The National tribune., 1882-06-03

and send along your communications. We
will find room for them at the earliest pos
sibe day in the Soldiers Column.
a Revolt of labor.
There has probably never been a period in
the history Of the country when labor was
so well organized as at present and although /
we do not anticipate any general revolt |
against capital in the immediate future,
there can be no question that the attitude of
the iron and steel workers Of Pennsylvania
and Ohio and the coal miners of Pennsylva-
Dia and Maryland is far from pacific. In
1877, when the dissatisfaction of the working
men eliminated in a series of bloody riots,
the various industrial orders and trade
unions we're in no condition financially to
carry on protracted struggle with the e1n-
ploying interests, and when once the strong
arm of the law had quelled the spirit OF
violence the strikes that had been inaugur-
ated in all parts of the country came to q
speedy termination. The immense number
of unemployed men in every branch Of trade
was alone sufficient in the end to neutrallze
the influence Of the unions, and after the sup
preston Of the riots, as we have said, capital
became absolute master of the situation
But in the five years that have elapsed since
that memorable period the condition OF labor
has undergone radical change. Three sue
cessive years Of prosperity have enabled our
workingmen to reorganize their protective
associations and replcnsh their treasures.
Unemployed labor is no longer abundant
and strikers do not run the same risk as
before of seeing their places Immediately
filed by new men. Then, too, the afhllationS
of industrial orders are more extensive than
formerly. Our artisans have learned the
| futility Of mere local societies and have
/ greatly enlarged the scope of their assocla-
| tions. The amalgamated Association OF IRON
and steel workers, for instance, now controls
the action of forty thousand men, which
precludes the idea Of replacing its members
in the event of general strike, by outside
labor. But while the workingmen's organ
izations are thus in better position than
ever before to ware a successful contest,
employers are also in a condition TO
make a stubborn resistance to their de
mands 1t happens that at the present
monent general trade is less active than 1t
has been at any time since 1870, and Inanu-
cturers. although still busy, are no longer
7crburdencd with orders. Whether the
de is on the point Of turning or not 1t IS
1T too early to determine, but it is certain
aat the boom in business is over, and factors
e now more concerned about Oyerproduc-
on than their ability to supply the mar
IT. Under these circumstapces it is natural
.at they should prefer total suspension OF
1oerations for period to The alternative OF
increasing the wages of their employees, and
n the case of the iron and steel manu-
acturcrs that conclusion seems to have been
already reached with practical unanimity
Instead, therefore, of driving capital to th'
wall. labor may only force q profitable idle
ness upon it and expend its energy to NJ
purpose. 1t is no part Of our intention t.
discuss the irrepIessibIe conflict betweer
capital and labor, but when one remember
that strike Of iron and steel workers il
one county-Allegheny- Pennsylvania
alone would entail loss in wages Of $4,000,
: coo per Month, it is impossible not to fee
that no good can come to labor from the con
flict. Indeed, the statistics Of strikes an g
g to show that they do not pay in pecaniar,
c sense, and that where no question of PEin
G cipal is at stake they had much better no
Q be undertaken at all. Nevertheless, ever.
Iaborer has a perfect right to strike if h
+ chooses, and it is only the fool anon
S capitalists who would deny it to him. Ther
5 are those it is true, who affect to beliey
+ that the rights Of capital are superior to al
s other rights, and that it is an actual sin o
6 the part of the workingman to claim an
for himself, but happily they are in an in
/ significant minority. Sensible people, how
" ever much they may deplore any Antagonist
IS between the two, are not likely to wish tha
labor were bound to the wheel of capitS
IS and deprived of all viii Of its own. The
IL see but too plainly that the worl,ngma
j would not be the only person crushed unde
e the wheel While, therefore, we shall regrt
J to see another useless contest precipitate
J between these hereditary foes this summe
IL we do not propose to lose our temper o
II that account or alarm our readers with pre-
p dictions Of riots, conGagrations, and the lik
u If labor revolts as seems quite probable,
d" will doubtless be q very peaceful rebellion
Is and we have a shrewd notion that the militi
= are in no danger whatever
II A QUEER story comes from Helena, Afb
to the effect that the colored people hay
. organized secret order with the object,
the story runs, of compelling their form