Scranton June 1878

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Dear Brother

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From one cause and another I have neglected to write to you for a long time. I don’t think I have written since I received your letter some months ago . I don’t recollect the date now. I was glad to hear from you and would like to hear oftener. Mary complains that she never gets a line from you although she has often written.

Do the Indian troubles of the Western part of the Union extend across the border and cause any apprehension in the Dominion?

You seem to have a very low estimate of Indian character, but I think you are too sweeping in your denunciations. I have no doubt the uncivilized Indians are a debased race generally, especially where they come in contact with and under the influence of, almost equally debased whites. Such Indians are possessed of fewer redeeming traits than the wholly untutored savage, but there are Indians who in morals will compare favorably with their white brethren. For instance the New York State Indians and some of the tribes of Indian Territory and others.

The Christianized Indians by whom you are surrounded I suppose are Catholic “Christians” and the Catholic religion nowhere elevates the morals of the people. Witness Spain, Italy, Mexico and South American States. But there are whole communities of Indians brought under Protestant teaching and real Christian influence who are truly civilized and Christianized, although it is a sad truth that such Indians as have been schooled only in the vices of civilization are like the Sodomites of old, wholly vile.

Cal Meecham, one of the commissioners who, under the protection of a White flag advanced to treat with the Mohoc’s, were treacherously fired upon, the others being killed and himself pierced with seven bullets and left for dead, has reason if anyone to mistrust the Indian, yet he most emphatically declares that after thirty years intercourse with the Indians as an US officer he has yet to learn of a single instance where the Indians were the first to violate a treaty. I suppose you see papers from the States and if so you know of the labor troubles of last summer. Here in Scranton it culminated in a riot, by the strikers attempting to stop all company works, and forcing by violence such as were willing to work to stop. In anticipation of violence some 40 to 50 special police were sworn in and furnished with breech loaders, and upon a preconcerted signal were to immediately hasten to the place of rendezvous.

On the 1st day of August a mob of some two or three thousand suddenly congregated and commenced an assault on the men at the various works and with clubs and stone drove them out. The Mayor hastened to the scene of action and on attempting to reason with them on the impropriety of such conduct was assaulted and knocked down. Upon this the signal was given and 36 men speedily hastened to the rendezvous, seized their rifles, marched down the street, two squares off and met the maddened throng just emerging from a cross street. The mob with jeers and cries of seize their guns assaulted them with clubs and stones and a few pistol shots. Some one cried out fire! and two or three vollies were poured into the rioters. Three of the ringleaders were instantly killed and the mob dispersed with the greatest rapidity.

The Governor was immediately telegraphed to for troops and for two days before their arrival we were in a constant state of alarm. The specials sleeping on their arms and the citizens watchful. Two days after the military arrived meeting with frequent obstructions on the way by tearing up the track and placing obstructions upon it. For the next three months we had about a thousand troops stationed here to preserve order until the strikers concluded to go to work again.

So you see we have a little speck of war right here in our midst sometimes. For five years now, here in the east, we have been suffering great distress from the unparalleled depression of all business interests, till now. Real estate has scarcely no money value whatever. Property here that would have sold five years ago for $20,000 would not to day sell under the hammer for more than 5000 or $6000. My own property I could have sold for about $6000 but to day probably could not get one half that, and my pay has been reduced from time to time till now it is less than $800 a year, and were it not that my oldest children were earning something we should suffer for absolute necessities.

Write soon.

Your Brother George