Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-06-22
CAMPAIGN, 1882.
r HE LEDGER
THE GREAT STRIKE.
Skilled Labor CIamOrs for Protection.

A general industrial disturbance,
extending from New York City to
Omaha, threatens all interests. 1t is
a wage-strife among the Amalgamat-
ed iron-workers and other combined
operatives, and, unless the relations
of those engaged in 1t are speedily
changed. hundreds and thousands OF
women and children will soon be
without the support that is ordinarily
furnished through the industry OF
their husbands and parents. The
contest that is going on necessarily
involves the irreparable loss of mill
ions of wages. As a recompense it
contemplates an increase in the prices
of necessities, already too high. 1t
would make all revenues, including
the workman's, of less avail to secure
accustomed supplies, and were the
bad example set by it universally
followed, the wheels of social enter
prise would be blocked.
In fixing where responsibility for
such widespread strikes in times OF
universal depression attaches, moth
ing is to be gained by pausing to
examine which party to them is in
the wrong. Ordinarily, it is enough
for condemnation to ascertain who
commences them. In the present
instance, we are saved the necessity
of censuring one side more than the
other. because the strike was stimuli
taneously inaugurated by both oper-
atives and employers, by the former
to raise and by the latter to lower
wages. 1t has leaked out also that
both sides hoped, while seemingly
preparing for a desperate struggle in
which labor combinations should
either lie overthrown or placed upon
a more enduring Or influential basis,
to be compensated in the outcome
he that what it might-for their losses
and d~istresses by the increase of
prices and wages that would necessa-
rily follow exhaustion of accumulated
stocks. The questions to be dwelt
upon, therefore, are these: Have
combined labor and its employers a
right to conspire against society!
Are both to be so favored by legisla-
ton i'll this country that consumers
will be compelled to pay whatever
prices are demanded of them? We
think both propositions ought to be
answered negatively.
But for an existing prohibitory
tariff. agriculture and other indus
tries could obtain what they neet
from abroad at cheap rates. Thi:
tariff, created by the exigencies O
war, has been enforced for a genera
ton after necessity for it ha:
ceased. The people, on being sole
tied to submit to it, have been assured
that it would build up ma%nufacturin!
establishments in their midst, unde
whose competitions all that should b
needed would be supplied cheaper a
home than from abroad; but it ca
10y he seen that the practical out
come of such legislation is still create
protection and monopoly. AnotLe
Legitimate sequence of its exaction
and accommodations is visible in tn
nine thousand bills introduced int
Congress for an aggregated appropri
alton of uear eight hundred million
of dollars.
What we would like to impress uI
on combined labor is, that it is tn
smallest and least influential of a
political and social factors, and tbs
its unjust demand to be favored {
the expense of all other classes wi
he met with resistance. We woul
also have that aspiring organizatio
understand that strikes can neve
secure for them permanently whs
they will be willing to accept as
fair participation in the profits
incorporate monopoly. They ha,
seer the consideration of the prote'
ton, for which they are clamorins
postponed for years by being con
mitted with their assistance to a con
mission adverse to their wage views
and now they should be able to III
derstand, in the midst of high price
that their real interests are similar
those of other consumers, and lie
the direction OF cheap goods ar
cheap supplies, and not of cost
ones. 1t is time also, they had four
III that strikes, like other enforce
conflicts, settle nothing. Let wi
will, be victorious, their triumphs a
of the most temporary characte
They are simply exhibitions of e
durances that entail losses upon 8
ciety, let them begin and end as thu
may. When they assume gigant
proportions, as at present. they i
volve all classes, and all that inaug
rate and sustain them should be he
to a strict accountability. 1t
amusing to listen to the pleas
the strikers for ~forbearance, becau
they did not commence by openly al
violently assaulting their brethren tn
are disposed to work. This is a nj
feature, and accords 81 little wi
the spirit of force that lies at t
foundation of strikes, that it cam
be expected to last.
At present there is great enthu'
asm and much effort upon the pr