Even at the moment of this writing, it is not difficult to perceive
that a fearful blunder has been committed by the Governor and his
ill-timed military advisers. It is impossible for us to conceive
that the action of the railroad strikers, taking the worst view of
either side of the case, justified the calling out of the military.
Time should have been allowed for a respectful parley between
parties; time for the railroad company to properly consider the
grievances complained of in the respectful petition of the
strikers, and time for the railroad employés to act in response.
There is tyranny in this country worse than anything ever known in
Russia, and it is time we should get at the gist of it.
Strikes are common occurrences, but it appears that it is only when
the "great monopoly," the hated company, which discriminates
against the interests of Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania, is
subjected to one of these strikes, that the military are ordered
out, and that, too, without a moment's consideration, us though the
Pennsylvania railroad was more important than the peace and order
and the lives of half the citizens of this State.
There is no use disguising the matter. The people of this city
sympathize with the strikers. They are incensed beyond measure,
with the cold, corrupt legislation which has fostered the colder
and more corrupt organization known as the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company. But we cannot disguise the legal technicalities which
appear to brace up that company as against the people. All that we
say and care to know is, that a fearful blunder was made by the
constituted authorities, who from the Governor down to General
Pearson and Sheriff Fife, appeared to be only the willing tools of
the giant oppressor.
We hold that the reckless haste of General Pearson and Governor
Hartranft makes them the prime ringleaders of what promises to be
the bloodiest riot with which the Commonwealth has ever been
visited. The insane policy of calling Philadelphia troops to this
city to quell a domestic quarrel is reprehensible beyond degree.
Hartranft and Pearson have only added fuel to the flames, that may
not be satisfied till the lives of hundreds of militia and citizens
are sacrificed. But while we counsel peace, it is only the duty of
journalists to fix the blame where it belongs, and therefore we
arraign before the board of public opinion General Pearson, Sheriff
Fife, Thomas Scott, and Governor Hartranft, and their aiders and
abettors for the murder of our fellow-citizens, who were
slaughtered by the Philadelphia militia.
Whether the officer commanding was drunk or crazy when he ordered
the Philadelphia soldiers to fire into our own Nineteenth regiment,
whereby one member was killed, it is a matter that should engage
the minds of a military court. But such recklessness and
mismanagement is only part and parcel of the great blunder of which
we complain.
The railroad magnates claim and protest their inability to carry on
their business with profit without the much vexed reduction. All
the employés can say is, we must starve at these wages. Now,
granting that on one side or the other there must be suffering,
which, is it equable, should suffer? But the concession can only be
made for the sake of casuistic argument. The railroads affirm that
they cannot meet expenses without curtailing salaries to the extent
that has caused this present trouble. Let us take the case of the
Pennsylvania Company. In this instance, we could show some other
method of escaping the difficulty. Look at this:
J. N. McCullough, $12,000 per annum.
William Thaw, 10,000 per annum.
Thomas D. Messier, 10,000 per annum.
John Scott, (solicitor,) 10,000 per annum.
H. H. Houston, (in no recognized position,) 10,000 per annum.
Contrast this with the ninety cents of the poor brakeman. But then,
what is the poor laboring man? Let the following real occurrence
tell: