Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-12-08
THE WORKINGMEN.

a demonstration of any kind is not
formidable if it has no element of strength
except that which arises merely from
numbers. Nor is party, which may
possess numerical superiority over other
parties to be feared unless it be guided in
some degree by the light of reason. Dem
opstratons of Il violent nature carry with
in themselves the elements of their own
destruction, as they are almost sure to
transgress the law and render themselves
amenable to its penalties. When, how
ever, II body OF men having II just cause
of complain against some principle Of
declare Their grievance in a proper man
ner, it is sure to command the respect Of
all, even of those who perhaps do not
think with them upon the matter directly
at issue. For we learn TO respect men
just so far as we believe their opinions to
be sincere and their actions entitled to
respect.
Judged by this standard the demon
stration Of the workingmen of San Fran
cisco on Thanksgiving Day becomes
formidable. Not by reason oftheir num-
be:s alone, for as we have said mum bers
are not always criterion of strength.
But seven thousand men marched in pro-
cesaiun through the streets while their
wives and little ones, their friends and
sympathlzers lined the sidewalks. Their
procession was demon nstrntion of their
feelings as laboring men whose labor is
brought into competition with other labor.
They were there with their wives and lit
tie ones, the labor which comes into COM
petion with their own has no wives, no
little ones TO feed and clothc, and educate,
and therefore can underbid theirs with
that class who are governed only by mo-
tvcs of selfish interest. Let us not Judge
the workingman too harshly, when his
feelings get the better of his judgment
and leads him to acts aud language Of
which be does not himself approve. But
when he does this he Injuries his own cause,
he alienatcs the sympathy which would
otherwise be his due. The Working
mems movement when it first began to
take form fell into bad hands. Such dem
agogues as Knight and Kenrney appeared
to lead the wor(ngmen and their inceud-
larry utterances, their attempts to Stir up
the worst passions oftheir audiences, their
threats of M appeal to violent measures
and their bombastic boasts rs to their
numbers and objects, injured the cause
they had e-poused, and brought them in
to direct conflict with the authorities. A
good cause will suffer in the hands of bad
advocates and this the San Francisco
Workingmcn found to their cost. But
better counsels came to their aid, their
demonstration, dreaded mt first, was most
orderly and imposing and productive of
far better effect than if it had been ac-
eompauied by any unlawful act toward
the hated race.
In this State we may say that all are
working men. The dronc of society is
here unknown. The castes of wealth
the sho3dy ari-tocracy Of the older States
have no place in our midst. Those
among us who have acquired wealth can
point to il as honestly earned the mer-
chant princes Of this coast, the bonanza
kings all have had their day OF toll. What
Broderick said in his place in the Senate
twenty years ago: 81 represent State
where labor is honorcd ; where the farm
cr has left his plow, the lawyer his office,
the physician hi. drugs to work in tho
mines" was true in its hour and is yet
true N degree. The State is pcopled with
workngmen and they are in fuil sympa-
thy and accord with their brethren in the
city. The evil of Chinese competition
and its degrading influence upon the dig
nifty OF labor are felt in the mine rs well
as in the workshop. Moderate, temper
ate action is the one thing needtu to bring
about such change of circumstances rs
will place the labor market in the hands
of those to whom il of right belongs gs-thc
worllingmen of the State.
But their destiny lies in n measure in
their own hands. Labor is sometimes Il
greater tyrant than capital. And when
ever labor uses its opportunities TO tyran.
nize, it stabs Itself. 1t gave it,elfa death
ly blow when, through the influence of
demagoguery it demanded the passage of
the Fight hour law. 1t forgot then that
the relations Of labor and capital should
be reciprocal. 1t asked and obtained too
much. Labor while Jealous and watch
tuI Of its own rights should also respect
the rights OF others.
A SHORT SESSION. And now the
Democrat ic MINERS urp bppiuuiup tn roe