The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-25


rho occurrence OF the strikcs-thc scdi-
lions stri6cs--of the present year ut the
North Is a most unfortunate event for the
,,escc OF the country and for the dignity and
honesty OF legislation. The parties at the
North have been seriously embarrassed by
tho agitation which has been cngendered by
them. Much confusion may ensue IN the
elections. and there will probably be thrown
info the legislative bodies some strange per-
sons. who will go to work with hetcroSe-
peous ideas to accomplish Representatives,.
Il IS fortunate thing that it is not posi-
bic in any OF the States TO elect enough OF
such men to control legislation. Such laws
as they would pass would involve the COM
mrn;,y for whom they might legislate IN
very crea, pcrplcxity and trouble.
Ep, tho agitation 10 which we allde must
occasion a good deal OF disturbance. The
scuryv politicians arc like gulls o! the salt
water. ever lowering about where the shoals
of fish are moving. Whenever an excited
party is formed, no matter for what, the
,,ol,.icians are amongst lis members, pro-
claiming their readiness 10 defend rights
invaded. and to die in the last ditch to pro-
tcct the interests OF the people. SUCH was
The history OF AholtioniSm and Black Re-
,,uslicaui>m. They were at first CLOUDS
upon the political sky no bigger than il
mans hand. but the Scuryy politicians en-
listed under their banners, and we have
seer how they distracted and divided the
land.
Rrt to the present agitation no such en-
IRENE is possible. 1t wants material ana
the rropcr elements OF fanat'cism Tor that.
BESIDES. there i no such thing as Shaping
measures for carrying out the absurd thco-
RIGS y! the agitatorS. This fact has lounu
striking illustration in the action OF the
Democratic Convention OF Pennsylvania
which met at Harrisburg on Ncdnesday
last. The Philadelphia IiMcS makes the
following lust and p;thy remarks upon
what the body had TO say about the labor
question:
Tie great question OF the relations he
tween capitaI and labor is one that should
have enlisted the most thoughtful considcra-
ZION. and any lttcrancc in respect to IT
should have been made with the hodness
horn Of sense Of conscientious conviction
o- me caution manifested 10y every wise man
III dealing with momentou> problem the
solution OF which is not clear. But the
Convention has manifested neither boidnc>S
nor caution in the proper sense OF these
words. 1t has been too cowardiy to CRAP
lie with tie problem. and mean enough 10
tr,lckle to the element that has brought dis
rracc and bloodshed upon the state.
The wholesale denunciation OF capital
ccr,},ired in CORPORATIONS and the railing
accusations against those who have money
SAVIOR OF the rawlings OF the communists.
They are intended not 10 bring the two con-
hieting classes into more anllcnble relations,
Int 20 widen the breach between them 1or
partisan purposes. While processing de-
sire for peace. and deprccatlng antagonlSm,
they probe the unhealcd wounds Ill their
cruelty, and draw the blood with
every stroke. Labor is uneasy, but in
stead of attempting to quiet the an
cry patient they strive 10 arouse INN TO
higher pitch OF fury by false and
aggravating picture OF his wrongs. The
root OF the disease is not touched. ANY rea-
son but the right one is assigned 1or the
troubles that hang like a pail over the coun-
ITV. UpS pTtttHu W ' III i'athiAS WIN WV
thousands of industrious citizens and labor
ers who are unemployed, but protfer them
nothing more substantial than sympathy
and new causes for grumbling. The unenI-
Moved ask for bread and are given stone.
The incoherent murmurS about the rich
becoming richer and the enactment Of
laws ior the benefit Of capital as opposed
to labor are unaccompaned by specified
tjonS and The protest against subsidies
and Immigrants is an empty tub thrown
20 the whale OF unreasoninG clamor.
The purpose is to entice the disattected OF
every shade of opinion, under the vague
promise OF redreSsing eyerybody>s wrongs;
but this platform libelS capital and insults
labor. If the campaign is fought upon such
a flim<y apology for a declaration OF prin-
ciples. the Democracy have ioriorn hope
indeed. 1t were better far to scatter the
platform to the four winds and make tight
upon the candidates, who, being sensible
men. must despise such cowardice and
hypocrisy.