The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-08-02
rnn Lksso,s or rnn WEEK.


TnE LESSONS or TnE WEEK.
A New York paper draws some whole
some truths from the late strikes which
will be well for all to remember;
The lessons TO be drawn from the
events Of last week can be briefly
stated. In the FIRST place. the methods
Of the trades unions need amendment.
So far as an association Of artisans is
formed for the protection or benefit Of
its members nothing can be urged
against 1t on principle, and so far as it
confines itself strictly to its professional
purpose, no objection can be made
against it in practice. Capital, il not
formally organized for the assertion Of
its rights, has the obvious power to
enforce its demands derived from the
capacity of remaining idle itself and
compelling idleness in others All legi-
innate combinations which can be made
by the laborer to make up for the nat
ural iuieriority under which he suffers
ia a contest with capital are perfectly
admissible, whether tested by the prin-
ciples of political economy or the laws
OF social order. But when the laborer
says not only, "I shall not work" but
resorts 10 violent measures to prevent
others from working on the terms he
has rejected, he puts himself outside
the pale Of the sympathy Of his fellow
citizens, whether lthey judge his con-
duct from the standpoint of the poit.
ical economist or of the rough common
sense which moldh the great body OF
public opinion. The violent opposition
to having the places of body Of men
on strike filled by persons who are
willing 10 take the wages they have
refused is simply the FIRST step in a
policy Of lawlessness which naturally
leads to pillage, arson and murder.
That fact has been very clearly demon.
strated last week. and its application ia
not far 20 seek. Unless the trades
unions are TO sink to the level of the
/ Communist and Socialist agitators
whose ultimate aim is forcible re-
distribution Of property and the violent
leyeling Of all social distinctions, they
must seek for some more rational means
| OF enforcing their demands than those
| borrowed from state Of social bar
I barism. II the trades union Is TO con
tinue to be a power in the settlement
OF labor disputes, il its demands are tc
secure the attention Of reasonable men
| il must set itself to devise some plan
Of arbitration which may avert strikes,
some method Of lair aud rational dis
cussion, which will leave the absolute
cessation Of work and the consequent
trial Of endurance as the very last re
sort N any dispute between employer
and employed
The melancholy failure Of the loca
governments OF several large cities il
the Union TO deal promptly and effect
i ually with the elements OF disorder
which have been called into action by
the railroad strikes has been sufficiently
insisted on in these columns 1t has 4
lesson. however. altogether apart frou
the necessity Of reinforcing the mum
cipAi powers for the preservation OF or
der by agencies of more trustworth!
character The city Itself must b.
made strong enough to face the onset o
the rabble. otherwise the city as uni
ia our political system has forfeited IL
claim 70 existence. For long serieI
Of years the better class d our urbaI
population have seen with comparative
indifference the control over their Attain
pass into the hands Of the nominees o
roughs the elect 81 the corner grog
cries. /, Is absurd TO say that thi
cannot be prevented II has Away
been prevented in times Of public ex
citement, when the respectable voter
has come to the polls 10 force because
he felt il was a question Of existence
whether o. not the right was ri
umphaat Thcre Is IN every city al
organization aud a set Of leaders wht
are eonlessedly identified with the Ia
norant and the depraved among Il.
population, aad there never hAs been /
tire wben a thoroughly united ea0rl