Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-04-02

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degree of wisdom and moderation in
the envenomed dispute in which he
has participated. lie has not been
foolish enough to assume that there
is only one side TO the intricate and
critical issues which have been raised
Of late years between the employer
and the employed, between capital
and labor. Arbitration is impossible
when either side assumes that the
law and the prophets is with its end
OF the debate. The HERALD firmly
believes that in the scheme Of the
civilization OF the future labor will oc-
cupy high and commanding want
age ground, and that the strength OF
its position will be referable to the
diffusion OF the spirit OF justice and
regard for the rights Of all. Pow
derly realizes all the aspects OF this
delicate question, and he confidently
assumes that in the future strikes will
be reduced to minimum. We are
inclined to agree with him. Labor
has the unquestioned right to assert
its legitimate claims. In proportion
asst shall attain thorough and intel
ligcnt recognition its leadership will
pass into the hands Of the more sa-
gacious wage earners, who will be
careful to choose their positions skill
fully. They will seek no unnecessary
collisions. and will be careful to be in
the right. This very fact will react
upon the more intelligent representa-
tives Of capital and Of vested inter
ests. They will not venture to put
themselves in the wrong. As u CON
sequence, heated controversies be-
tween the two interests will probably
be confined to periods Of great com
mercial depression, and the arbitra-
tion method Of adjusting disputes
will quite naturally come into
play. Fortunately the average
condition OF the workingman in
the United States as compared
with that Of his European brother il
40 much more desirable, his iatelli-
gence is 30 much more comprehen-
sive, that the pressure OF iron want
is not liable to produce here the vio-
lent outbreaks which are inevitable
in countries whore the struggle TO
Keep the wolf from the door is one of
life and death. This enviable con
trast, very marked now, is liable to
be increased in the future, because
the rights OF labor are sure to be
recognized, with increasing liberality,
with the progress of time, in the
United States.
Shortly after the Pittsburg riots
Colonel Thomas A. Scott figured in a
leading magazine advocating the cre-
alton Of standing army of one hun
dred thousand men rs a guarantee
against the excesses of the labor
element. This thorough railway
manipulation utterly ignored the fact
that no army, however large, in II
country 30 broad aud extensive as
the United States, could hold free
people in subjection. His argument
partook of the supreme folly of the
angry King Canute lashing the DISC
bedient waves. Happily he found
no set of public men reckless enough
TO adopt his senscless programme.
The government OF the United States
declined to increase its standing
army, and the question 30 intemper-
ately discussed by Scott was remit
ted to be decided in the forum OF
public opinion.
We have been led into this brief
discussion by an article which has
appeared in the last issue of the
"Paciiic Methodist" and which was
copied from the "Southern Church
man." While admitting the right
of the wage-earner to unite to protect
his interests it contained a temperate
and very thoughtful argument against
the principle OF boycotting. As
adapted to the latitude OF Virginia,
where 1t was written, and to most Of
the Eastern States, it has much to
recommend il. Quite evidently 1t is
written by devout religionist who
has genuine sympathy with the
working man. The attempt to boy
colt in the case Of ordinary differences
between employer and employed
would generally end in very little
good and in much evil to all parties,
In the case OF California, however,
the case is different. Here we have
to deal with an odious and alien race
OF heathens whose presence has dis
organized our labor system and led
TO tho decentralization of our youth of
both sexes with a non-assimilative
and parasitic element which simply,
like the ivy, destroys the trunk
around which it entwines itself All
reasonable efforts to convince John
Chinaman that his room is preferable
to his company are eminently justi-
fable. In the process OF eliminating
him from our body polite we should
have regard merely to the interests
OF the white race, which is OF course
another way OF saying that we should
not violently interfere with vested in
terests. The Chinaman should be
made to understand that he must go,
and pressure should be brought to
bear upon him sufficiently great to
produce a lively impression to that
effect. Fortunately, at the present
time, the low passenger rate pre-
vailing between California and the
East makes this a most auspicious
time for exerting this pressure. As
it has been developed in California
already it has wrought splendid re-
suits. The Southern Churchman
looks for revolution and riet if the
boycott should be directed as be-
tween man and man OF the Caucasian
race. Perhaps ii is right in this.
But wise and discriminating boycott
directed against Chinese labor is not
liable to this objection. 1t ought to
be firm but should conform itself to
circumstances. The object ever held
in view should be the steady extru-
sion from the Pacific Coast and from
the United States at large OF labor