The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-10-04
THE GREAT LONDON STRIKE,

The late strike of the dock laborers
in London was for many reasons one of
the most remarkable in the history of
such movements. In the first place it was
held by public opinion to be justifiable
1t is estimated that the approval was
almost universal. Then it was sup
ported by ample subscriptions. The
expense was estimated at $4,000 a
day, and this sum was not only sub
scribed, but very much more, aud on
the last day of the strike $4,000 was
received from Australia, Indeed, the
active sympathy of Australia was one
of the most interesting facts of the
strike. No less remarkable was the
entire good order that prevailed
throughout the week, aud perhaps
most notable of all was the reasonable
ness of the strikers, and their complete
o, o,ganization. There were two pro mi
nent individuals in the movement
BURNS, the socialist, who was the ac-
knowledged leader aud Cardinal MAN
MIG, whose intelligence, quiet persist
ance, and moral authority finally affect
ed the settlement. Great meetings
were held during the strike but with
out disturbance of any kind II dis.
agreeable traditions of excited London,
such as "Irish night" or the Lord
GEORGE GORDON riots, haunted any
mind, they were lost in the actual spec
tacle.
The strike was substantially success
full. 1t aimed at an increase Of wages,
and an increase was obtained. Bat
the advantages were much greater
than this. A plain statement of the
facts revealed to the public system
by which not only the dock laborers
were oppressed, but the public was
heeced. The commerce of London
discovered that the strikers cause was
its own. The strike began among
the lowest class of workme l, but grad
ually spread through every class, and
at last involved every branch of the
commercial interest. Thus it showed
the intimate relstion between all oi
them, from the importer to the "casua al
laborer." Besides this, it had the gen
eral effect of demonstrating to the pub
lie mind in the most impressive man
ner that q strike may have the bes
reason 1t dissipated the notion thai
a strike is necessarily wanton anC
foolish outbreak of an attempted un
reasonable compulsion. Once NOR,
the complete and effec i've organiza
ton of powerful pant of the physica
force of the metropolis to secure Ger
tain results by protest aud a tempo
rary paralysis of labor is a peaceful
but impressive revolution which will b
remembered with advantage.
Another OF the excellent conse
quences of this strike is the proc
which it has afforded to the strikin.
element in society that every move
ment of the kind is not prejudged a
causeless, but is estimated upon ii
merits. This truth has been demon
strated also in some of the more notabl
strikes in New York, where publ
sympathy has not been withheld iron
the strikers so long as they respected
the conditions upon which alone al
equitable adjustment can be reached
When public order is disturbed the con
dition of the advance of every goo,
cause is the restoration of order. l
the strike in London had resorted {.
violence, it would have been impossi
BILE to ascertain the facts and rights o
the case, and Cardinal MANNING Nigh
have met the fate Of Archbishop O
Paris during the days ofthe Commune
The procession of the dock strikers t
the residence of the Lord Mayor o
the day after the settlement, to chee
the head of the city government, VIII
had interested himself in the settl,
ment, was also very significant. Fo
all concerned, the great London strlk
must be regarded as very signifcau
event.-Aarpers Weekly