The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-12-24
LABOR STRIKES.

" 49,
sports come Of strikes among the laboriag class
es. The Longshoremen in New York the
miners in Pennsylvania and the Railroad EN-
pGoyees in West Virginia al seem to have de-
termincd to throw mp altogether rather thah
submit to q reduction ofwages. In New ork
the strikers are closely watched by an extra
force of Policemen. In Pennsylvania the
ssMolly Maguires, " secret organization of the
miners, have inaugurated perfect reign OF te-
nor and have butchered in cold blood over
thirty employees and superintendent. Their
iendish thirst for carnage has not been salts
fled even with this, but in their blind madness
they have laid some of their own comrades low
and burned and destroyed much of the prop
erty belonging to the. citizens living in the
community. In West Virginia the dissatisfied
employees declined all overtures of the citizens
| who had offered to take the company's script
at par, and although they behaved. with be-
coming respect towards the people, yet they
detained the cars Of the company for a short
while, and, to that extent, retarded their OPP
eratons.
If we Judge these men by the strange, wild
code of ethics to which they hold themselves
amenable, the blame falls on the employer 5,
but the logic of events and the financial condl-
ton OF the country, answer and refute the
charges preferred by them, and demonstrate
as clear as can be, that the capitalists are una
BILE to pay as literally as they might wish and
at the same time avert the impending catas-
trophies that threaten OH every side. 1t would
have been better for these men to have worked
on, even il they had received no compensation
whatever. Industry and action have been i'll
fused into their natures from their very cradle,
and the habit has grown upon them, and
strengthened with their strength until it has
become the ruling characteristic, and its de-
mands must be supplied or else the devil finds
work for their hands Far better would it
have been had they been engaged in a labor as
exhaustive and fruitless as that of Ssyphlls
rather than to have allowed themselves to
sq1andcr their hard-earned wages in. reckless
debauchery. and lawless riot. Motion is their
second nature, and if the proper avenues OF its
escape are dammedup, the turbulent pillows find
an exit through unlawful channels. Like the
waters OF the Euphrates. it is at once the carri-
er Of prosperity or the Bosom of destruction
1t fills up the whole measure Of its ira nsit, adj
mts of no obstacles in its course, and bears on
is restless bosom the horn Of Plenty or the
gaunt image of Want. No happy medium has
ever vet been arrived at. The great law that
governs their uneasy spirits must appease them
with its fructifying breezes Or PROSTATE them
beneath the cloud Of its blasting simeon. AS
a class, the |rniners are absolute and. extray-
gan, spending their earnings rs though the
golden showers of Peru We're being lavished
upoa tuem or al H,rnlndo Cortes was pouring
all inexhaustiale stream OF wealth into their
depleted Golfers. They never think that the
purse string Of capital M lst at some time be con-
tractejl, OF if they do, it does seem to lis, in
view of the fact that winter with all its accom-
panying sufferngs is upon lis, that they would
have postponed any positive demonstrations
until more conS enient season. Strikes, even
under the more favorable circumstances, sell
dom, if ever, accomplish any temporary or
lasting good to the class they are supposed to
benefit; OH the contrary, they have almost al
most always rccoiled with crushing effect upon
the heads Of their instiga5ors and written the
history of their career in letters of blood in
communities in which they originated.
1t is estimated that over q quarter of q mil
, lion Of laborers will be without the means OF
supporG during the coming winter, and we
are brought more directly to realize this de-
plorabe state OF affairs, by the fact that about
:, 1000 ,yorkmen will be thrown ont of employ
nient by the suspension of the Valley Railroad.
, Most of these men have no home whatever and
they must necessarily find lodging place
among lis until the opening Of some public en-
terprse.
Looking to the consequences that must i'll
eyitably follow this condition of the nation,
the coming water will be season pregnant
with suffering and want. From many hitherto
comfortable homes and bright fire sides the
cry for bread will go forth, and the dying en-
bcrs will offer but poor resistance to the pier
, cling blasts OF the snow ladened winds. Char
ity will be called upon to spread her mantel
far and near, and bestow her gifts with no I'M
generous hand, and the wall of humanity will
be echoed back throughout the length and
breadth of the land. The few who had man
aged to horde little treasure for the darker
days have ere this exhausted the fund, and now
there is lett no hostage to meet the memorable
demands of relentless winter.
! PROCLAMATION Presiden Grant has ssu-
sued a proclamation commanding all disorder
ly and turbulent persons in Warren county,