Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-03
Goodwin Smith on American La
Dor.

Mr.. Goodwin Smith Is one OF few
Englishmen entitled to speak with author
ity on American subjects. He lived sew
eral years in this country and Canada, and
when Professor at Cornell University
studied our political institutions without
prejudice and in an earnest spirit. The
views OF such man with reference to
social questions arising in this country
have special value, both because he is a
competent thinker and because his eyes
are not blinded by local causes. His re-
cent article In the Contemporary Review
on 1.-The Labor War In the United States
touches upon some facts that have not
bsen. sufficiently noticed. First, the ques-
ton of responsibility. Whatever may be
said of the melting causes OF the strikes,
the lawlessness that followed them was
not q native growth. 1t did violence to
American habit OF thought, and few Amer
leans engaged in 1t or sympathized with it
Mr.. Smith might have drawn more clearly
than he does the distinction between the
strikers and the rioters. While many OF the
former were Americans, most of the latter
were foreigners. The fact illustrates the
difference between the American and for
cign ideas. Strikes are combinations of
labor for purpose which is, or may be
legitimate, and Americans may engage in
them without implying disrespect to their
Government. The late railroad strikes
were controlled up to certain point by
Americans. and they enjoyed the respect
Of the community as long as they were SO
controlled. But when Communism came
TO the surface, the natural leaders of the
Labor War were appointed from the for
eign population. Most of the rioters ar
rested in Chicago were Bohemans, as ig-
norant Of our language as they were OF
our laws and institutions. The American
laberers largely proclaimed themselves in
favor of peace, and particularly in New
England, where. as Mr.. Smith says, ''re-
publican Institutions may fairly be Judged
New England escaped the riots altogether,
although some of the most exhausting and
protracted strikes occurred In that section.
A second observation is suggested, but
not directly stated by Mr.. Smith. The
proletariat does not exist in the United
States. The thing is as foreign to our
population as the word is to our language.
Figures of speech based upon the pres
ence of turbulent element in the large
cities have produced delusion with re-
gard to the character Of that element and
its importance. The people are not play
ing on the edge of . volcano y they are
not about to suffer from IAN upheaval."
and they will probably not need to go
down in "a social convulsion." The
'leaven OF evir' has not as yet leavened
the whole lump, and the lump is so big as
compared with the leaven that generations
win be required TO change its composition
The tendency of American society is to
assimilate foreign ingredients without dis
turbing its own texture. The third and
fourth generation of immigrants cease to
be foreigners in their way of thinking.
and Communism, II it propagates at all.
does not benefit by the principles Of he's
redity. When the expressions, the end
less exactions. the CALLING restraints upon
private liberty of European Governments
are withdraw, Communism is deprived
of its motives.
The social explosion was terrible enough
In Its results, but it has also left legacy
Of good. 1t has taught the lawless people
their weakness and the orderly their
strength. 1t has cleared the atmosphere
90 that capital and labor are able to see
clearly, and understand their relative POI
sjtions better than they ever did before,
Riots have been common to all countries,
all ages, and all Governments, and the
outburst of one of unusual fury in the
United States neither proves nor dis
proves anything. Rather should we
conclude that the quelling OF the out
break with so little loss of life was addt
tional testimony to the benefits Of free
government, which creates and educates
public sense in harmony with its benign
spirit. Chicago Tribune. d n
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