The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-07-03
The Eight Hour Strike

Of coming good or evil. So, too, mon
,trosities were always taken as dark
shadows of coming events. A calf
with donble head heralded for en-
Iightened Rom the cruelties of a
Caesar.
In the plentitude of our wisdom we
scott at the snperstitions of other days
as the school boy Of to-day leaps over
the cumbrous demonstrations of Euclid
and the Principal of Newton only to
be left in his turn on the wayside OF
the great "ON TO KNOWLEDGE" And
vet could that same old togaed great
ress speak back to us from its CEN
turtles OF ashcscould theynot teach us
many forgotten lesson! Would they
not bid us consult the augaries and be
warned in time. Would they not urge
us to read in the sacrifice of human
viscera, the daily offerings of human
brains in the temples, ofletters through
out the land, the interpretations OF our
great high priests, sent by the genius
of a Gutenberg or Caxton to tell US
that dies irae were not foretold the vo-
taries of Joye alone, but that even the
nineteenth century of christian cIvi!I-
cation may dread the danger of mans
cruelty to man.
1t is trite to staleness to say that
Europe is resting on the thin crust OF
an angry social volcano, and this after
France has just escaped its fury and
smothered it's flames.
But who dare assert that America,
the land of the free, need fear Why
the very freedom of her institutions is
her safety. We have no Intemation-
ais here. Our people have only peace
full organizations for mutual protection
against capital. The late eight hour
movement means nothing more than
that American inventiveness has so re-
duced the labor of production that more
can be done in eight hours now, than
formerly in sixteen, and hence labor
should be paid for this and given two
hours more to think. And what de
they think 2 Read:
Organized bands of malcontents have
of late infested the surroundings of Olll
large manufactures, seeking to induce
the operatives, by persuasion or argu'
ment, to join their ranks. Now, how
ever, their policy seems to have chan.
gcd, and with the utmost audacity they
enter the buildings, spread through the
shops and compel the workmen, who
may be perfectly satisfied with theil
hours and their wages, to abandon theil
labor; and this in direct contempt o.
the remonstrance of the manufacturer
OF corporation on whose premises they
may be trespassing. The hands having
been enticed away or forced to qui
work, the next proceeding is declara
ton of terms on the part of the League
to the employer, coupled with the in
formation that, under no other circum
stances save compliance with the de
mands therein set forth, will he be per
nlitted to continue his business.
The outrageous nature of these claim
is illustrated by the following rec lisi
tons made to Mr.. J. G.. Patterson, TIN
builder of the Masonic Temple of TIN
corner of ODD street and Sixth avenue il
this city. and communicated by him t.
the Hartford Times. Mr.. Patterson hat
last fall resisted the strike at his QUAR-.
at Westerly, r. L., and has continued t.
cut granite under the system hithert
maintained, with a certain number o
apprentices and last years rate Of wa
ges. He carried that through success
sively and is now met by the stone cut
tiers in New York with declaration
that he can only be permitted to carr
on business in this city by complyin
| with the following exactions:
| /. He must THROW AWAY all the on
stone which has been wrought durin
the past six or eight months by ''nol
society" men and pprentices-amouni
! ing to about twenty-five thousand do
lars in value-and have it all done aneV
out of new stone by "union" or "socit
ty" men.
2. He must reimburse the yariou
trades unions who contributed none
to support the striking workmen in tn
Westerly quarries, OF, in other word
he must pay them all they expended
the attempt to break him down.
3. lie must dismiss all apprentice
and recognize the power of all trade
unions. Extra emphasis was given
these requirements by the smashing
various ornamental parts of the c1
stone about the building.
"Government aid" is invoked b.
the government can't afford to act ju
now, for these people are. "a power
the land and want to have their Pres
dent and oar President acdnts Mem.-
And it is when lie sees this and 9th
clouds arising on our now treac}ierou
ly peaceful horizon that the "C9s
rises in his bosom,1 and that he smok'
: and smiles. Well may he say ''t
back, Forney, you are too easily alarm
ed, we are not in danger, we a
stronger than you Think" for we'll
knows how easily the passions Of NJ
are aroused and then now easily moul
ed. That there are signs in the tim
it takes no Sumner to see and fl
years may teach American republica
ism bloody lesson.
D Colonel George w. Carter pu
fishes his valedictory as editor of t
National Republican. He retires |
cause he cannot support State tick
= recently nominated at Ration Ronge
:, In giving reas sons for 1sithd RI VIM