The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-27
THE LABOR TROUBLES IN ST. JOHN.

We had hoped that the labor troubles In the
parishes would cease with the suppression OF
the diet urbanoes In st. Charles by the militia.
and that there would not again be any neces-
sity for executive Interference In the local
affairs Of the parishes. This hope, however,
has already been dispelled by the riotous pro-
ceedings on the part Of the negro laborers in
st. John, which parish adjoins st. Charles,
and In which the strikers have, according to
the statement Of Hon. John Stevenson "a
large planter and thoroughly reliable gentle
mani, conducted themselves ever since last
Monday In the most lawless and violent man.
ner. indulging In serious threats against
the whites and invading plantations
In order to compel other labor
ers to join them or desist from work.
Some seventy-flve or one hundred men
marching UP and down the levee, armed with
cane knives and cnl g. intimidating quiet and
we'll disposed wors men: actually committing
trespass upon the property Of planters In
order to whip laborers (who are receiving all
the wages they desire) and threatening to cut
the levees and resort to bloodshed II their de-
mands are not complied with, Is the alarming
spectacle presented In st. John parish, ac-
cording to the very latest advices. It Is such
q condition OF affairs as cannot be permitted
to exist, and unless the local authorities shall
PEELED to interfere and crush out this spirit OF
INSTRUMENTATION In q summary and severe
manner.
It appears that the parish Judge, who is q
colored man named Laische, the deputy
sheriff, Voisin, also colored. and all the par
ish officials except the sheriff, the justice Of
the peace and the clerk OF the court, took 1t
into their heads to 60 fishing just as the
strike began, and have not since put In m ap-
pearance. The Justice OF the peace, who Ia
himself q negro, has joined the strikers. The
sheriff, Webre, Is An ignorant and worthless
negro, unable and unwilling to act, and what
the people are to do under these circum-
stances Is . very serious problem indeed. II
the fugacious officials who have suddenly de-
veloped fancy for fishing should continue to
fish. despite the riotous proceedings Of the
strikers, the condition Of affairs will soon be-
come alar ming and the planters will be COM
PEELED to call for assistance from the Cover
nor, who will have to call upon the militia,
for which some gentlemen from the country
would have US believe there is no use what
ever In the parishes.
These strikes and the attendant violence on
the part Of the men engaged In them will, we
suspect, have to be put down with severity,
though we had hoped that the colored labor.
ers would take counsel OF prudent men and
pursue their rights peacefully. They have an
unquestionable right to demand higher
wages, but they have no right to treepasa
upon the property OF others, or to intimidats
or beat such laborers as decline to join them
and that they will not be permitted to do
The sooner they learn that violence will be
met with violence and force with force the
better 1t will be for them and for the peace
and 0uiot Of this State