National Republican., 1877-07-23
TIE REMEDY.

apprehensions that more terrible events may
be in reserve in the future. 1t is new ex-
pcrience for this country, and the wanton
destruction of property by mob violence has
scarcely had parallel except in the reign
of the Commune in Paris.
The movement has gone far beyond the
bounds of mere strike Whatever justi-
ication there may have been for their re-
fusing to work at the reduced wages has
been lost by the misconduct and lawless
violence of which the strikers have been
guilty. Of course, much of what they have
done has been committed under the in
huence Of unrcasoning passion. Had they
only taken time to reflect they could have
seen that they were injuring their own in
terests far more than those of the railroads,
since by destroying the property of the ail-
roads they diminish to that extent the abil-
ity of the companies to give them or other
persons employment.
out HTCht N.NllSt VI lllt uHNuCltl
sion under which the country is now labor
ing is that there has been an immense
amount of accumulated capital lost since
the close of the war without taking into ac
count that which was destroyed by the war
itself The chief ways in which capital has
been lost has been by sinking it in unpro-
ductive railroads and manufacturing enter
prises and in developing the mining inter
ests of the country to an extent not de-
manded by the consumption. To the mill
lions thus practically lost we must add the
immense destruction of property by the
Boston and Chicago fires and other minor
confagrations, which have in the aggregate
swept out of existence millions of capital.
Now all the immense sums which have
been lost by improbable investments and
destroyed by cOnaagrations and floods have
taken out of market just that much capital,
which, if 1t had not been lost, would now
be seeking for labor to employ it proftably,
and the increased competition for labor
would of course raise wages, Thus it is
quite evident that the extensive destruction
of railroad property which has taken place
during the last few days is but adding to
the troubles of the laboring classes, since it
will throw thousands of employees out of si:-
nations, and thereby tend to still further de-
lpreciate wages by throwing more labor
1pon the market.
fThe interests, therefore, of the very labor
.rs who are causing this immense destruction
of property require that their proceedings
should be suppressed with a strong hand.
This will he done. The authorities cannot,
ut this stage, go into the merits of the origi-
nal controversy between the railroads and
the employees. Public safety demands
that the supremacy of the law should be es-
eablished and maintained. We can recog-
hize no other remedies for wrongs except
shose given by law. By resort to violence
no prevent other men from taking the
fofhSts thty pun
themselves in the position of violators
of the law, and as such they must be dealt
with like all other criminals.
/ The universal sentiment of the people is
hhat these riotous and unlawful proceedings
should be suppressed with strong arm.
e3ut, although all good citizens are agreed
as to the necessity of vigorous measures,
she practical difficulty has been and will be
So bring the necessary force to bear prompt
Wy where it is needed.
~The events which are now transpiring in
dicate that we need stronger Central Gov
eminent, with such force at its command
rs will enable it to strike promptly at al
such disorders. The saving in life ant
property would have been immense had the
General Government had the power to dea
with the strike directly at the beginning
especially since it always has to be called
on in thc> end when there is any seriou
trouble
VIC wv SINhh "i'h
10 the present emergency. We have no
seen the end of these troubles, even thougl
the present disorders should be suppressed
The labor question will be for years t
come the all-important question in thi
country, and with the ideas which prevail
so generally among laborers, conflicts lik
the present will inevitably occur in tn
future. We will, therefore, have to prepar
ourselves to fight a great battle for Law
social order and property.
In all such conflicts as these the loci
authorities will universally be found neff
cient, and it will be necessary to resort {
the Central Government with its discipline
soldiers, who, besides the influence whic
their superior training will give them, wi
have no cause for sympathizing with til
mob. 1t will always be found impossibI
al,