Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-07-27
TIE SITUATION.

The only bloodshed that occurred
yesterday was at Chicago. The ear
lier reports represented sanguinary
collisions between the military and
police on the one hand and the mob
on the other. These were modified
somewhat at a later hour and pub
lie excitement greatly abated when
it became known that the cannon
used were only loaded with blank
cartridges. This farce viii result,
perhaps, at some other time and
place in a crazy crowd rushing on
artillery loaded with grape and can
Mister sure enough. Whether this
was an occasion to justify the use
Of cannon at all is altogether an
other question, best to be judged
by those in authority on the ground.
Chicago is the headquarters Of the
communists in this country. How
far the real workingmen are in SYM
pathy with the sentiments and pur-
poses of this dangerous element of
society we are not prepared to say,
but it should be borne in mind that
there is a wide distinction between
workingmen proper, even in Chica-
90, and communists. The former
have their grievances, which deserve
consideration the latter is merely
an organization Of all the bad ele-
ments that despise labor and de-
mand and expectto share its profits,
aud would destroy alike the indus
trious poor and the rich. From the
various conflicting reports received
last night and this morning it seems
that reliable information is not to
be had, but we gather enough 10
know that some fifteen lives were
lost, and that many persons were
injured. One attempt was made at
incendiarism, but was unsuccessful.
The police, as well as the six COM
panies Of the Ninth United States
infantry on the ground, acted gal
lantly. 1t is believed that the civil
and military authorities have gained
the ascendancy and can hold the.
rioters in check. This is a separate
issue entirely from the railroad
strike, which will have to be settled
differently and upon its own MGR
its. Disconnected labor would be
a fruitful source of danger to all So
ciety and government. The conn
try cannot afford to crush the
strikers or starye them. Sound,
common sense would suggest an
early and amicable adjustment, not
only in Chicago but everywhere
else along the line Of the strike.
At st. Louis the strikers and the
rioters contented themselves with
making demonstrations in force
and closing up shops and manu-
featuring establishments. In the
morning a collision seemed i'm
minent, but each side waited for
the other to open the battle and it
was not brought on. The citizens
enrolled as militia and are armed
with breech-loading muSkets. Gen.
jeff @. Davis has a force Of six hun
dred infantry and a battery of Cat
ling guns. 1t is understood that
he has orders from Washington
to aid in suppressing the riot il
called upon by the governor and
mayor. The authorized committe,
of the workingmen's party have an
nounced that they do not hold
themselves responsible for any &C.
Of violence which may be commit
ted during the present excitement
but that they will do all in thei.
power to aid the authorities in pre-
venting acts of violence and il
bringing guilty parties to justice
This was Endorsed at a large meet
ing Of several thousand. The work
ingmen also forced the saloons t
close in accordance with the ma,
or's proclamation. A large ma
meeting of citizens was held yeI
terday afternoon and an el
cient organization of one thol
sand men effected in a sho.
time to aid in preserving the peac
The railroad strike has dwindlt