New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-22
TIE RIGHTS OF LABOR.

Among other topics which the Picayute
has chosen to treat in purely local view
is the question Of the right of labor 20
etipulate the terms upon which 1t VIII
toll. thereby acknowledging the corre'
spending right OF capital TO determine
wha: it can and vii! pay. An assemblage
Of !abo.eys in Louiaiana to insist upon
this right has been seized by the oppo-
nents Of labor and friends OF capita! to
demonstrate the lawiess character OF the
coiored people. The case Is this: The
employer paid. last year. twenty dollars
and ratioas per month. The laborers this
year adopted resolutions-l. To rent land
themselves: 2. Tha. they would no: work
Cor les, than the wages OF last year:
3. Tina. they would waive the !aborer's
privilege on the crop in favor OF their
landlord and factor.
These are the terms OF the demand.
There was no determination to burn or
murder. as represented by their enemies.
Ye: the proposition to work on theis own
account if they could not obtain their de-
lnand has been characterized ''as at the
mos. simply outrageous" Now while
these people were endeavoring to carry
on! this purpose. acts Of excitement oc"
CURED and the State government ID Its
impartial determination 70 enforce the
laws. caused the ares: Of those who
made the disturbance and they are now
lodged in prison. like the wealthy and
respectable gentlemen" over whose for
lorn condition SO much sympathy and SO
little money has been spent By on. Fusion
friends.
While all this was going on here in a
small corner the same principles are
producing serious results elsewhere.
The owners and workers Of coal mines
are in conflict. The engine driv-
ers Of the Western railroads have
refused to work except on rate OF
wages fixed by themselves. Roads have
been INSTRUCTED, locomotives thrown from
the track. and the travel intercourse of
communities suspended. New York pre-.
sents an alarming conflict, not between
labor and capital only. but between want
and wealth. Poverty has demanded from
a share of its possessions.
When Fifth avenue faunts its silks and
flashes its diamonds and thunders in its
liveried pomp through the ragged and
starving lnob, it extends a very dangerous
suggestion. But hunger and nakedness
have brought wealth and power to bay, and
woe to hunger and nakedness if they
provoke wealth and order to shot and
steal New York has been virtually under
MARTA! law. Ten thousand men have
moved in masses to demand bread. The
authorities have organized force and re-
serve Of perhaps one hundred thousand
men to repe! this raid of desperate
poverty upon luxurious wealth. What
think our people Of this: -Four divisions
o: the Metropolitan Police. covering every
one of thirty-one precincts. headquarters.
Geographic communication. each with a
strong reserve. cavalry patroling the
streets and driving people from the side
walks. people clubed by policemen. and
retaliating with blows and insults. Such
was the interview between labor and
capital. II took place in the presence Of
order welding policeman's club and
reinforced with mUskets and mitrail-
leuseo
Those who seek 70 hold Louisiana up to
public condemnation becaus. the world
old controversy between labor and CAPT.
tai occurs here, make no notice Of the
same conflict going on upon more dan
gerous and difficult scale elsewhere. Our
politicians seize Upon alleged abuses in
the election to ask the federal government
to enter the State. and even invoke mill.
tary government. They esaggerate a
easua! excess in the operation of the la
Dor and capital conflict 10 demand the
arrest and incarceration OF these rebels to
labor. Suppose this doctrine of interven'
ton established and applied to New York
as well as 90 Louisiana, the federal gov.
eminent would march its divisions into
New York aud encamp in its squares. These
conflicts are always liable to occur. With
Us reason and domestic authority has
sutfice1 to prevent extended mischief. In
othe. communities the conflict goes on
until one or the other side is exhausted or
disarmed. How much better would it be
to bef.iend the laborer. 10 win his conf
dence and advocate his rights: We have
no hesitation in expressing the belief that
the laborer Of Louisiana is as reasonable
and as readily convinced by explanations
as any man can be. Il he is despised and
detied by those who should be his best
advisers. why should he be especially re-
preached 70. pursuing his own interests
by the same means that be learns have Sc
cured increase Of compensation to the la
BOXERS elsewhere?
PINOHBACK's CASE.
Our advices from Washington indicate
that there has been considerable shifting