The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-15
THE DAUGHTER OF THE
DARK. ~a.a..

All the great efforts of labor against
capital had up to this been piecemeal
and non-apparent to the consumer. La
Dor had paltered with capital. Why
should this be? Why should not labor
act for one week as though capital did
not exist? That would show the world
the world not of legislators and political
economists and employers, but the whole
world, from the prince to the CROSSING
sweeper-that all the business of the hu-
man race, all That was really vital to the
existence of the people and the glory of
the State, depended not upon this man or
that man, this clique or that clique, but
upon the working man, upon Labor. TO
confederate that labor and to make it
speak in voice which the rudest and the
most refined could understand had been
the dream of his life, aud now, at last,
after years of thought and care, and
months of ceaseless day and night he,
he the poor ex-eHgine-driver, had the les
son ready. Within three weeks Man
should read that lesson through dilated
eyes. Around four millions of people he
would draw his mighty Gordon, and IN
the CONSERVATION of four millions, and
the amazement of the world, he would
set up the might of labor ONCE and for all,
to be beacon to the oppressed and a
warning to the oppressor as long as the
history of our days should last.
When two nations, or two parties Of
the one nation, took up arms against one
another and were at war, did the Ger
man general send word to the French,
did the Confederate announce to the
Federal leader: "Sir, shall attack the
heights you occupy on Wednesday,
"Sir, | shall make sally in force on Fri
day night?0 Nothing of the kind. When
the general intended to storm the heights,
he made feint in the plain. When the
besieged leader designed a sally, he affect
ed timidity and the airs of eapitulation.
Then, as soon as each had done all he
could to deceive his opponent, he dashed
at his object with his whole force One
of the mightiest engines Of successful
generalship was surprise. Why should
the unarmed strife between mus
Gle and money be conducted on differ
ent principles? If labor intended to deal
a great blow, why should the blow always
be preceded by herald announcing the
coming of the blow? The custom was
absurd, and it had fallen to his fate to
prove to labor the folly of parley.
True, in the course he had advocated,
in the course he had compelled, there
was risk, fearful risk. In his sleep last
night on the hearth-rug no doubt he had
unfolded to his listening wife the scheme
upon which all his faculties were now
concentrated. No doubt in that danger
GUS sleep-talk of his he had averted to
the perils of his plan, and SO terrified his
wife. But he had estimated all the risks,
calculated all the cost, and decided with
mature deliberation. She was only a
woman, and because of her sex timid and
ignorant of the vast ness OF the issue he
was about to put to test. But nothing
venture nothing win. Without risk,
without great risk, no great thing was
ever gained. No great concession was
ever obtained, no great new principle
ever established without a. hazard OF
complementary value. .a.Ttt..
Wrongs difficulty was Rights oppor-
tunity. Capital had been in the wrong
for years. 1t had been attacked only in
shreds and patches. Let him succeed in
his present scheme, and he should not on
ly have capital in a difficulty, but he
should have four millions of people, at
one stroke against capital and with him!
Nc doubt there were various members OF
the committees, and even a few of the
delegates, who thought the people would
not without exception take his side.
Surely all honest folk would side with
him and right against the employers and
wrong. Anyway, if they did not side
with him, they could do nothing without
him; he should hold the key Of the posi-
ton, he should be the Napoleon Of the
hour, and yield he would never until he
had ample guarantee of substantial
and enduring redress of grievances.
At the end of Shakespeare Road comes
Coldharbor Lane. He turned down Cold
harbor Lane and, walked until lie came
to Eoughborough Junction; here he took
the train to the Viaduct. He crossed
the Viaduct on foot, descended the Via
duct steps on the north side, and pro-
ceeded up Harrington street. In Far
ripgdon street are situated the hall and
offices Of the Independent Metropolitan
Engine Drivers Association. ..-l ..
In the course of that day he was visited
by the delegates of no fewer than five, Of
the most important branches of labor in
London. With each delegate he had a
long secret interview. To each he said
almost the same words at parting:
"We have decided to act on Saturday
next, three weeks. Let there be no back
wardness in your preparations. Satur-
day three weeks without fail. We shall
make that day memorable in the history
of England. 1t will be the DAY from
which the emancipation Of labor shall
date hereafter. All will have to act at
five minutes past twelve on the morning
of Friday three weeks We will have a
meeting on Thursday previous to the
blow. Once the blow is struck, we can
dictate our own terms. God prosper our