The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-08-23

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mediate sgperlntendents, yet, practically. the en-
ecutHe and controlling power OF these vast COR
porauons rests with their Presidents, whose will
or pleasure may raise the freight on produce, and
thuf anect every farmer In the land, or may raise
or lower the wages OF every emplOye, and thus
anect Tue bread and life OF every one dependent
IL 10 just TO say that tho gentlemen holding
theee Important positions are among the ablest
ana most sagacious OF the business men Of this
country, but they must necessarily be governed In
Inc nam By the Interests Of the corporations they
represent, and must look % those interests as tho
uOmlnatipg ard controlling motive that must
gulde their acts. A few years ago the freight on
these roads was deemed 10 be unduly high, and
tnls aroused the whole farming interest Of the
Nesl under The name OF Changers, who were able
10 secure hostile legislation in some Of the States,
and so 10 control public opinion that the freights
ln que Tune were reduced. But, more potent than
oil, the y
SUDDEN DEPREssIoR OF BUsISEss,
caused by tic panio OF Is73sl LEI. 60 a rivalry and
competition between these great lines thaT ID 4
short time reduced the rates for freight and pas.
sengefS below The actual cost Of the business, thus
tending TO destroy the actual capital invested in
more Ihan two-thirds OF tho railway lines in the
unlted states, and greatly Gripping the financial
condition OF tue trunk lines. These corporations
nave endeaVOted In various WAYS TO make ngree.
ments, put either because they were not faithfully
observed, or from the inherent difficulty OF maxi
ing combinations between powerful rivals, these
agreements have been successfully broken and
abandoned, and now 1t may be said that, on an
average, the amount received for freight and mas.
ssngefs does not pay the actual cost Of running
The result has been that the railroad commands.
not willing 10 see their property entirely de-
stToyed, have gradually reduced the rates Of wages
OF INC employees unul, II We can believe what has
Deen SAID, 10 some cases they are barely sufficient
TO pay for the merest necessaries OF life. Hence
the strikes.
It has always been feared that our repnblican
system OF government. which dgppulR uuQu Tho
VIII OF The majority, could not long survive the
condition OF affairs developed by these strikes.
Macaulay and Allison have both described, in
prophetic language, the effects OF n
STRUGGLE BETWEEN CAPITAL AND LABOR
In a Government like ours, but, like most English
writer's, they overlooked the strong conservative
power IN a government by the people, where the
majority must always be Independent farmers,
mechanics and wOrkingInen who have respect for
law, religion and order. We have, no doubt, large
numbers OF men who will not reason about this
matter, but will rush to the torch or TO CRIME IN
curing what they regard as wrongs, hut the great
BODY OF our people have always shown sufficient
moderation and intelligence to lead them TO find a
peaceful ana proper remedy for all The Ills which
life may develop.
And now, fellow citizens, / beg you not to
believe that this Is an easy task, and not TO reject
oounsels OF moderation and fOrbearnuce. The
laborer lie worthy OF his hire, and, in this country,
especially, should always receive enough TO main
tam his family In decenoy and comfort. But we
can not secure this great blessing by inttmidating
capital. by burning houses, by preventing other
" luz Va Wy any NlNltlNt OF NIlules
Capital, when threatened, shrinks away, and your
labor can not be employed without CAPITAL. You
can only encourage its employment by q reason
able prospect Uf . just reward in the way OF ln-
terest or profit
1 will NOT undertake IN this speech to state ideas
that have become convictions, that are not now
entertained for the first time, because it would
take too long; but my conclusion was, wears ago,
when this subject was under debate in the Senate,
that the
TRAINERS OF THE CONSTITUTION
Had wisely provided an arbiter TO govern, by gen.
eral laws, interstate railways, and may IN this
way prevent controversies between capital and
labor where they affect the Of the coun-
try. Tint ar0iter is the Congress Of the United
States. No State is broad enough TO deal with
this question, for these railroad lines extend
through many States. No local authority can deal
with II, because the local authorities may be over
awed, or under the influence Of passion or resent
ment, Mayors and Governors and local militia
are well enough for the ordinary protection OF
society, but they are not fitted to deal with q con-
test between great bodies Of citizens in the same
community. where the divisions are 50 wide and
broad as to amount TO domestic violence or civil
war. The National Government is expressly au-
thOrlzed 10 aid a State in putting down domestic
violence, and the Congress Of the United States
Is expressly authorized to regulate the com
STATES siefee 9 anG f6s cd 5nrfsdiSsFRc o NATIONS tndS and the several
conducted mainly hY these great lines OF railway.
the trainers Of the Constitution could not foresee
railroads, or the vast extension OF our country and
it's varied interests; but they did provide that COM
merce In all its forms, foreign ana domestic, by
whatever agency conducted, might be controlled
by an arhiter more free from local prejudice than
any other that could be selected.
MY HOPE, THEN, IS,
That Congress wilt pass laws to establish and
limit maximum rates OF freight, SO that the pro-
ductioD OF a farmer may not he III danger OF confis"
cation by eXorbitant rates; that II will limit and
restrain the cutting and reduction OF freiEhts so as
to destroy the ability Of railroad companies to pay
fair prices for honest labor, and prevent the COM
panies from making pRupers OF mleu who perform
essential functions in Congress may
thus, by wise general laws, control the most pow
ertul corporations as wellas the humblest citizens.
There is one thing, however. which all men ought
TO understand, whatever may he their wrongs or
remedy, and that is by peaceful, lawful appeals
to the constituted authorities, both state and
National. No man has a. right by violence or
crime to redress his injuries. No government can
live where mobs can make laws and prevent other
la6orers from working. The right Of q labOrer to
refuse TO work without such pay as he demands
is clear and unquestionable, but whatever civil
remedies the law may give him he can not resort
TO violence to prevent either the INDUCEMENTS
Of or the employment ofNSoth-
ere, without endangering our whole sys-
TEN and encOuntertng the full force and
power Of the Government. The very fact that
THE STOPPING OF TRAINS
on the four great lines Of railway would bring
hunger and want to millions Of laboring people
and deprive other millions OF n market for their
product, would array against striking labOrers
who resOrted TO violence, the whole power, not
only of the Government, hut the moral aud the
physical force Of the balance of the community.
When labOring men, or any class OF men, resort to
violence and crime to protect even real rights.
they must be dealt with in the same way as others
who violate the law, however much men may
sympatbize with their distress. | am stating
only what the Law has already provided, and with
full sympathy in an honest demand by lnboring
men for fair wages for o fair days
work. We must obey the law and we must punish
any violation Of the law. Life must he protected
and property also. These are the conditions upon
which society exists, and no party can tenporize
or hesitate in the face Of an open revolt against
these principles Of public order, But, while this
is true, we must not fail TO examine the complaint
81 Nhn htYyoH1apf rfttgu md ntya IN him all fnn nrO-
lection and all the remed that's just Government
can give.
And now, FELLOW citizens, in conclusion, allow
me TO express, 80 far as language enables me TO do
so, my heartfelt thanks for the courtesy and kind
ness you always have shown me, not only during
this short visit, but in all the time ! nave lived
among you. / can only say | thank you,
The Electric Light.