One point that the inbred lawlessness of southern blood had
something to do with the greater recklessness of the strikers on
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, as compared with the conduct of
the men in similar circumstances on northern roads, was dreadfully
illustrated at Baltimore, yesterday. No sooner was the militia
called out to go to Cumberland, than the street crowds assaulted
them with stones; and no sooner were they thus assaulted than the
militia opened fire with ball cartridge right into the midst of
people, dealing destruction around. Contrast now the conduct of
both parties here, where an equally determined strike is in
progress. The strikers carefully protect the property of the
different railroads that center here. In stopping the trains they
merely "entreat" the engineers to step down and out, though of
course the entreaty is equivalent to command. Everything is done
decently and in order, and rumors about the burning of the
round-house are baseless and apparently malevolent. All violence is
discountenanced; even the communistic speeches of certain
hot-heads, who have gone out to incite the men, have been coolly
received, and the imputation that they are a mob in act of riot is
indignantly denied. Towards the militia, the strikers preserve a
dignified and manly attitude. They know that the soldiers had to
turn out when ordered, and they entertain no hard feelings to any
of them, except, possibly, toward one or two of the officers, whom
they believe to have been officious about trying to get the
Governor to order out their division. They mingle with the soldiers
in perfect good humor, though without abating a jot of their
determination. And this is not only the feeling among the strikers,
but among all the people whom, though they almost universally
sympathize with the strikers, admit that the soldier boys are but
doing their duty, and never dream of making that unpleasant duty
more difficult by assaulting them with stones. On the other hand,
the soldiers are equally determined to get through this matter
without shedding blood, if possible. They recognize in the strikers
men whom, if they do take an attitude in opposition to authority,
are, nevertheless, hard-working, honest, and well-meaning citizens,
who only resort to their present procedure from what they conceive
a desperate necessity. They are men who are anxious to work for a
living, but see, as they have, that living taken away from them,
and who are making a desperate effort to prevent the reduction,
which they believe will make paupers of them. There is no doubt at
all that the soldiers will endure insult, and even stone-throwing,
before they will shed blood.
But we do not believe that either insult or violence will be
offered them. The strikers will confine themselves to the exclusive
and more effectual plan of a passive and what may be called
distributive resistance. If a large body of troops are stationed
here, trains will be allowed to go out, but will be stopped at some
other point, at Altoona, or Philadelphia, or Harrisburg, where the
soldiers are not. In this way they can and probably will carry on a
warfare that will break no bones and shed no blood, but will yet be
very difficult to subdue.
We are proud of both our workingmen and our soldiers that have thus
far got along with no bloodshed, and with no casualty except one
black eye and one swollen nose. We hope profoundly that the whole
matter will be settled, one way or the other, without any more
violence, and it will and can be, too, if our law-abiding people
will sustain the reputation they have thus far merited.
[Leader, July 22.]