The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-07-31
TUESDAY MORNING, JULY 81.


.nese desoiating establishments in the city, and
mere are sixteen thousand homes into which
'ney nave carried pauperism, besides an meal
ouiapiy larger number on which they have
brought privation and misery. Their exis-
bence necessitates large constabulary force.
Iney furnish business for the criminal courts,
ana inmates for the penal and charitable insti-
buttons. II is because of the drain they make
upon the earnings of the working people, that SO
many of them are continually needy and dis
contented. 1t certainly is the acme of effront.
cry for the proprietors of these haunts to set
themselves up as champions of the cause of the
laboring classes. Ii the poor could be taught
70 realize what is so patent. to everybody else,
tnat the Keepers of grogsheps are their natural
enemies they would have taken the first step
toward the amelioration of their condition.
Until they can be made to comprehend the
real cause of their troubles, they are not likely
to be any better off. 1t is not SO much higher
wages that will help them, as understanding
how to make sensible use of what thew can
earn. They will never acquire this faculty
while they remain the passive henchmen of
their worst oppressors.
The strike of course was merely pre- text for
the projected uprising of the dangerous ele-
iuents of New York society. 1t has been made
the occasion everywhere of general turn out
OF tramps and vagabonds intent on spoliation
and plumber. 1t was of supreme importance
that any riotous propensities should be met and
checked here at the outset. We had the ma
terials beyond doubt for destructive mob. A
conflict has been averted, and the tempest
stllled The police are masters of the situation.
The popular confidence in this arm of the pub
lie service is the best possible guarantee of
the future tranquility of the city. The subsi-
dence of fears of disturbance. here appears to
have been speedily followed by lull in the
storm at all points, except at Chicago where
there was an encounter the moral benefits of
which will compensate for the physical suffer-
ing inflicted. The strikers invoked more aw-
full tempest than they had any conception of
and have been overwhelmed by it. While they
are in revolt they have no rights. But when
the last man of them shall haye unconditional
ly surrendered and the business they have in
terrupted is fully resumed, justice as well as
magnanimity will prompt o fair hearing of
their demands The railways have every prom.
Use of a largely increased business during the
remaining months of the year. The move
ment of such an abundant crop as is now be-
ing harvested renders it morally certain that
the receipts of all the leading lines will be
handsomely augmented. Wall street is already
discounting this prospective gain. The mana.
gers of the roads may well reflect in view OF
what has happened, whether it is not the wis.
est policy to restore to their men part at
least not the whole of the amount they re.
Gently deducted from their wages rather than
to adhere toa scale which is admittedly too low
1t certainly is for the interest of these corpora
tions to treat their hands considerably. de
hope that the indiscretion of which they have
been guilty will not steel the hearts of theil
employers against their claims to generous
dealing. The public have deep concern in
this matter, albeit no voice in its disposal
No man who travels much by rail can have
failed to have his sympathies enlisted
in behalf of the engineers, fremen,
and brakemen upon whose fidelity
the safety of his life depends. And
what patient, pains-taking and handy fellows
they are in the main? If the passenger finds
the ride dusty and uncomfortable, in spite Of
the dainty appurtenances of the palace car
how much more must it tax their powers Of
est heat and SCOT of continual journeying in all
weathers and at all hours of day or night? ]
am as intolerant as anybody oan be Of the
slightest attempt to interfere with the perfec,
freedom of every man to work for whom hi
pleases and at what wages he is willing to &C
cept, but when that plain principle has beer
irrefragably sustained, hold it to be an obliga
ton of common humanity to invoke spirit Of
kindness and good will towards the brave fel
lows whose lives are devoted to the useful worH
promoting the safe transit of men and prop
erty through the various sections of our vas
country. There is some danger that they
come in for share of the vindictiveness uni
versally felt towards the miscreants who hay
followed in their wake to burn and steal
They will find their account in doing all Ii
their power to counterfeit this prejudice, no
only by a scrupulous and rigid fulflment o
their own duties, but by helping as far as the.
can in bringing to justice every outlaw witt
has wrought evil in their name. Such convo
cations as the one that came to nought in New
York the other day can only do them mischief
The bar rooms and beer shops of the metropo
lis are deadly foes to honest industry and eve
seeming alliance or fellowship with them is
thing vehemently to be disclaimed and depre
Gated
When the last trace of this untimely out
break has disappeared sthere are REASONABLE
grounds for expecting notable increase of az
tivity in all legitimate spheres of enterprise
The commerce of the country will extend itsel
southwark as we'll as westward this fall an
with thrifty customers from both sections tn
Atlantic cities are warranted in anticipating
heavy accession Of trade. In fact when tn
strike commenced business was assuming
lively aspect, but as soon as railway transpol
tation was suspended, there was an instan
cessation of purchases and many orders wer
countermanded. The canal boats were put il
requistiOn, and have since been crowded t
their utmost capacity. With the opening o
the new week the great avenues of the carrying
traffic will be unrestricted and fresh impetu
will be given to the exchange of the merchsn
disc of the east for.the cereals of the west on
of which springs the sources of prosperity
The hideous spectre of reputation OCCASIONAL!
obtrudes itself upon the public gaze in tn
proposition to make eighty five cents worth o
silver count for dollar in money, but there
time for people to grow richer and wiser before
that question will have to be met and deal
with. YARMOUTH.