New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-08-03
rUtI TF MIST COVE 10.

III
The strike teaches several plain but unwel-
come lessons. Some of the causes of this par
ticular instruction may be avoided by better
railway management. The civil authorizes
nav improve their organization for suppress
ing disorder. The citizens may exercise greater
care in choosing mayors and sheT1s. But so
long as we have a large body of ignorant work
ingmen among us, depending upon daily wages
which may at any moment be cut off, easily
misled by dcmagOgues, and tempted by the
universal timidity of capital and corporations,
the danger of mob violence viii be perpetual
menace to our society. Many beautiful things
have been spoken and written about the dignity
of labor. We shall make a dreadful mistake
however, if we allow ourselves TO be deceived
as to the real character of good many OF the
lower classes in orr large cities, in the coal
and iron towns, and on the lines of railway.
In becoming the refuge for the oppressed OF all
nations our country accepted a noble mission,
but that mission has its perils and difficulties
The oppressed are not always the virtuous
We have taken into orr body polite the refuse OF
the Pari, Commune. inccudiaries from Berlin and
from Tpperary, some hundreds of thousands
of European agitators, who are always at war
among civilized nations. They are not valu-
able additions to our miscellaneous population,
and in times OF excitement over the question
of wages they are irebrands of mischief.
Their influence is very marked upon the or
ganization OF labor against capital, ana the
still more tyrannical organization OF dear labor
against cheap labor. But we cannot turn
them away, and it would be idle 10 imagine
that they have exhausted their ability and DIS
rosition TO make trouble. We are inclined to
think that agtators have aiken SO much en-
couragcment from the long duration and de-
structivcness of the present strike, the weak
ness of some of the railroad companies and
the general incficiency Of the State AID City
Governments, that, under the pressure OF the
hard times which must follow this sta-na'ion.
another demonstration may be confidently oX-
pccted.
The events OF the past fortnight have proved
that our local governments amo,. everywhere
arc unable to control these clements of dis
order. What shall we do There is Il general
demand for the reorganization Of the police
and militia, But it must be evident that only
the largest cities can sustain police force
strong enough to be of any avail in the pres
epce of Il mob What could have been done az
Keyscr or Nartinsbrrg by any police those
towns might have been expected to muster,
no matter how faithful or how well driled
What could the best police capable OF being
raised in town like Scranton accomplish when
five thousand GOLFERS and train hands made their
descent upon the shops and mills The militia
undoubtedly can be made much better than
il is, but even the militia can only be brought
to a state Of real efficiency IN the large cities.
In country districts young men haze few IN
duccments to enlist or 10 drill and in mining
and railway towns the militia itself must be
recruited from the very class which makes the
trouble. The Pennsylvania militia was sup
posed to be good but a l!rg, part OF ii proved
faithess in the time OF danger; and IT Is no
secret that even in the interior of the State of
New-Yoll, there are regiments which the Gov
crnor had good reason for distressing.
The only safe plan is TO have Il regular army
large enough to bc OF prompt service in such
emergencies When this Instruction broke
out our gallant soldiers were scattered IL small
squads all over the vast territory OF the Union,
and a week was lost before they could be col
lected and marched TO the chief scenes Of dis
turbance. If they had been available during
the first two or three days the disorders wOJ Id
have been stamped ont before they became
formidable 1t is time to understand that
great country like ours cannot lie governed
by the force Of public opinion alone;
it must have material muskets at It's di pOsal.
or it will be ruled by clubs ana paving stones.
At present we have not enough troops to
guard our disturbed frontiers and keep the
Indians in order; there are none to spare for
those domestic dutio5 which the Constitution
imposes upon the President when the state
authority inyolIes his aid, and which are be-
coming more and more important every year
as population increases and the conditions OF
Iifa proyy rorp cOuulpX