Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-03-20

of the amount of these losses $4,000.
000) would fall upon that county with
crushing weight. Its payment would in
volve the county in bankruptcy and
ruin. Allegheny county cannot be so
completely isolated, that this burden
can be inflicted upon her people, and
not felt by the rest Of the state. As the
second city in the state, and the busy
mart OF the people Of the entire west.
ern region, Pittsburgh cannot suffer
financial ruin, and the people all around
her escape from It's effects. II an inn
portant member be paralyzed by such q
stroke, the whole body must suffer.
There should be no subterfuge in this
matter. II will not bear tritling with.
Whatever may be the duties and re.
sponsibilities of the state to those suf-
ferers by the riots who were under the
protection of her laws, IL is plain
enough that Allegheny county cannot
bear the burden.
The easiest and quickest way out OF
the dilemma, at this time Is the best
way, and the proposition now pending
before the legislature should receive the
sanction of every honest man within
the borders of our great state.
This is no more than simple justice.
No more than good citizenship and
neighborly fairness demand.
We ask the representatives from this
county to think this matter over care
fully. and see if both justice and public
policy will not be subserved by extend.
ing helping hand to Allegheny. Ger
tainly, if we were caught in so bad a
trap-and any county is liable to be so
caught-we would cry out for help, and
would think it hard, indeed, If we
could get neither aid nor sympathy.
The following extracts from the adj.
dress of ex.Chief Justice Agnew, are
presented for the consideration of our
readers:
"Without entering into all the details
necessary 10 approach judicial tribunal
many of which you already know, we
may state the leading features Of the SUBJ
ject, so as 10 submit proper views clearly,
freely, and fully.
"0n the twenty-frst and twenty-second
days of July, 1877, the city Of Pittsburgh
was visited BY an extraordinary strike of
railroad employees, extending over n vast
area, and throughout many States. Among
the cities disturbed by It's ebultions were
Chicago, st. Louis, Indianapolis, Newark,
Martinsburg, Denniston, Reading, Harris
burg, Baltimore, Cumberland, Scranton,
/ Syracuse and Buffalo. Whether the
/ grievances complained Of were just or un-
| just il is not our province, or perhaps
| yours to determine. 1t is sufficient 10
/ know that their wages were reduced when
| times were hard, and the country deprcs-
sed and they bad cause TO take the rem
edy into their own hands. Rghtfully or
wrongfully, they did so. As mere
| strike the public had no immediate con-
nection or privity with It. Refraining
| from labor was the right Of each individu-
al, and when criminal By combination, IL
was but a mere conspiracy, punishable at
/ Law.
"But the misfortune of all such great
/ and combined movements, Is their growth
| into tumultuos and public character,
caused by the very multitude and hctero-
/ gene0us mas OF materials. That which a,
/ fret was but mere cessation from labor,
became an insurrcction or uprising over
| the country, by men banded together by a
common interest for a common purpose.
Such uprisings must have place Of be-
ginning or first outbreak. This happen
ed in the city Of Pittsburgh, where IL rose
suddenly, like q waier-spOui or = cyclone,
small in its first whirlings, but increasing
as the forces of the pent mp spirit Of in
surrection found themselves loosed from
the bonds Of order and social duty. A
mixed and motley multitude gathered, the
natural concomitAnt Of the disorder.
Wisely, or unwisly, we do not say mill
tary force appeared upon the scene. In
tentionally, or un:nteniionally, by COM
mand or without, IL is now immAterial
which, the work Of death began. IL Il not
for us, probably not Ho,o for you, 10 deter
mine whose the fault. We neither Of us
possess the attributes Of punitory justice,
and can not try the ofiense. We now con-
slider the terrible consequences only which
| have fallen upon q portion of the citizen
/ ship Of the State. Lives were lost Of the
| innocent and the guilty, millions Of prop
erty we're destroyed. Owners, distant and
| near, we're involved in n common violence,
and common ruin. Delicate questions Of
relationship and liability have arisen, con-
| fined 10 no narrow limits but eo-eItensive
with the residence Of distant owners, hav-
| ing redress in other courts, than our own,
and embracing the origin, progress, and
| elimination Of the insurrection, the rela-
tiouship Of some Of the parties as common
carriers, and a. bodies enjoying privileges,
and owing duties to the State.
"But our question does not concern
| these. The Law and the courts may deal
with the immediate parties, whether as
employers and employed, insuFrcctionists,