AMERICA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 856, 13 September 1878, Page 3

AMERICA.

When anything occurs in any of the Australian colonies, more especially in New Zealand, that in any way affects the working men or the labor market, there are ever ready some to urge the discontented and disaffected to howl down the Government, and bewailings loud and deep are heard on every side at the great mistake made in selecting New Zealand as their home instead of that free, enlightened country over which the Stars and Stripes does guard. The following extracts from an American letter published in the Morning Herald will shew, however, that it is not all gold that glitters : ' ’ ’ Last year the military was used against the workmen, by means of forged orders and proclamations issued by railroad magnates, in the absence of the Governor of Pennsylvania, w hose name was appended ; but through subsequent collission of tho State Executive with the railway corporations,’ the grand juries have been unable to bring the criminals to justice. This will not happen again, except with the Militia, and the “strong Government party” declare that the Militia of a State cannot be depended upon to shoot down their fellowcitizens for demanding higher wages or striking against a further reduction. The “ tramp question is again assuming prominence. Thousands of tramps assembled at a town in lowa, and the Governor of the State issued a proclamation, declaring them outlaws. He called upon the citizens to arm and expel them from the State. This appears to have been a necessary measure, inasmuch as the tramps have now become thoroughly organised, seize upon trains and take control, stopping at way points and raiding the country for food, returning to the cars when satisfied. Having been driven cut of lowa, they made A raid upon Southern Wisconsin ; 250 of them at Beloit, just across the Illinoi.s'lino, in one day, near to tho junction of the Western Union and Chicago and North-Western Bail roads, two hours' ride from Madison City. They camped during the day, and were reinforced by others. They then, captured two freight trains going south. At Madison they were encountered by a company of militia and armed citizens, who, aided hy a violent rainstorm, which dispersed the men, captured several men. These were sentenced to 90 days’ imprisonment each. The orisoners report 5000 tramps prepared to enter Wisconsin hy Beloit. Governor Smith, of Wisconsin, has called out all tho militia in the North-Western States of the Mississippi basin. In New Hampshire a Draconic law has been passed against tramps. Similar laws arc beim? enacted in other New England States. This is extremely cruel and unjust, as the vast majority of American tramps are men who have been driven out by the competitive labor system, improved machinery, and the combination of capital against labor. There is no general poor law or relief system in the United States, although something of the kind exists in some of the older Commonwealths. The “tramp” question, bower, is fast forcing itself into prominence all over the Union, and repressive measures will not solve it. The social and industrial evil created by the tramp system, or rather, of which it is the outcome, iniuht have been dealt with successfully a few years ago, but it is too late now to hope to abate it by tho gaol, or stocks, or whipping-post. The tramps Pave become regularly organised bodies, acting in the Western States especially under intelligent leadership, and will yet ho hoard of as a power in the Republic, playing- a part not unknown to history, should a social war unfortunately break out. Senator Jones, of Nevada (whom I have already introduced to the Now Zealand public), declared himself, last week, as being in thorough sympathy with the working classes, against monopolies and strong repressive measures ; and with the eye of a statesman, he outlined tho true remedy for the compound comminuted fracture of the American industrial limb. “ The industrial question will not be solved,” be said in effect,” until the millions of struggling, poverty-stricken people, are settled upon the waste lands of the nation. It will pay the country to give the people land, and enable them to settle upon it. A system of public works and colonisation must bo inaugurated to find employment and homos for the people. This is tho true national policy, without which prosperity aud public security cannot lie attained.”