, 1877-07-28
Lal,nr strikes and Rlols.

The telegraph comes 10 US loaded down
with accounts Of labor strikes and riots
Some months since all the leading r2li-
roads agreed upon reduction ct wages,
the reduced scale to 90 INTO operation on
or about july Ist The Virginia roads
were the first TO inaugurate the scaling OF
the wages Of their employees, ard there
the movement was followed 10y strike
and not. The military we're called out
and L. s. soldiers ordered to the disturb
cd districts. Next came Pennsylvania,
where the strike hos extended al over the
state, attended VI h more or less violence
at Harrisburg. PittskuIg, PEiiadelphla,
and other important points At Piiis-
burg the mob took possession oi the city'
and fred az the railroad buildings, de-
stroying several millions Of property. All
oyer the state the widest alarm prevails,
and the country seems 10 be about 10 be
prec!pitated into regular connunlstlc
war
In Nex York the employees on the Enc
and other IailFaods have al struck against
the reduction, bat Us yet little violence
has been resorted 20. Gov Robinson has
issued his proclamation cautionin9 the
strikers against violating the peace, and
stating that Il necessary the whole power
OF the state viii be exercised for the puT-
pose Of maintaining order. Ia Baltimore
and along the line of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, the strikes have bean al
most continuous. attended with much yio-
lence. L. S. soldiers hare been ordered
to both MARYLAND and Pennsylvania for
the protection Of railroad property, and
widespread alarm prevails. The Union
Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads have
gone into the combination for the redue-
ten of wages, but IN view OF these demon
strations Of the workingnen, have very
wisely reconsidered the matter and Will
continue to pay the old rates. Consider
ing that the owners Of these roads stole
them from the government, we think they
NAV very properly be liberal in the pay
ment Of their worklnen.
In San Francisco, meeting Of the
wGrkingnen had been called that was
turned INTO 4 fcg,sy against the Cinnamon,
but was put down without loss of life or
anv considerable destruction of property.
These strikes and riots seem likely 10 ex-
tend to the whole country, and already
they have been the means OF paralyz;Rg
trade and bringing business TO q stand
still. In nearly all the large cities the
work;ngmen and mechanics have held
meetings and passed resolutions, express
ing Their sympathy with the railroad
strikers and piodging them all the aid IN
their power.
Already several Of the railroad compa-
MES have compromised with the strikers,
and arranged to continue their business
as usual No such demonstration Of the
power and influence Of workinsmen was
ever before witnessed III any country,
and its effect most surely will be to make
capitalists in the futre more careful ~
dealing with this mighty clement The
Latius had motto. the translation ci
which is, Labor IS Cmnip0tent. Ii
view Of this demonstration Of the labor Of
the country, the ruth Of this maxim vii
be apparent 10 the dullest intellect, and
IL future We may expect 4 full r and more
perfect recognition of the rights Of labor
1t Is to be regretted that IL this grand
demonstration violence was res1rtad 10.
Labor has the right to fix It's own terms,
fivity. But 1t has hiii no % rigRl e. tde5H6f
the property of others, or seek by intiIni-
dation 10 carry its point. O'Connell was
tl.s master agitator Of his day, and yet he
CARR, d I'll his points by peaceable Inaans.
So Of the the workmgnen Of America,
We would have them win every night
they claim, bat We should regret 10 have
their triumph srllied by resort 70 brute
force.