THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS. NELSON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1877

Colonist, Volume XIX, Issue 2283, 13 September 1877, Page 2

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS. NELSON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1877

REVOLT IN AMEKICA. , JEfcfeOENT intelligence from the United Statea ' is' if the mere surface is considered, eminently calculated to gratify the enemies of popular rights. Through a large extent of the country armed resistance to1 the law has be'en accompanied by the loss of many lives and the destruction of a vast amount of property. The transport of provisions and other merchandise was for a time wholly stopped, the militia in many places fraternised'witlrthe rioters and in others sneaked aw,ay to their homes, while the small body of troops at the command 'of ,tho Federal Government had to fight their way against difficulties, only to be expected in anadvance through an enemy's country. The disturb? an"ces began with the notices given by some I;' railway companies that the wages ; their servants must be reduced. _ ThesWlen had during the civil war obtained a large adyance in their pay, and when the time of depression came, they were the last to cxi perience its ill effects. Railway enterprise inJ America has rarely been profitable. . Having to* gontend against the enormous ■ expense'inseparable from traversing such ; great distances, chiefly with a scanty -and, ' scattered population, the utmost care would . have^ been insufficient to secure a reasonable return for the capital invested, and when ' this was expended by' rings of scoundrels, intent on nothing more than enriching i, themselves, however credulous share and ' • bond-holders might suffer, the chance of a dividend became exceedingly remote. Kail- ( way stock was avoided by m*Y prudent ■ man, and further efforts to secure the means !of transport for settlers in'the more distant • parts of the country utterly failed. ■ With 1 all its wealth m waste lands; capable, if only 1 the quality of the soil was considered, of ' affording boundless supplies of food,' the \ country was rapidly sinking into a-worsestate : than the most populous parts of Europe, and the extension of the home market being, • arrested, the tide of emigration was setting back. . k '" , I '■ Throughout the grain producing districts fi''there was an agitation for cheap^ carriage. The industrious farming population found ' themselves unable to compete for Jbbe expprp trade. The transit charges were absorbing in ;many cases so much that cultivation i ceased to be profitableland in their,re"duction "was the sole hope of the, continued westward march of settlement. Eailwaymana- \ gers were compelled to consider their position. With many lines unable to.pay mte- ' rest on borrowed money, to say nothing ot 1; that sunk in chares, it was clear that nothing \ was to be gained even Jby.a virtual cqnfiscal tion. ftMening tne'-working. 'Wenm alone afforded a hope of enabling the tariff ■ to be lowered so that farmers could hare a • balance sufficient to live, on .andit.that was ! not done, traffic must dimmish till it would no *. I longer pay "to run trains. Inquiry proved , that while every other1 description of labor ' throughout the States had been compelled > 1 by tbe farce aj£ circuwU»ce« p l»ve »•

reward abridged, that of the railway servants remained as high as in the moat prosperous days. The alternatives offered to these people were, to, accept payment according: to the times, or to make way for those who would.; They I determined to do neither Plenty of men, anxioas for employment were ready to take the wages offered, but they were not suffered to better their condition." The freedom of labor was to cease for the benefit of one class, and property was seized and destroyed by those refusing to Bha,re in the universal fall of prices. That the railway men had a perfect right to quit their work when no longer paid as they deBired, there cannot' be a doubt; and just as little that they were guilty of high-handed wrong in driving others away, and keepiug armed possession. The spirit of Broadhe.ad and the murderous ruffians of his type was displayed on an enlarged scale, and for a time it seemed as though in a country boasting itself the home of liberty, a new form of tyranny would prevail. The American press speaks of the outrages with a force and directness that would startle readers in England. There is no meek submission to a band of criminals, and their worst censure is conveyed in the assertion, " They are not Americans. Of all our importations from foreign soil, these banded assassins have shown the least comprehension of civil order, and the least fitness for free institutions." If any one read in a European journal, " It is a pity thst the very first resistance to law was not met by the shooting of every rioter' within range of a mHBt ball," he would be apt to set the een\Tuce down to the inspiration of aristocratic tyranny, but from a leading New York paper it must be received as the stern judgment of democracy on those denying Bubmission to "the reign of law." The truth is that barely a fraction of the inhabitants of a free country can sincerely sympathise with those stopping honest labor or wantonly burning its accumulations, as found in railways, stations, cars, and merchandise. With the spread of education comes the conviction, that property benefits all. Its owner may fancy he alone enjoys it, and may be pardoned the innocent mis--take. Every member of the State has indirectly his interest, and'suffers with the destruction of every bushel of corn or truss of hay. So judged, the people of America. The Federal Government had not sufficient means at its command. The Governors of Btateß and Mayors of towns thought, even in the day of thsir country's trial, much more of the votes to which their positions were owing, than of the public welfare

Militia ran away, police were driven back, soldiers had to retreat with severe loss, when the people rose in their majesty and conquered peace. Want of organisation prevented the real strength of the country being earlier brought to bear. Eeliance on the Central Government retarded action.

As soon as it was seen that the State was in danger, the indomitable courage of a nation Of free men asserted itself and riot was crushed. Self government is once more proved to be equal to establishing order in any emergency. The revolt of the slave lords of the South was suppressed and the Union preserved at an immense sacrifice of men and money. This last attempt to establish a tyranny at every door has been put down with the same hard, resolute will, Within the laws agreed to by all, no man's fpee aption is restricted, Let him once try to break out of the charmed circle and he will find, as all before him have found, what a grim foe democracy is to anarchy. No man can be allowed to do simply what is right in his own eyes. He has, so to say, an infinitesimal share in making the laws, and to them he must give strict and unwavering obedience. The jealousy of the Washington Government long prevailing must yield to the necessities of the nation, and it must and will be granted larger means to maintain an armed force as a matter of police. The Americans have proved their dejAminatiqn to preserve their character djjJFlaw abiding people, and this revolt of Btofeers and porters will serve to strengthen them in the right way.