruinOust to
order and peace, and to all the interests Of
society.