The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-08-01
lilIsbalauge gstagasr,
wEpNEsDAY... AUG. i. 1877,
THE GREAT COMlhoTI0N.

Of dssfruStiseness without parallel 10 Oh
yilized annals with the single exception OF
The last days Of the Paris Commune. Yet,
the causes that have led 10 these dcplora.
Lle events have Eeen long in the course Of
maturity. and it taxed no extraordinary sa-
gacity to predict years ago that the evils
which heartlsss North visited upon stcon-
qucrcd South would take retributiye shape
in thel eonAict between labor and capital.
For this II really the issue in the rail road
strikes; only one manifestation Of the ''irs
repressible conflict" between wealth and
poverty. between money and muscle. Ca
pital at the North has been gathered in such
wise. as to invest it with cold sel6shness
and heartless indifference 20 the common
wants and feelings Of humanity. Il is not
generally the accumulation Of steady indus,
try not the work Of long years Of patient
toll and sagaciou- foresight. Itis the heap
piled up BY the greedy swoop Of avarice Or
the reckless ventures Of lucky speculation;
it Is the shameless profit Of i'll observed con-
tracts. or the rich bounty Of favored invest
ments. Hence capital has elevated itself
above its natural origin il became proud.
lordIy. insolent; insuferable in its selfish
aess, offensive in its want Of sympathy with
the Instruments it deigned TO work with.
Men,uere rated as pieces Of great ma
chine. component parts Of complicated
mechanism, to be used as long as they were
servieeaLle 10 be cas-. aside when worn out I;
llfe's nutrition to be doled out as the engi.
neer applies the oil to the parts Of his en-
CINE. enough to produce smooth working.
and no more.
But poverty. though suffering. is not dis.
graceful; labor, though dependent. is not
servile; toll. though exactiug. is not bru.a-
liking there are still human needs. human
hopes human aspirations; and the sons oi
toll rebel at that decree Of<eapital which
fakes the measure Of their breath and de.
fines the limits OF their wants. Hence the
conflict has come when the last demand was
made upon powers Of endurance already
overtaxed, aud strikes, not only among rail
road employees. but among other classes oi
industry. threaten the existence Of corpora
tious aud the paralysis Of all business.
But Just here is seen the folly Of the re-
medy. A prOner adjustment between the
demands of capital and the requirements oi
labor is necessary. But the moment that
Is attempted by force. at that moment the
means Of remedy are parslyzed. Capita
is destroyed or 50 embarrassed that i a
once ceases to be available even for its ordi.
nary purposes and labor. 50 far from hav'
ing benefited by its rude grasp upon th'
machinery Of capital. finds itself reduced Il
helplessuess. compelled after its insane de-
slructiyeress. :fom very necessity 10 submit
to terms the moro humiliating because i'm
, SD Us the brand Of defeat or else 70 rag
IN ruinOus warfare against society, the hat
ed enemies Of al order and government
and the hunted victims Of righteous ven
gesnee. Society. government. are unde
bonds 10 the civilization with which the.
are intertWined 70 protect i even g th'
extent of torrents Of blood. Disorder mus
be put down. even though tbc progress o
business stops in its course. that sOciet!
may turn to its great work Of self preseya.
tion. When that Is done. then the cause
Of complaint. the subjects Of grievance. th'
Suggestions Of relief. can be dispassiopatel!
reviewed and discussed. and the rcmcdie
that may be found. applied.
That there Is foundation for complaint
j. psipable. The American people arc no
apt 20 rush into violence 70 redress evil
that las or public opinion can control
When these cease % be operative. onll
thcn will violence attempt the remedy
And the mammoth rail road corporations .
the North are open 70 The charge that the
have de6ed public opinion. and have De-
pised Law. They have felt thcmselse
above al law when they were able to sub
ddize Legislatures and shapO The action !
Congress. They despised The Law. becaus
they despised the Law makers. whom the
purchased.
They may learn this lesson from thi
strike. that there Is limit beyond whie
they cannot pass; that there j. . Tssers
force. IL not Of public opinion, ii least !
outraged rights which bars their steps
complete despO,ism. They viii learn tbs
corpOrstions % well Is individuals bss
iii. ,,.n,f.tstv Wsth fhia iaeson fha