New-York tribune., 1877-07-24
and the suppression of the mob, and that is
question Of but few hours time.
LAW MUST BE INDICATED.

The war of wages does not quickly end
Blood has been shed, and more will be shed
before we have peace and order. 1t Is pity
that the very first resistance to law was not
met by the shooting of every roter within
range of musket ball. Many lives would
have been saved, property of immense value
would have been saved, if the very first con-
fict between the rioters and the civil authority
had ended in the burial of an hundred rioters.
Ii is the misfortune of our system of government
that it rarely provides for such emergencies III
does not like to shoot men at the hIst
show of resistance to law, and therefore en-
courages the spirit which prompts prolonged
resistance. and gets a great many men shot
before all is done. Even at Pittsburgh, a
great many lives and property worth millions
would have been saved, if the officers and
men whose duty it was to vindcate the
majesty of law had made the law terror to
evil-doers at the outset. Napoleon was right.
1t is always a blunder as well as a crime TO
exasperate mob without exterminating It,
With every hour of success the insuTection
spreads. Yesterday it reached roads not before
involved, and there is now no route be-
tween the East and the West by which goods
can be safely or regularly moved. The loss
cannot well be estimated. Useful lives have
been taken, with many that were useless.
Many thousand men have been called from
their usual ayocations to upheld the authority of
law. and many thousand more have abandoned
useful employment to make war upon the law
Commerce is blocked goods in transit, by the
hundred carloads, have been destroyed OF ar
rested merchants are bankrupt to-day. and fac
I.1... l.. r anslrf- f-fy ylflrIS
and ndcr-lOving men are out Of work. " ny Be-
cause a Trades Union has enlisted few nun
dred men in a revolt against all laws OF trade,
all government. all order. and all the condl-
tions which make civilized society possible.
The one thing for Government to do, and
for every decent citizen to desire, is to restore
the supremacy of law as quickly rs possible.
There has been waste Of time, and therefore
a waste of lives and property. No mob can
possess this country for many DAYS. The des-
perate leaders and the ravenous and plumber
inc creatures who gather at every scene OF
disorder as iackals gather about carcass,
know that their time is short. Govern
mcnt has no right to spare lives III
restoring that authority without which
civilized society cannot exist. 1t must
employ all power that may he necessary not
only TO put down this msuncctlon. but to
make the results so costly and so terrible to
those VINO have arranged 1t that no other like
it shall ever be attempted i'll this country.
Moving of trains is not enough. Complete
opening of roads is not enough. There ought
TO be vindicatiyn of the law, and terrible pun
ishment for the gully.
When peace and submission to law have
been restored, il will be time 10 ask the strikers
what they have gained. The railway compa
MES were in trouble; some we're bankrupt, and
some trembling on the verge Of bankruptcy.
Because they sought to reduce wages, millions
of property has been destroyed. Does anybody
suppose that they will be able to pay higher
wages because Of the loss? Business, has been
intcrlupted and no man can tell how long the ac-
tnal arrest of shipments, or the fear of delay ana
destruction of goods, will affect transactions.
Without business the RAILWAYS cannot prosper,
and cannot pay wages. Thousands OF men
must 20 hungry for many day because OF the
last weeks wild work. II i the business oil
the Government to end such disorders, and il
Will be mercy to the strikers themselves, and
To all others concerned, to end this business
0uickly, whatever the cost.