Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-08-04
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
The Great strike-Ths Commune Lea
crs-The Prospect.
THE GREAT STRIKE,

srs-Ths Prospect.
THE GREAT STRIKE,
The great strike which has plung
I'd the whole country into cOndi'
ton of anarchy, is the prevailing
topic. The stOppage of traffic on
the railroads has had a most disas'
trOus effect on the business of the
city, and, coming, as it does, just
as we began to see glimmers of day
light, is all the more depressing,
1t is q thousand pities that the mad
men could not let the roads operate
in peace till the enormous crop that
covers the entire West, was gotten
to market, and the money for it dis
tributed in the hands of the farm
ers. 1t is q thousands pities that
men haven't sense enough to know
that force never did add a cent to
II mans wages, and that labor is
something that regulates itself. and
which physical force can neither al
ter or amend. There was, all the
week, a feverish feeling of appre-
tension. There are in the city fit
ty thousand honest men out of en-
ployment, fifty thousand more who
wouldn't do u stroke of work to
save their lives, so long as anything
can be found to steal; and then
there are twenty thousand men at
work, who are infected with the
terrible dogmas of communism, and
who are born agitatOrs. The strikes
in Baltimore and Pittsburg set these
classes into ferment. The unem'
plOyed wanted work, the cOmmun-
lists wanted an opportunity to
"strike for the rights of man." ana
the ruilians and tramps wanted dis
order that they might pillage with
impunity. The excitement culmi-
mated in q monster meeting ut
Tompkins Square, Wednesday
night, under the direction OF
Schwab, Thompson and Swinton,
the three leaders of the New York
communists. When the meeting
was called the city was in a state
of alarm. 1t was feared that the
fanatical leaders would inaame the
multitude sure to be there, and the
meeting would eliminate in a riot,
which would end no one could tell
when or where. The authorities
acted promptly and with discretion.
The National Guard was ordered
under arms, and very large mum
Der of special police were sworn in.
They gave the communists permits
sion to hold their meeting. but gave
them to understand that the place
would he surrounded by police, and
at the first intimatiOn of disorder
the military would be brought into
and that there would
be no halfway work about it. The
leaders saw that the authorities
meant business, and they instruct.
cd their followers to keep the peace,
which fortunately for themselves
they did. The meeting was liz,
zle, and with the tizzle ended the
hopes of the roughs of New York,
to inaugurate riot here.
The effect upon business has been
terrible. Immense masses of
freights lie in the depots, there is
no regularity in mails, and the ill-
fux of strangers into the city has
almost ceased. Trade is almost as
entirely at stand-still, as it was at
Pit.sburg. But it can't last. Men
may stand and swing clubs and
, ell, few days, but they have got
to eat, and food was never got by
swinging clubs and yelling. The
Pennsylvania road is now open, and
he others will he in day or two
md the regular flow of business
will begin again.
THE COMMUNE LEADERS.
John Swinton, the ablest of the
OF, has been connected with the
Press of New York, for quarter
If a century. He is man of above
he average weight and height, with
. good-natured face. surmounted by
, bald crown. He got his notions
If liberty, fraternity and equality
II Paris, and is as radical Repub-
lean as ever lived. He is an excel
ent writer and an indetatigable
worker, and is honest. He makes
10 money out of it, nor is he in
hese movements because of any
for notoriety. He is a
rood speaker, and is a favorite with
he Reds.
Justus Fl. Schwab, is a German
of perhaps forty five, who processes
o spend all his time brooding over
he wrongs of the laboring man,
which does not interfere however
With his selling great deal Of lager
,eer to the oppressed, which bis
wife draws. In times like these,
does splendid business.
md it is shrewdly suspected that
lie is not averse to popular demon
trations. He holds that property
$ robbery, that there should he an
divide, and that a rich
nan is criminal. He is a tall
'londe, very powerful and muscu-
ar, and has a wonderful influence
yer the long. haired of his race.
thompson. the other leader. is
all, dispeptic Englishman, who was
n agitatOr in his native country.
lie is "a man of some eloquence-
f the kind known as gas. He can
ak by the hour of the "rights of
lan," and the oppression of labor"
nth all the rest of that flap-dOodle
7hich such fellows have vexed the
7orld with for so many years.
At the beginning, Schwab and .
thompson intended to precipitate {
lot, but the police commissioners {
ave them to understand that they
'Ould be held responsible for any {
rouble that might arise, and they
,isely held their followers in check.
Our ranter is usually very eau t