The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-08
Communistie Agitation.

Il Is always best TO be prepared fol
what may happen, especially II the pos.
ability involves great interests Of life ant
property. From present appearances Il
seems that the scenes enacted last sum-
mer may be repeated the coming one, I'M
less strong measures are taken at once By
law abiding citizens to crush out the
spirit Of insubordination and disorder
now rife In our larger cities, and extend
Ing more or less 10 the smaller ones
When, as Is asserted, several thousand
men, thoroughly armed and equipped
nightly drill In Chicago; when three thou
sand are enrolled In Cincinnati, organi
zed into companies, which meet secretly
for military exercises; when in San Fran
cisco, crowds Of these agitators, under the
leadership OF such men as Kearney and
his eontrHes, openly declare their purpose
to be war upon capital and the destruct'
ion Of the present order Of things; when
In New York, 1t. Louis, and other cities
large bodies Of the came organization, not
authorized BY State authority. are arm
ing themselves for some undeclared pur-
pose, then the time has come for the in
reference Of lawful authority TO put down
such movements.
Il Is questionable whether large part
OF the members Of this Communistic So
ciety know or realize the object for which
they are arming or drilling. In vague
sort Of way, they have been impressed
with the idea that something or some
body has caused the stringency Of the
times and made II difficult Tor them TO
get the old prices for their labor, and the
remedy lies In an exertion Of force to be
directed by their leaders. Many Of them
are comparatively recent importations
from the old country, who have come
here with the idea Of picking up gold in
the streets. Finding valueless stones in.
stead, they are ready for any deed Of
violence which shall give them an OPP
portunity for plumber, and accordingly
have become Communists, full OF foul
mouthed brayado and reckless defiance Of
law and order.
It's strange that the more intelligent
part Of the labor party who have allied
themselves to this society cannot see that
the present financial difficulties Of the
country has distressed capital as much
Us labor, and that all clauses have suffer-
ed alike from the hard times prevailing
everywhere. Corporations are bankrupt;
cities are unable 10 pay their debts, or as
in the case OF Chicago, find II impossible
to raise money, even by taxation, for nee.
essary running expenses; machinery Is
idle because there Is no market for goods;
manufacturers are ruined, and the rich
man Of yesterday finds it hard to find
bread for his family to-day. Labor has
been obliged to bear its part oil the bur-
den in diminished wages and lack Of EN-.
ployment, but destruction Of capital
will only intensity the difficulty instead
Of bringing relief. There has been no op.
preston, no illegal, unjust exactions. The
troubles which have come upon US have
resulted from a variety Of circumstances,
which the country has been unable TO
control. But better times are coming,
and with patience the wrongs, II wrongs
there are, will be riRhted. Violence will
not do II. Unlawful measures will only
recoil upon the heads Of those who in
stitute them. Let the more intelligent
order.loying class Of workmen council
moderation to their fellows. Riot and
bloodshed will only introduce utter con-
fusion, and the last state will be worse
for them than the first.
Meanwhile lest better counsels do not
prevail, the City and State governments
must hold themselves In readiness TO put
down all movements tending TO discord.
The Blade feels with the Inter Ocean that
the cheapest time to nip insurrections Is
In their budding. Unauthorized armed
bodies should not be allowed an existence.
The drilling companies should be dis
persed, their arms and ammunition seized;
the leaders arrested and placed where
they can do no further harm. With
peace and quiet maintained, prosperity
10 the country will return. With the ad.
vent Of good times all danger from Com.
munism will disappear.