The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1894-07-07
Rsaping the whirlw,nd.

down the wage OF American labor are
beginning to realize that they were 'sow-
ling the wind" aud are "reaping the
whirlwind.r The fact that we we're i'm
porting too much OF this foreign element
for the weli-belng OF the country was
made manifest several years ago, result
Ing In the enactment by congress OF the
contract labor laws. 1t Is now apparent
that congress should follow this up with
an act totally prohibiting immigr alton
for term Of years. or until such times
as the country can assimilate and Amer
icanize the materials it now has TO deal
with.
A very grave problem confronts the
people of the United States today in the
far-reaching railway strike which was
inaugurated Il couple of weeks ago and
has reached such proportlons that bust
ness is paralyzed all over the west.
While this strike Is not a drecC result Of
foreign immigration it is one of the con-
sequences of the over supply OF labor re-
sultlng from Importation OF contract
labor and excessive immigration. 1t Is
useless to brush this question aside with
the thought that the backbone OF the
strike will soon be broken, or that Uncle
Sam will crush It, This strike may end
In day or it may develop into a civil
war. No one can tell what the result
may be. But one thing is absolutely
certain: Until the government has pro-
vided some satisfactory .meanso Of settling
disputes between employer and employe
there will be recurrence Of strikes of
greater or less magnitude and violence,
finally ending In revolution. The labor
ers OF the country have learned the
power Of organization. aud their unions
are becoming stronger every day.
1t Is often argued with much force that
the employer is master Of the situation
may employ men or discharge them at
his own sweet viii. He owns the pio-
perty, the mill or factory, and may run
IL or close 1t up as lie sees fix. 10
IL is not. Primarily the ownership Of
property was founded upon conquest.
he who could take and retain possession
OF ANYTHING was considered its owner.
Gradually communities were formed and
humane social laws adopted protecting
the weak from the eucroa CD ments OF the
strong until today we have the model
government OF the world embodied in the
social fabric Of the United States. This
government guarantees all it's citizens
equal rights, life. liberty aud the pursuit
OF happiness, and the security of lis
property and possession from the en-
croachments OF tie evil disposed. So
that under our laws George NJ. Pullman
may close his shops and render thousands
Of men, women and children homeless IL
his own sweet will so dictates. aud the |
government will protect him.
But there is another phase to this ques- |
ton. Upon what does our government !
rest for its security? Certainly not upon |
its standing army, for it has none worth |
mentioning. Not upon It's navy. for III
case OF internal troubles the navy is not |
available. The stability Of this govern
ment is grounded In the intelligent and |
patriotic sense OF its people. With its |
laboring masses composed OF intelligent |
and patriotic citizens the govern ment Is |
impregnable against assault from within |
or without; without these elements Of
strength 1t will sooner or later go to
pieces from it's own inherent weakness.
1t is just such men as worked In the
pose the American Railway Union who
are now striking all over the country to
retrieve the supposed wrongs OF a weak
and oppressed brother-the bone aud
sinew of the and-that the government
must look to for its strength. These
men are not foreigners, they are intelli-
gent American citizens, and as such are
just as much entitled to government pro-
lection against the avarice or greed of
Geo. NJ. Pullman as Pullman Is entitled
to protection against the incursions OF a
mob. 1t is often said that the laborer is
not Obliged to work for the wages offered;
the market is open and he has the same
right to sell his labor for the highest
price obtainable that the manufacturer
has to dispose OF his products.
This is a plauslbly stated untruth.
Everybody knows there are thousands OF
laborers with families who are unable to
move from place to place to secure the
highest rate OF wages, and must take
what Is offered them Ia the community
Ia which they live, or they must starve.
! Furthermore labor Is not commodity to
be bought and sold In open market. Ii
Is human flesh and blood, the element
! from which the government derives its
strength and upon which II must d, pend
for It's perpetuity, and every act OF OPP
preston or violence perpetrated upon
this element by the government, or It's
creatures under its protection. weakens
its strength, brings it into contempt and
sows the seeds of revolution or anarchy.