The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1894-07-21
TIE sswsyalE or DEBs.

I'M sSWNEAkE VI MEU4s
The great sympathetic strike of
1894, original in Its nature and design,
Is now toppling to its fall. The inev-
liable has overtsken and encompsssed
this famous emeute against society.
But the lesson Of the event remains
for the cogitation aud digest Of the
Statesman; the attempt at combining
all labor against all capital in peace
fol but none the less destructive array,
10 one which furnishes q fruitful theme
Tor the profoundest thought of the
philosopher and the practical ruler
ship Of the nation. Its speedy and
certain end Is due to the, perhaps
fcrtuitous, fact, that lis law-ablding
and orderly theories and declarations
were practically certain TO be run Into
aud be coufoundcd by riot and arson,
violence aud bloodshed, which turned
public opinion against it. And az
soon as this irresistible force was
aroused to the true nature of the
struggle which the forces of law were
called out TO keep within bounds, that
II was an assault by federated labor
upon the Judgments OF capital and
commerce, the end was certain. The
basic grievances and the sympathies
these had enlisted all disappeared be-
fore the wave Of communism which
burst out and took the game ont oil
the hands Of Debs; before the realizs.
hon Of the public that the real issue
was a choice between the established
order and chaos.
The immediate consequences are I
debt Of some tens Of millions Of prop
erty which Chicago will probably
have TO make good to the railroads
Many other millions are lost by th,
paralysis Of trade and business oil
over the country. This will contrib
ute powerfully to the Increase of thu
cause Of the strife-lower wages-be
tween labor aud capital. Thousands
will be added to the already over
crowded ranks Of the unemployed
from the virtually outlawed follower
Of Debs and the A. Il. U. The i'm
pressions abroad will be most unfa
vorable TO American investments
Aud even home capitalists win b,
made conservative and timid abou
entering on new enterprises such al
give employment 10 labor and increas,
trade. These effects win all tend te
proleng and add TO business depres
sion; and thus harden the existing
condition Of the labor class.
To the cause Of labor, the sympa
thetic experiment is marked disaster
Taking advantage Of the reaction, O
the complete defeat, prostration ant
encouragement Of the strikers, th'
railroads are adopting stringent snt
effective measures against any repeti
tion of the Debs plan. Iu the Souti
negroes are taking permanent plac'
as switch aud brake men. IN tn,
North the msuagsrs are ins shutting
ruthless boycott on the A. Il. u; th'
federated union out of which cam,
the sympathetic strike. These Incl
dents will efectually break the hold
on the lately srrayed labor army, o
Debs & Co.; now in Jail. They will
only be remembered for the evil the.
have done.
Against this disastrous entail o
Debs, there is very small, If no
totally impalpable, counterweight o
good. There Is q general realization
that the country is drifting far ava.
from the old moorings; that for th
preservation of the constitutional ant
statutory rights, patriotism is no long
or the main reliance. Capitalization
has ceased to be the dark shadow q
which American citizens once revolted
It has been over.clouded by one dark
or and more forbidding.