Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-09-06
THEMES FOR MORALlsTS.
Many Are Contained in the Present
Strike-Some False Deductions.

dlse beuucllOnss
From the Huzlcton Sentinel.
The strike in the Lehigh region is
low attracting widespread attention
and various are the opinions hazarded
'egarded its status and outcome. One
# these opinions is that the present
'trike shows that the alien tax law was
l deserved and highly creditable act and
hat the action of the higher court
n declaring it unconstitutional is i'll
tdviscd. This expression comes from
the Philadelphia Iimes There is much
contained in this strike from which
moraists can find themes. but we doubt
if the man of ordinary common sense
will support the Times, or admit that its
deduction is the height of wisdom or
mature thought. The alien tax law is
unconstitutional and that is sufficient to
Kill it. The argument that this element
pays no tax or in no way contributes to
The support of the public institution is
arrant nonsense. These men are taxed
by their employers or by those with
whom they deal. They pay rent and
5he,landlOrd sees to it that they also pay
The tax, the water rent and insurance.
But even though they did not pay
anything it must be remembered that
the purpose of this government is not to
squeeze one for the advantage of the
other. and we cannot hound one to the
hXaltation of his supposed superior.
rhe alien tax law was vicious as well
Us an unjust law, and like some others
enacted by the last Legislature would be
more to the credit Of that body If it had
never been presented. The mercantile
saX, which had many features to com
mend it, was denounced by the metro
politan press because it was opposed by
moneyed men. The small hospital meas
ureS vetoed by Governor Hastings were
opposed by the influential newspapers
ike the Times, while an enormous con
tributions. to the private museum of
Philadelphia and private schools was
,XtollGd.
1t is disgusting to contemplate the
litter lack of decency and equity mani
tested by these moulderS Of public opin-
ion, and when they dabblc in coal region
affairs their ignorance is never so
pronounced. The people of the coal
region, that is the element that has
struggled to build its communities.
advance its municipalities and institu-
lions, giving them place in compal-
son with outside places, have no par
tcular love for the foreigners-thc
aliens represented by southern Europe.
They see in him menace to good gov
ernmcnt, a detriment to their own cf-
forts for education and enlightenment.
They know that to his advent much Of
the squalor prevalent in mining villages
is due, and that he has displaced the
intelligent classes who gave birth to
thriving communities which have
since deteriorated, but they regard him
with that sense of equity characteristic
Of the old coal region resident.
Much blame can be attached to the
Hun and the Pole for the depopulation
Of entcrprising communities, but they
at the same time know that he is not
entirely to blame. His ignorance was
taken advantage of by men and corpora
tionS who were astute enough to see
chat in the accumulation of wealth he
would facilitate their designs, but who,
as far as moral obligation to their coun-
try was concerned, were Indifferent and
calloused. The citizens have good raa-
son to complain, and to inveigh against
the foreigner, but they do not ignore
the fact that he is not alone responsible.
The conditions in which the foreigner
has lived bordercd on seryitude. lie
has been badly treated and badly paid.
While he accepted in docile submission
all went well; his tractablc nature was
not referred to, his vices were not re
counted, his disposition to raise merry
hell and occasionally engage in a race
riot did not bother the employer as long
as the work was performed and no de-
mand was made for more wages. Now
that this class sees they have been used
as the medium for combating the intel
ligence of natives in putting down the
strikers of old, and decide to make de-
mands considered fair before, they are
denounced as savages and coolies who
have no right to complain.
They may not be successful just at
present, but their grievances will be
aired again, and it is but a question Of
time when reasonable concessions will
have to be made. They are now in the
majority and are not slow to appreciate
their own strength. They are entitled
to a just and patient hearing, regardless
of citizenship, alien tax or economic
freaks that are sprung now and then by
the demagogue and self-sceking moral
lists.
There Is History in This.
From the Wilkesbarrc Leader.