The Fielding Star. THURSDAY, SEPT. 19, 1889. The Strike in London

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 41, 19 September 1889, Page 2

The Fielding Star. THURSDAY, SEPT. 19, 1889. The Strike in London

By our London telegrams, published today, we • are informed of certain acts of violence committed \>y the .strikers — who have now gone back to work— which show they are not in all cases iucliued to act with moderation in their hour of triumph. It appears that a guarantee was given by the recognised leaders of the strike to the effect that no violence would be used towards certain men, who had taken employment during the trouble, whom the strikers had nick- named " blacklegs." Notwithstanding this pledge — which the men repudiate as their excuse — these poor fellows have iv several instances been stoned and ducked, besides being otherwise offensively used. Now this said violence is not only a crime, it is a mistake. It is a crime punishable by the law t>f the land, and it is a mistake which will bring its own punishmeut because the sympathy, which has been extended from the colonies iv the practical shape of money, will be entirely alieuated, and the purse strings tied by such acts of cruelty. Another huge blunder, in our opinion, has been committed bj r the leaders of the movement allowing their paid mouthpiece, Mr Burns — who, by the way, has " struck oil " in the strike — to hold out a threat to the dock companies to the effect that if they violate the agreement, another strike would be organised which would paralyse the trade of London. This sort of rubbish will nullify half the good effected by the bold and self sustained attitude of the men who have thereby asserted and gained what they justly think were their rights. One of the most objectionable adjuncts of these contests, whether between capital and laoor, or between armies in the field, is the fact that the carrioa crows always have the best of it. Men like Mr Burns come under this category ; but while the obscene birds are really doing good after the manner of their kind accordiug to a wise provision of na'u c, such men are of no peiceptibJe use whatever. In this connection we observe that Mr Burns is likely to come south of the line to organise iv these colonies the preliminaries of a strike ou a more extensive scale. This will be a new role for him, as hitherto his part has been that of a mere blatherskite, like a colonial politician, full of sound and fury signifying nothing. We expect the real fact is he intends to open out a new line as a " professional striker," and to live on the life blood of the working men— if they are fools enough to let him. We are pleased to know that the real difficulty between the masters and men has boen settled, and sincerely hope that the contest which has proved the strength of both sides, will lead to lasting amicable relations founded on mutual respect, and that no acts of indiscretion — to use a mild term — on the p re of a few hotheaded fools will allow the present good understanding to be destroyed.