The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-07-26
THE LESSON OF THE STRIKE

THE LESSON OF THE STRIKE
1t may be admitted that George
NJ. Pullman gave great provocation
to his workmen to strike as they
did. Consolidated capital like his
has enormous power, which IS
liable to be welded for purposes Of
OPPRESSION. 1t is even quite pos
sible that the case between Pull
man and his employees was one
which justified severe and stringent
action on the part Of the American
Railway Union in coming to the
assistance Of the latter. The
sympathies of humane and just men
cannot but be strongly stirred in
behalf of resistance made by work
ingmen against the grasping OPP
preston Of capital Unhappily the
combinations for such resistance are
too often made blindly and rashly.
Such blind rashness seems to
have been prominent in the late
terrible railway strike. 1t was so
conducted as to bring severe dis
tress upon millions Of people OF the
United States who were innocent OF
wrong to the Pullman employees.
Railway transportation was sus.
pended for weeks upon vast lines o.
commerce. The mails were stopped
Travel was cut off on the great
continental routes. Millions o
dollars of valuble but perishablt
freight belonging to the farmers
were destroyed for lack Of eX
pected transportation. This whole
sale inhiction of distress and ruiz
by the strikers was totally dispro
portionate TO the grievance alleged
1t seemed to betoken a reckless in
Justice that must ALLEVIATE sympathy
from their cause.
One of the leading consideration
forced upon the public mind by thi
strike is the absolute necessity o
maintaining public communication
by railway and telegraph sacre
against interruption by any comb
nation of men Such interruption
is next to an act of war upon tn
State. When such interruption /
made by citizens of the State it i
very near treason to the State
This is the conviction now being
forced upon the minds of tn,
American people. They are com
ing to see that no set of men can b.
permitted to combine to Interrupt
the public transportation and com
munication for a single day
Such interruption it seen to be
crime against the majority of tn
people of the State 1t will if con
tinued have to be made such, an,
punished with the severest lega
penalties.
The idea has been advanced tina
it will be necessary for the Govern
ment to take charge of the rail
roads. This hardly follows. VIVA
is necessary, may not be anythin
more than special legislation b
Congress prohibiting combination
by railway employees to suspen
traffic, and providing for compuI
sorry arbitration Of questions {
their wages and ofservices required
Evidently all such combinations a
the recent one must be absolutel
prohibited, or business cannot b
carried on.
New conditions arising in civiliza
ton, like railroads, require nev
laws for their regulation. Such i
the natural course of evolution il
society. From the disaster of tn,
late strike will be evolved new anC
wholesome remedial provisions
which may prove applicable tc
other economical conditions, be
sides railways. 1t is quite un
necessary to suppose any need o
seeking a radical reconstruction o
social conditions. Remedial legis
lation providing against expressions
of labor by capital and perhap,
against inordinate and dangerous
accumulations of capital are not tc
be considered as belonging to sucl
radical reconstruction