p. 356 | LABOR TROUBLES IN EUROPE

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · June 3, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 23

LABOR TROUBLES IN EUROPE.

On the 23d of May, 1,000 workingmen in Christiana, Norway, engaged in a riot. The soldiery were called out to restore order, and nine soldiers and several of the mob were injured. An abortive attempt at a Communist demonstration was made at Paris on the same day; but the police, after making several arrests dispersed the crowd. A riot at Barcelona, in Spain proved more serious. Some of the strikers were incensed with their fellow-laborers who had resumed work at decreased wages; and they gathered 1,000 strong before the works, and ordered their fellow-workmen to leave and join the strike. Their demand being refused, they went into the factory, drove the men out, destroyed machinery, and finally set fire to the building in several places. They were preparing to carry out a similar programme in other places, when the civil authorities interfered, but they were powerless to suppress the disorder. “The crowd constantly increased, until finally it assumed the most formidable proportions. Alarm speedily spread to all the other shops, which were immediately closed. The operatives all left their benches, and the military and mounted gendarmes were called out. As soon as they appeared, the operatives dispersed into angry and hostile groups, but no resistance was offered. Upward of fifty of the ring-leaders in the riots were arrested. Meanwhile the fire engines were hard at work, endeavoring to arrest the progress of the flames in the burning factory. The striking workmen were so threatening in their demonstrations that it was found necessary to protect the firemen and to station the military in the streets, avenues, and roads, so as to prevent the operatives in the suburbs from joining those in the city. The Governor of Barcelona and the military authorities report that all is now quiet. Numerous arrests have been made. It has been learned that the workingmen were excited by revolutionary agents and Socialist propagandists. By order of the government the unions and workingmen’s associations have been dissolved.”