The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-04-23
A NEWT BILL OF RIGHTS.

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organize Tor the coercion of their employers
A few voices were heard in opposition here
and there sturdy adhcrcnt to principle
was outSpokcn in condemnation but the
laborer was supposed to be the weaker
party and hal therefore tho public sympa-
thy. The employer was held up, for the
most part, as boatcd capitalist disposed to
grow rich out Of the lifo-b blood of his poor
dependents whose ill-requitcd toll filed his
groaninS Golfers; aud it was claimed that
there was no other mcthord orrcdrcSs The
workmcn were pictured as salvcs to iyran
nical master and only by conspiracy and
revolution could they secure their cmanc-
patton from such cruel bondage: The end
was held to justify the means, and strikes
became the order Of the day.
1t is but just to the great body of work
ingmca to say that they were never heart
| lily in favor Of the system. Whenever the
hands III workshop or factory turned
against their employer, and by leaving his
service i'll body, sought to compel him to
increase their pay or to allow them to man
age the establishment after their own FASH
icn, it was the few noisy and turbulent
spirits who prccipiatcd the contest, and by
tauuts ana threats, and appeals to passion
and prejudice, compelled their more than
halt-rcluctant companions to join the con-
spiracy. Tho latter often saw that such
exercise Of force could never subscrve their
interests. Capital is not grim aud beard
cd tyrant welding the mace Of a despot. 1t
is always tmid and conservative. 1t hcsi-
tatcs at invcsmcnt>; it is apprchensivc at
every show of popular violence; it has
an instructive dread Of anarchy ;
and every successful attempt to wrench
by force reward for service not
willingly conceded by those to whom it is
rendered, counts in thc long rur against the
laborcr by closing some avenues that would
otherwise be opened Ter his employment,
and preventing tie establishment Of new
and profitable industries.
| l.
have III the nature Of things no recognized
limits. Revolutions, inaucuratcd in con-
spiracy, may have peaceful beginning, but
are sure TO result in violence ifthc end can
not be otherwise attained. The operatives
in an establishment ask for some terms the
employer feels that he cannot OF ought not
to grant They seize upon some moment
when he can i'll afford Il suspension of his
work, or at any rate least expects it, and
leave lis service. This, as we have
said when it takes the form usually
adopted, is a conspiracy to produce an
illegal effect, by an nc; which for each
in his place might be legal and
proper. \ customer at Il grocery wishes
for extended credit or for some other
favor the proprietor ie unwilling to grant.
lie has perfectly legal right to cease trad
ing with the offending dealer Bat he has
no moral or legal right to canvass the neigh
borhool and to induce all the customers of
the establishment to combine for the ruin Of
the grocer trade
The revolt among the the work man soon
goes beyond the withdrawal of the strikers
aud this If men will ponder it, shows at
"nGo n;,L W." :. "' I' v'','' '' " 'no r'ea upon
,5m.a,.nS "n'em ~ -" ,,,,o., ,hn n;'.I,;. - Ill.,, '
,u''''''s S'9 ~ t."'I'' ','o ''-"'H VI '"I
'Icn,o'' - ,11'. '"' "'' ''""S WV "''l
"''v Er' ,a., -; ,hn M oI,. ,''L ~
against IN in,olcrablc Tyranny. But the
employer is not willing to accept the dicta
ton and nc looks around for other work
men to take the place Of those who have
or wh,' ar, w., a,,l,, n"aJ,.