Middletown transcript., 1886-03-19
THRoAT OR HAND. WHICH ?

of mutual hatred and malice who can
figure out the result. Some proper
adjustment must be made, by which
the mutual rights of labor and capital
will be secured. 1t may not appear to
the masses that in these labor uprisings
all over the country there is any men,
ace to our free government and popu-
lar institutions, as they are the result
of free thought, free speech and free
action. But with all this liberty, un-
less jealously guarded and watched,
comes the idea, among certain class,
not well grounded in the principles of
our government and its true founda-
tion, that this word liberty, dear to
every heart, has synonym in that one
of opposite purport and meaning-k-
cenSe. In this conception of the word
liberty may be found an excuse for the
worst tyranny that man is capable Of.
| In the labor demonstrations of the
past few weeks we have in number
| of instances seen the idea that ssmight
makes right" asserted in as strong a
way and with as much assiduity as
did ever the staunchest royalist assert
the divine right of kings. With no
show of right or just cause on their
part, workmen have demanded of their
employers terms which are in them
selves ruinous to the capitalists, and
cannot but be the result Of a premed-
itated desire on the part of the work
men to enforce by might that which
could not be asked for with any show
of justice. Here we have the tables
reversed with labor the tyrant and cap
ital the oppressed.
1t may be said in palliation that this
is nothing but retributive justice.
That labor, which has a mighty
strength as at present organized is but
returning the evils of oppression upon
those who have been most guilty of
these same evils in the past, and that
in such course only can be found the
true key to the situation and the only
solution to the problem of the rela-
tions of labor and capital as now pre-
sented. For the sake of argument
grant that this is the case. Can two
wrongs make right /? Or, will cap
ital, forced to acceed to what it con-
siders unjust, as the inevitable from
which it cannot get away, be any more
the friend of laborp Such a course
on the part of the labor unions will but
foster spirit of resentment, and lay
the foundation for future trouble, when
organized capital shall be joined in
still deadlier conflict with organized
labor.
In the events Of the past few weeks
there is much food for reflection.
Many outrages have been committed
in the name Of labor and labor's rights
which are disgrace and a menace to
our free institutions. Many thousands
Of men organized into compact order |
under one head, in the name of right |
have impeded traffic and travel and |
paralyzed the business Of a
vast section of our country on most |
trivial pretense. A great railroad sys-
tenn has had it's business brought to a
dead halt because one man in one of
it's shops in an obscure town on one of
The roads it controls has been refused
work for cause. This has been &C.
;omplished in part by the refusal of
'he employees to operate the trains. In
his action they are clearly within the
province of their rights and privileges,
out in the might which they feel by
,he sheer force of the numbers they
lave rallied to their standard they
,verstep the bounds of liberty and
read upon dangerous ground where
yrants have trod but to their
downfall. They refuse to perform the
abor required Of them, and give the
easons for such action as stated above.
This reason is not required of them as
rec men. Their labor is their own
md they may dispose of it or not as
hey see fit, and there is no just cause
or complaint in such action. But
hey do not stop there, they refuse
ther men, equally free, the same lib
rty Of action, and say that they must
'erform the service or no one shall.
They would bind all men by their de-
ision. They take possession Of other
nen's property and hold it in defiance
f law and justice, to their own detri-
nent, and to the detriment Of their
ormer employers. Such action, while
may for time serve the ends of
hose who uphold it, will in the end
york nothing but evil to the cause of
abor. 1t is unjust and tyranical and
he workmen by such a course place
themselves outside the protection of
he law, and lose the confidence and
espect of law-abiding people.
1t is the history of governments, the
istory of political parties and the his
ory Of individuals who have risen to a
Ugh state of prosperity and power that
he danger to their stability and per-
lies not so much in their con-
cious weakness, as in their conscious
trength. Though founded on the
rinciples Of justice and integrity and
uilt up and strengthened by these
lements, their downfall is sure and
heir disintegration certain the very
linute they mistake the might of
heir power for the right which is
over. The Knights of Labor have
one good. Their avowed principles
re excellent, and they have a grand d
lture or dark one before them to the
cry extent which they avoid the STUN
ling blocks so obviously in their way
nd which are SO clearly seen by all