The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-22

laid bare to the eyes OF the world the systematic
iegalixed injustice that, unobserved. gradually de-
dened them, until IN desperation they sprang to ven
geance, Is rarely noticed or condemned.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
Nowhere IN this country have capital and labor ut
early a date been arrayed against each other IN
Tor ana miner They regarded eucn other m emies
and acted as II their interests were conflicting The
operator came TO the coal fields go the Black
Hlls-not 10 make IL his home but TO make his tor
tune. fortune was either rapidly made often
more rapidly lost; especially tho loss the miner did
not consider in counting his wrongz
The losses OF operators made them desperate Their
failure 10 pay was regarded deiraudDg the aborer
OF his wages Their avarce mace them hard task
masters. No part oil the world presented 30 Ia
vorabie an opportunity the coal regions for the rich
to Cypress the poor workingman. In many instances
the opportunity was not neglected. The rapaciy, ex
torton and refusal TO pay the laborer his just wages
are still remembered in tho company store, ana IN
the order. fIhey still exist The iniquity OF this
system may be known from one fact the operator
received, when tho store his own, per
for collecting the storekeepers bills The
exorbltant. Even though the provldent miner lad
money TO enable him TO 60 elsewhere he not per-
mtted even after laws had been enacted these
stores miner was several times passed over In tta
regular order OF promotion He asked the boss s'Why
II was-did he not give satisfaction, &c ~ fhe boss
S Wsers DC Y 81 my an ,n
company stores you would not BIO passed over''l At
one time The postage stamp and the collin could only
be procured at the store or by an order This may 10
certain extent have been the result OF tho busl
moss was conducted IN those days, being carried
mcmbrance OF II Is nm arrow that still rankes in the
flesh OF those who compelled 10 submit TO IL.
Any attempt on The part Of the mon TO aincliorate
their condition was at all hazards immediately crushed.
Those VINO took prominent part in such movements
among the mon fell under the operators dispicasure,
were "marked," ''black listed" II is we'll known
that, while other nationalities were moro skilled
working up such movements-to use tho phraseology
Of the coal region ''n making the balls''the Irlsh
in their hatred Of oppression. were by thor mpo uous
natures, led TO take the risk 'of firing them," fact
which viii explain why so many OF tho Irish became
Alp vtnna Inn u1tu fban ha-
came SO hostile to them.
AN INCIDENT ILLUSTRATION.
The war came ana with IL the drafts Here was
opportunity 10 be revenged on truculent spirits The
land agents, operators being Of 'the better class,
obtained tho OF those having the drafts charge.
Poor men were by the military torn IRON their homes,
their wives and children lett without support This
was done IN most cruel manner. They were in num-
beers chained TO ropes which were tied the saddles
OF dragoons. and thus IRON distant points marched
into Potsvile, sent to Fort Delaware and Fortress
Monroe and let 70 languish in prison This was
done In violation OF law and without the
form OF trial. and was DONE supposed at the
dictaton OF prominent land agents or operators. A
spectator, us he described this scene filled up
this distant day with Inauguration and said such had
been. done TO him he would have -. very
little knowledge OF human nature VIII enable the
render TO sec that such hghhanded measures cal
cuatcd TO stir up the worst passions, 10 snkinde
spirit OF revenge that could be cxtnguished only in
blood Assassinatons. having their origin in the
dtions oil society here described, followed; they
but injustice reacting upon the aggressor.
ORGANIZATION THE woRKINGMEE.
The existence Of the Coal Exchange which enabled
the operators 70 systematically govern and oppross the
men, at this time caused the formation of the Work
ingmen's Benevolent Association. The men organized
IN tho Workngmen's Benevolent Association were
power formidable TO the injustice of operators.
Through tho Workingmens Benevolent Association
the employers were Iorccd not only 10 respect the
rights. but also to consult the wishes Of the employees
Tie Workingmcn's Benevolent Association became
supreme and at times arbitrary, perhaps tyrannical
Its influence even, If and again msdrected (olen
by the operators TO make 1t odous), the whole
good II, by committees, adjusted all differ.
on hptWoen MAKING
impossible personal collisions between the men and
operators and thus removing all desire for vengeance
During the existence Of the Workingmen's Benevo-
lont Association there were no murders on the part
Of the men Of operators or bosses During the
ton the men were unit against the encroachments
OF capital Tho disruption Of the Workugmcn's
Benevolent ASSOCIATION not only left thcm the
mercy Of their former enemies, but also caused an
odious division among the mon themselves, founded
nationality and religion. The operators and the
bosses were for the most part only antirish
antCatholic, but were, moreover members or secret
societies which, II not protessedy, at last practically,
opposed to giving the Irish Catholic any aiterna
tive except to leave the region or become hover Of
wood and drawer OF water for others.
Here the sun,mum Jus became the sumnsG ir.jssrid.
prescription was carried GU under the cover oil law
which stuffed the spirit OF law without violating It's
letter. Everything against this Class done under
legal form, and, though legal, was not Lawful: The
OPPRESSION In many PLACES was secret systematic but
elYective in other places there secret made OF
It, From this prescription there was appeal preju
dice, wealth and law were against It's victims. Ii
passed over order OF promotion or discharged
al ono place s'the black list" sent to the
place they next secured employment and thus
uutil they practically outiawed and compelled
return their starting place. ''The world Is wdc Z"
say some .wny could they leave the coal region 20
A miner cannot carry the coal beds with him ne Ca
not ply his trade without them labor under tho earth
units him to stand exposure, either to the summer
They were told II they submitted more and more
would be discharged, until an freshman would not be
left in the coal region. Thus their fears and hopes
by bad men worked upon UNTIL IN their rude way,
tn devised what they considered q remedy.
Experience teaches that men are prone 10 magnify
their wrongs and in cases Of occult compensation to
take more than what Is strictly due. Experience
teaches that men are inclined 10 seek remedy TOR
their ills and proves too, tnat unlawful redress OF
wrongs Is 'ihe remedy worse than the disease;" In
this verified the truth, a injustice reacts upon tho
aggressor.n No better example oil the pronenoss of
men who have suffered for long time without redress
to take the administration OF justice into their own
hands, OF their liability under such circumstances
to2dsgace human nature by their cruees can be given
than the conduct OF those who feared or suffered from
the Ancient Order OF H.bcrnians. The law failing to
punish crmo these men banded together for the pur-
pose OF wreaking vengeance on the Mollies They
combined not as individuals having personal wrongs
redress, but class making the wrongs Of Others
their own. There is trking resemblance between
murders the perfumes, aibis. &c., OF the secret
league and the crimes OF the Mollics. With thus ali
ference tho Moilies have never endeavorcd
TO faston their crimes on the innocent
they are regarded as ignorant, without any
training moral or religious; an opnon which an ex-
animation OF the criminals VIII bear out Whereas
those banded against The Moles were OF the better
class, intelligent proiessediy awabidng citizens.
The Miners Journal, December IL, 1875, speaking of
their murder of Charles Donncll whose clothing
lire alter his body had been riddcd by bullets
their murder OF his sister, Mrs. McAster, and her
unborn babe OF their attempted murder or old Mrs.
O'Dopnell, says
The reports that reached from ST. Nicholas yes
terdny looked very much as II The often threatened
Vigilance Committee has at last been organized aud
was getting work. IL seems incredible such
a crime this cou. ID have been committed in region
that prctends to be civilized Granted that the house
assaulted favorite headquarters OF the Molly Ma
CURES granted that It's inmates were among the worst
characters IN the region; granted that the
place was nuisance which ought to have
been abolished long ago-for all oil which
We have only rumor our authorfty-stili
there was shadow OF excuse Tor tho crimes com
mitted by men, who, II the reports are true pretend
to be respectable citizens. There WINS not room even
Tor the plea OF urgent necessity usually advanced by
vigilance committees; no crimcs OF startling magni-
tude had been committed by the murdered people, or
ny any others IN that region. There was not the
usual form OF trial and The few minutes by which
vigilance committees make a show OF justice. Ii was
the work Of midnight assassins who richly deserve
bl.. fatn tuutc mi thar yirf