Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-10
THE STIR IT CREATED.


The Homestead events have been almost
the exclusive topic of the week. Coming
like clap of thunder from clear sky,
they have set people writing and, talking
not only from one corner of the country to
the other, but across the ocean as we'll.
Everyone hereabouts knew for some
weeks that there was likely to be con-
tention between the Carnegie Company
and their men, but the points of difference
were apparently so small that the general
opinion of outsiders was they would be
easily accommodated. How far off this
calculation was, the narrative of the week
has shown. There is still so little differ
ence on the mere wages part of the ques-
ton that, between two parties amicably
disposed and upon other details agreed,
complete settlement could doubtless be
had, if they were to meet, in few hours.
But, it is to be regretted, there is as yetno
assurance of such meeting.
Meanwhile the grave incidental ques-
tions the affair has brought up are holding
national and international attention, not
to speak of the interest they have locally.
There are so many phases to them that
everyone with taste for public utterance
in the press, in Congress or upon the ros-
trum, has had a chance to give his views
on the law, the political economy or the
social aspects of the disturbance. At first,
as was to be expected, the partisan politi-
clans took hold with a view of making
party capital, but the subject was too big
for that; and now it is freely conceded
that any public consideration of the mat
ter that can help to prevent or mitigate
such conflicts in the future must proceed
from a far broader basis than mere parti-
san advantage.
No recent public occurrence has been
so quickly provocative of so many sharp
controversies on large side issues growing
out of IT. Congressman McMillin and
Dalzell In the House, and Hale and Voor-
hees in the Senate, took it as the occasion
for a hot contest between Republicanism
and protection on the one hand and De-
mocracy and free trade on the other.
Governor Pattison and Sheriff McCleary
are still wrestling over the question as to
when and where the functions of the posse
comitdtus end and the duty Of the State
authorities begins in repressing violent
outbreaks. The two representative ma
tional organs of the Democracy, the New
York Sun and the New York World, are
attacking eacS another - the
former in support ,fof the position that
Governor Pattison should have interfered,
the latter backing up his waiting policy.
This is not all. Public meetings have
been held fin man b of the leading cities
under tb9 auspices of the trade organiza-
lions to support the Homestead people.
New laws have been introduced in some
States where the Legislature is in session,
IS in Kentucky, making it a criminal Of
fense to introduce such bodies as Pinker-
ton men within the State confines, and
finally the veteran Ben Butler comes out
with an article urging nothing less than
the indictment of Carnegie and his asso-
ciates.
Even so much is, however, but small
part Of the commotion that the tragic
events at Homestead have stirred up. The
London papers use it as a text to prove
how defective and unstable are American
Institutions. They give with great gusto
another whack at their pet aversion, the
Mckinley bill, and take great delight in
proving to their own satisfaction from
their accounts of the Homestead affair
that Andrew Carnegie's philanthropy is
4 sham, and quote to plague him his
criticism of British institutions and his
audations of triumphant Democracy. As
Mr. Carnegie is in the Highlands Just now,
to every sharp observation of
the London press, it can be imagined the
occasion must be anything but agreeable
to him. Its pleasure cannot be heightened
by hearing a proposal that the city of
Aberdeen refuse new library which he
rendered it quickly re-echoed from this
side in resolutions Of labor organizations
asking Pittsburg to return to him the ST.
200, ,OOG gift which he made for the library
1t Schenley Park.
All this is only little of the vast stir
that has been made in few days. We ]
had omitted to mention for instance the |
Committee which comes to |
Pittsburg Tuesday to find out all about |
The trouble, and which, not unlikely, will |
be followed up by a Legislative Commit |
zee from Harrisburg,
But is it not enough-even so much as
has been described-to arise out of a situ-
atom which was not originally one in |
which the parties were so far at variance |
hat they might not have conquered each !
,ther by simple generosity of concession,
instead of fighting with guns? There are
good many preachers who are billed to
speak on this topic from the pulpits of the |
wo cities to-day. If, instead of long dis
courses upon the ethics and religion of |
he dispute, they were to offer short but |
earnest prayer for common sense and
Christian charity all around, it occurs to
Is they would be covering most admiraD,sr
he whole subject