New-York tribune., 1877-07-25

TRADES UNIONISM rs. TEE GOTERNUENT
The war of the Trades Unions, and of the
Communistic and lawdefying men who act
with them, against all law and order and civ
ilizcd society, still extends rapidly. Pittsburg
was the scene of bloodshed last week; Read
ing on Monday Buffalo on Tuesday. That
the cities have to pay the cost, only the
property-ownmg citizens care, and the chronic
timidity of property -owncrs has everywhere
prevented the measures necessary TO suppress
tho instruction without resort to military
force. For purposes OF transportation, the
whole country from the Hudson to the Mls>ls-
sppi is held by AN insurrectiOn against the
laws of the States and the Government OF the
United States, and the efforts OF tIooDs here
and there, are like incursiOns OF armies INTO
hostile territory 1t is folly to blink the fact tlat
the manifestations of public opinion are almost
everywhere in sympathy with the insurrectlon
but this is for two reasons. The more sub
stantial and intelligent class OF citizens,
who have 40 sympathy with the out
break, cannot realize its madness Of pur-
pose. and will easily be led to believe
that the trouble NJ any u0lnt must be speedily
suppressed. The reckless, desperate and law
defying elements where they do not form The
majority, are the mere noisy. aggressive, tur-
bulemt, and their sympathy is sure, while The
opposition of better citizens is no. sure. Again,
the points chosen for resistance to law are
naturally those where the turbulent elements
are to strongest. The millions OF quiet and
law-a5iding citizens who dwell in the smaller
towns and In the country, through all the re-
gion seized by Insurgents, have not yet been
heard from, while the few thousand who mean
mischief are concentrated at points OF impoG-
tance where every act is known.
1t is idle to deny that the situation IS very
grave BY blocking the railways the strikers
intend to make it impossible TO concentrate
against them large military forces. The most
serious feature OF the case is that they clearly
have sympathy, end in some quarters support,
not only from the law-breaking and dangerous
classes, but from worlmcn OF other occu9a-
tons whose Trades Unions have also been en-
e ced in conflicts, or contemplate conflicts,
with the civil authorities The canal men IN
Maryland have given the main strength 90 the
outbreak; the miners IN the coal region are
seeking vengeance for tine hanging ot Molly
Mcguire murdcrcis; discharged wOrl,men in
Pittsburg are r0bbing and burning; employees
in hundreds of manufacturing establishments
have been persuaded or inlimidatcd 20 JOIN
the ins11recti)n. The struggle ia 40 long
between a sinole association and the civil au-
thority; 1t already embraces men Of different
associations. and threatens to become trial
Of strength between Trades Unions, which are
disposed 10 DEFY law in attempting to enforce
their demands and the Government OF the
States and the United States.
The end ought to come soon. The sub
stantial, propcIty-Owning and law-abidng
people who form the great majority of citizens
do not largely congrcgate H. c,1es, and very
many of them are scattered upon faims or in
country homes. They are slow 10 wake once
reused. their determination is terrible 10 re-
sist. Presently it will come to them that
! the Government must be sustained against
| lawlcsSness i'll cities, as it was sustained
against rebellion at the South. In 1861 they
waited for the formal appeal by the Presi-
dent; perhaps nothing but cali for troops by
/ The United States will arouse them to an ap-
probation of the crisis now at hand. But
| whenever the United States calls for nIen TO
crush out all resistance to law, and to support
the civil authorities in catching and hanging
every insigat0r OF riot, It's call viii not be in
vain.