Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-06-04
rHE PENNSYLVANIA RIOTS.

For several months the mining re-
gions of Pennsylvania have been in a
very unsettled condition on account of a
general strike among the miners. The
companies refused to aecede to the de-
mands made upon them, and the strike
has not only been maintained, but has
assumed the proportions Of an armed
rebellion against the civil authorities.
The aid Of the strong arm of the law
has been invoked in vain; the Governor
has placed the militia at the command
of the sheriffs, but without reducing the
stubborn miners or bringing them
to terms. They are organized
and we'll armed, and are a ter.
ror 10 the country. The most Sc
rious disturbance yet took place yester-
day when a sheriff posse was fred upon
near Mahoney City. Two companies Of
infantry we're promptly sent to the scene,
when q skirmish took place between the
sherifs forces and the mob, in which
several hundred shots were fred, and
several persons killed and wounded.
The sheriff had to fall back, being
greatly outnumbered, when the raid
ing mob, numbering two thousand strong,
formed in line and marched triumph
antly through the town, preceded by a
band Of music. They afterwards retired,
and several companies Of militia went
to reinforce the sheriff. Threats
have been freely made to burn the town,
and a reign Of terror exists. 1t was re-
ported that an attempt had been made
to throw a passenger train from the
track near the town of Shenandoah. The
end is not yet. The miners are formid-
able in numbers, rscklessly defiant and
almost Improbable in their mountain
Businesses, This row has been going on
many months. theoretically it is a
conflict between capitalists and labor,
A reduction Of labor was made
by the capitalists working the
mines, and this was resisted. The
men not only refused to work, but
have used violence and menaces to pre-
vent imported laborers or yielding
strikers from working, 1t is evident
that there is something wrong on one
side or the other. Either the men have
been grievously oppressed to engage in
such a prolonged and desperate strike,
or they are exceedingly plant tools in
the hands of bad leaders. When the
police powers Of a. great State fail to
cope with a little body Of. insurgents in
the mountains, we must at least eoncede
to the latter a sincerity Of purpose seldom
existing without some well grounded
cause. The whole world is against them
as it was against Captain Jack and his
little band among the rocks of Oregon.
They have committed excuses and seri-
Gus crimes against law and society. Bui
who knows the full extent Of their griev-
ances2 Most Of them are rough, inlet.
tered men, and in time they viii be
whipped into subsection in the name Of
law and order. They can be starved out
if not easily whipped, and capital can al
ways command intelligence to carry ouI
its plans. This is an unfortunate out
break. 1t has brought hundreds Of fam
lilies to suffering and starvation, and the
innocent must suffer as well as the
guilty. Such disturbances scarcely ere
ate a ripple on the surface Of journal
ism, since they happen in the good and
loyal State Of the Forneys, the Gamer
ons and the Hartranfts, where add
ton, division and silence" are under
stood and p%raeticed. II the ike were Il
occur in the mining districts Of Tennes
see it would be used 10 prove that
Democratic administration is i~ucapabl,
of v~indicating the majesty Of the law
and as an evidence that Southern civil
cation is a failure. We lay no such i'm
putations against the civil authorities O
Pennsylvania, bu. itdoes seem surpris
ing at this late day that they have beef
unable to adjust the difficulties whicl
have so long disturbed the mining re
gions Of the State.