The New York herald., 1877-07-23
Progress OF the strike.

In the first place it is not strike at all.
1t had that appearance at first; it was called
strike, and the movement, in fact, began
with strike of workmen. But it did not
retain that honorable and proper character.
The men who stopped work on so many
railroads almost at the same time, and evil
IDENTIFY by preconcert, Immediately and
everywhere began system of lawlessness,
which was also evidently prearranged.
1t is not strike, therefore, but an insur-
rection. A workman who strikes is an hon.
orable man; the law protects him in his
right to strike. But these men who burn
cars, who kill sherifs, who blockade roads,
who riot, they are not strikers They are
aiming savage and ruthless blow at the
public peace and order. Ifthey had justice
on their side in the beginning they have
cast away all that, and are now simply en-
gagged in an attemptat anarchy. They have
no claims, rs we have said elsewhere, to the
sympathy of honest and respectable work
ingmen, or of reputable citizens anywhere.
The news which is at hand as we go to
press shows that the movement has very
rapidly extended itself during the last
twenty -four hours. The train men at West
Philadelphia have been able to prevent the
movement of freight cars thence; at Cleve-
land similar blockade has begun; at Fort
Wayne, in Indiana, mob is reported; the
men on oil the branches of the Pennsylvania
road and on the North Pennsylvania are re-
ported about to join the insurrectionaries;
the movement on the Erie line threatens to
extend. and it may be said that ali the lines
of communication between the West and
tide water, except the New York Central
and the Chesapeake and Ohio, are for the
moment paralyzed and in the hands of
mob.
For this great and dangerous extension Of
the insurrection it is undoubtedly true that
the shameful incapacity of the State au-
thor;ties is mainly to blame. We will say
nothing of West Virginia; that State seems
to be so ill organized and wretchedly
oficered that nothing could be expected of
it. It's people appear to have no pride and
no public spirit 1t bears the reputation of
community controlled abjectly by rail-
road interests, and we see the result in
the recent events. But when we look
elsewhere we. cannot help expressing
our keen disappointment So long ago
as last Friday mob entirely blockaded the
Erie Railway at Hornellsville. The rioters
took possession of the track and cars and
by violence, and without the color of excuse
in law, openly prevented the passage Of
trains. Governor Robinson allowed this to
go on without word Of warning to the
rioters and without interference in the
cause Of order and peace, until last night.
Now, there is not the least doubt, that
the insurrectionaries in other parts
were watching very closely what sue
cess the movement should get., Il
was not simultaneous, though evidently
preconcerted. It did not break out at
Pittsburg until after the Baltimore riot
the mob did not rise in Baltimore until the
helplessness of the West Virginia authori-
ties was seen, and Governor Robinson's
weak delay is heavily responsible for the
extension Of the movement on other roads.
The Pennsylvania authorities are even
more blamable. They appear to have acted
without judgment OF even common sense.
The HERALD correspondent at Pittsburg re-
lates that some imprudent words Of Mr..
Thomas L. Scott about settling this busi-
ness with Philadelphia troops" aroused o
not unnatural prejudice in Pittsburg,
which, adroitly used by the leaders of the
mob, seems to have gained them the ill
judged sympathy of many respectable
people. The ridiculous incapacity Of the
Philadelphia troops when they were at
tackled gave the mob courage and made it
ferocious, as successful mob always is.
When regiments run away and artillery
men spike and abandon their guns in the
face of mob, what followed in Pittsburg,
robbery, incendiarism, murder and general
lawlessness, naturally follow.