The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-08-03
LErTER FROM a sTRIxEls.
Am Intelligent View of the
Situation.

st. Joseph Chronicle, July %.
The following letter was receiv-
ed here this morning by a gentle
man of this city from a friend in
Pennsylvania, who is among the
strikers, and to whom he sent aid ::
PIrTsBURG, July 10Th, 1877.
DEAR DocToR-Thank God re-
ceived the check for 500. It
came just in time. God bless you
for this kindness. My father and
Mary's father are here now.
They know all about it, and if 1
am killed you will get your mon
ey and interest just the same.
Dear doctor, you know how this
is; you know it is the effect of
national legislation carried out by
Sherman and his financial policy.
It is the first cause of this great
strike, and bloodshed and destruc
ton of property. Contraction of
the currency has reduced the
wages of the laborers to starva-
ton prices. It is the game of the
bondholders and gold jobbers to
enhance the value of money and
reduce the price Of the neces-
saries of life. Next in impor-
lance to production is it's trans
portation to market. Here we
are as laborers and mechanics in
revolt against the fearful mOnop-
oily of capital against labor in
our line. We strike at our en-
ployers because they are next to
us, but we know that this kick
in the gun, and rebound will fin-
ally reach back andstain with blood
theorlgninal instigators Of this fear
full battle. OF course the great
majority of the thousands of
strikers have no idea of political
economy, have no idea of the
philosophy lying at the bottom of
this movement. They are fighting
for bread for to-day, but trying to
escape the fate of the 100000
stationary paupers in these Unit
ed States. trying to escape the
fate of the 100, 900 tramps wander
ing from place to place in a dream
of despair; trying to escape the
frightful fate Of 100000 idle
laborers in this land. We see the
81, 900 business failures and bank
ruptcies, with $90O,OO0,OO losses
since 1872; firms prominent in
trade going down steadily under
this Internal contraction policy ;
the great wealth that labor pro-
duces going into the hands of the
very few who produce nothing,
and leaving the laborer Penniless.
AS the failures, and poverty, and
idleness and distress are universal,
not local, the cause must be ma
tional. Either congress made
these Internal financial laws in
its ignorance, or 1t was bought
with money, and sold out a ma
ton and made their constituents
paupers. We, the laborers, pay
all the taxes that support the
government every year, and pay
the interest on untaxed bonds.
This battle means at least to stop
CnaC. ne people are the govern
ment, and this is the first lesson
in the primary school for the peo-
pie to learn their power, their
rights, and their duties to them
selves.
We are expecting a battle with
the state forces and United States
forces. OF couse we will be
whipped out at last, though the
people feed US and symathize
with US. Still the lesson will be
remembered and bear fruit. You
know it cost millions upon mil
lions of money and rivers of hu-
man blood to only give birth
to the word Liberty. They are
fighting now at the depot. / must
go. Yours, with respect.
G. W. GOODYEAR.