The Strike Ended and Trains Moving

This article from the July 30, 1877 issue of the Pittsburgh Daily Post calls the end of the strike a failure for the railroad workers and warns of the potential for a hollow truce between the railroad workers and the railroad owners.

THE STRIKE ENDED AND TRAINS
MOVING.

The railroad blockade at this point is ended. Trains commenced moving yesterday on all the roads, equipped with crews either brought here or recruited here. As a result of this, should the supply of trainmen hold out, the strike fails. The railroad companies make no concessions, and are masters of the situation. Their success is largely due to the influence and aid, direct and indirect, of the Federal and State governments. The railroad side of the question, owing to the folly of the rioters, to say nothing of their crimes, became the side of law and order, while the strikers were tainted by illegal and riotous acts, as well as intimidation sure to run into lawlessness. It is difficult to tell just where moral suasion ends and intimidation commences, in striking operations. There are rumors that the railroads concede some points, but, we cannot verify them. If the men are forced back to work, by superior strategy and power of numbers and money, it is not difficult to see that the truce will be a hollow one, liable to break out again at any time, with more thorough preparation.

THE VISITING MILITARY.

Our city is doubly honored. We have here a force of regular soldiers larger than we have had here for many years, under the command of a gallant officer with the good looking and chivalric Hancock within] [sic] easy hailing distance. Then we have two or three thousand of the National Guard from different parts of the state, with Hartranft "in blouse, calico shirt, and slouch hat" at their head with such chaplains as Major-General Harry White, Gallagher, Huidekoper and Brinton commanding divisions. To be sure there don't appear to be much for this extraordinary concentration of men and muskets to do, other than appear in dress parade and prance around to the lascivious tootings of the fife and bass drum; but still we are glad to see the visiting military here not that they are needed as conservators of further order, or necessary to crush out a branch of the Paris commune. The trains are running on the railroads not exactly because the soldiers are here, but as the result of measures adopted by our authorities, civil and military to maintain order. We extend a hearty welcome to the boys in blue, and, grey, yellow and green; hope their sojourn here will ever be a delightful remembrance, and an inheritance to their children, and their return to their homes garlanded with flowers and laurels, and moistened with lager. We couldn't say more if we tried.