The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-18


tons These three water arteries OF Gomine 'a',
two natural and one artificial. furnish ION
practically the sole Means OF transit between tho
East and the West and the North and tue south NOW,
within avery few years and mainly nee rr rue
lines OF railway, reaching from the Atlantic seaooard
far away into the West, with thar lines IN all drec-
TONS like the branches of great trees whose orgnni-
extends to almost every hamlet in ne Aissis-
sppi Valley the Atlantic slope, with commerce SO
that in COMPARISON with II. the great water lines
OF communication become insignificant
Erie Railway carried last year. ........ 5,922 Oil
New York central Railway carried last year. g. SOB $50
Pennsylvania Railroad carried last year. 2Sll
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad carried last year nt .
Or an aggregate of. .27, o4s SOP
Being nearly three times much the entro COM
FOLLY or "currIyG uSDER.n
This immense commerce, which touches the bust
ness aud homo and life Ut every citizen OF tho CnIteu
Staes East or West, within the reach oil It's influence,
is controlled in all Its parts by the ultimate Will OF Jour
men, for. though there arc many agents employed IN
this business, with boards of directors aud inter
mediate supcrlnterdents, YET practically the exccu
rests with no viii or
may raise the freight on produce ana mus
affect every farmer in the land, or .,,n may
and thus affect the bread and lie OF every one
dependent upon these laborlng men, II is just TO say
that the gentlemen holding these important positions
are among the ablest aud most sagacous OF the bus
ness men OF this country but they must necessarily be
lions they represent aud must look to those Interests
the dominating and controlling motive that must
guide their acts few years ago the freight on these
roads deemed 10 De unduly high, and this
aroused the whole farming interest OF the West
under the name OF Grangers, VINO were able to
secure hostile legislation IN some OF the States
and to control public opinion that tho frcghts
due time were reduced But, moro potent
than ALL tho sudden dopressl OF business caused by
the panic oil 1873 led rivalry and competition be-
tween these great lines that IN short time reduced
the Tor freight and passengers below the actual
,f thn hne ia NJ n M
ital iDvested more than tw0-ihirds OF the railway
lines tho United States and greatly Gripping the
financial condition OF the trunk lines These corpora
tions nave endeavored IN various ways to make
agreements, but either because they were not
faithfully observed, from the inherent difficulty
Of making combinations between powerful rivals,
these agreements have been successfully broken and
Abandoned and now II may be sa'd that, on an aver
aye, the amount received for frcght and passengers
does not pay the actual cost OF running the lines.
The result has been that the railroad panes, not
wiling thor property entirely destroyed, have
gradually reduced the wages OF the employees
until, ii we believe what has been said, some
they barely sufficient TO pay tor the nerest
nccessaries OF life Hence tho strikes.
LABOR sIouLD he
1t has always been feared that our republican system
OF government, which depends upon the will oil tho
majority, could not long survive the condition or
Affairs developed by these strikes Macouay ana ALL
eff. cts Of struggle between captal and labor u
government like ours, but like most English writer's,
they overlook the strong conservative power Ia gov
crnment by the people. where the majority must
always be independent farmers, mechanics and
worklrgmen who have respect Tor law. religion
and order. We have, no doupt largo numbers OF men
will not about this matter bur will rush 10
the torch or to crime In curing what they regard as
wrongs but the great body OF our people have always
shown sufficient moderation and intelligence to lead
them To lind peaceful and proper remedy for all tho
Ills which life may develop And now, Fellow citizens,
beg you not believe mat this is easy task, and
not 10 reject counseIs OF moderation and iorbear-
ance. Inc laDorer is worthy Of his hire, and,
IN this country especially. should always receive
enough TO MAINTAIN his family in deceIcy and com.
fort But We cannot secure this great blessing by IN
timdatins capital by burning houses. by preventing
other people from laboring. or by any violence or
crime. Capital, when threatened, shrnks away, and
your labor cannot be employed without capital You
Can only encourage its employment oy reasonable
prospect OF just reward II the way OF interest or
profit
POWERS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
will undertake IN this speech to ideas that
have become yictions that not entertained
Tor tho first time, because would take TOO long; bet
my conclusion was, years ago, when this subject was
unuor debate the Senate that tho trainers Of the
constitution had wisely provided arbiter to govern,
by general laws Interstate railways and may this
way prevent controversies between capita. and labor
where they Affect the commerce OF the country. That
bcr the Congress OF tho United States. No State is
broad enough to deal with this question, Tor these rail
road lines extend through many states No local au
thority deal with II, because the local authorities
may be overlwed under tho in1uence OF passion
resentment. Mayors ana Governors and local militia
are we'll enough Tor the ordinary protection OF society,
hut they are fitted u deal with a contest
between great bodies OF citizcns in the same
community wncle the divisions are so WIDE aud broad
az 10 amount TO domestic violence civil war.
The national government Is expressly authorized TO
ad a State IN puttug down domestic violence and'the
Congress Of the United states expressly authorized
10 regulate the commerce between foreign naons aud
tho several States, and the commerce thus provided
for is now conducted manly by these great lines OF
railway. The trainers oil the constitution could not
foresee railroads or the vast extension our country
aud varied interests but they did provide that co
meroe III all its forms, foreign and domestic ny what
ever agency conducted, might be control ed
by arDiter moro FREQ from local rroJa-
dco than any other that could be seec ed.
NV hope then IL, that Congress will pass laws 10
the production OF farmer may not be In danger OF
scation by exhorbtant rates that II WIZ limit aud
rcs;ra,n the cutting reduction OF freghs
destroy ability OF railroad COMPANIES TO pay alr
prices Tor honest labor, and prevent the companies
functions in commerce. Congress may tnus, by wise
general laws the most powerful corporations
wen as The humbest c,tlzens.
MOB LAW ISToLEEABLE.
There is one thing however, winch all men ought
TO understand whatever may be their wrongs or IN
juries-- that IN our FREQ system there Is but ono
remedy. and that by peaceful lawful appeals TO tue
consti uted authorities, botn STATE and national No
man has a right by violence crime TO redress
his ipjuries No government can hive where
mobs mako laws anu prevent other labor
from working. The right OF laborer 20
refuse work without such pay US he de-
minds Is clear aud unquestonabe, but whatever
civil remedies the law may give him he cannot resort
TO violence prevent either The movements oil com
mcrce or the employ msnt OF others without endanaer
ing our whole system ana encountcrus the full lorco
and power of The government. The very TACT that
the stopping OF trains the four great lines OF rail-
way would hunger aud want 10 miiions OF labor
ing people and deprive other millions Of a market Tor
their product would array against strik ng aoorers
who rcsorted TO violence, The whole power, not only
of the government, but the moral and physical force -
the baance OF The community. When iaDoring men,
any class men, resort 10 vioence AM crime TO
protect real rights, they must be dealt with IN
the same way others VINO vomtc tho law, however
much men may sympathizc with their distress l an
stating only what tue law has always PROVIDED, ANA
with full sympathy IN an honest demand by laoorins
men for lar wages for Il fair day's work. We must
obey The law aud we must punish any violation OF the
law. Life must be protected aud property also THESE
are conditions upon which society eXists and no
party temporZo OF hesitate Ill tho lace OF
an open revolt against these principles o public order
But white ibis true, wc must not lal 10 examine the
complaint OF the humbcst citlzon and give 10 MN all
the protection ana all the remedy that just govern
ment can give.
And now, fellow citizens III conclusion, allow mo to
cxpress, far ast language enables me 10 10 50, my
heartfelt thanks for the courtesy aud Kindness you
always nave shown me- not only during TINS short
Visit but Ia all the time have lived among YOU
can only say thank YOU
PRESIDENT HAYES lNDCSiSLD.
The Twenty first Ward Republican Association ot