Killing No Murder - J Keir Hardie

Excerpt from Killing No Murder: The Government and the Railway Strike; What Caused the Recent Railway Strike? Who Settled It? For What Purpose Were the Troops Called Out?
My object in writing this pamphlet is to endeavour to supply answers to these questions. Were the matter merely one of historic interest it would cause me no concern. Regarding the recent strike as I do, however, as the most momentous and significant event of modern times, and the action of the Government as the most sinister and menacing of which this generation has had experience, I deem it incumbent upon me to let in all the light possible upon what happened.
The nation was placidly pursuing the even tenor of its way, buying and selling and giving in marriage, and amusing itself with the trumpery make-believe of party politicians, when suddenly a great gulf yawned across its path, and for 36 hours it stood trembling on the brink of it knew not what. The babblings of the politicians were hushed: the vapourings of the party press ceased: the political crisis vanished into thin air; and the hearts of men were filled by that uneasy fear which besets the bravest when brought into sudden touch with the grim unknown. For the moment the gulf has closed, the sun is again shining, and those whose business it is to keep the mind of the common people distracted are hard at work at their old game, but the working class cannot afford to go on as though nothing had happened. Neither for that matter can the business classes. My chief concern, however, is for the workers, and it is to them mainly that I address myself.
The year 1911 will long be remembered for its strikes. Beginning with the seamen the strike spread like an epidemic in the Middle Ages, until it seemed to have affected every class of low-paid worker. As, however, my aim is to concentrate attention 011 matters mainly, though not exclusively, connected with the railway dispute, I pass the others over, merely remarking that they revealed a power of cohesion and degree of class solidarity among the most sweated and helpless callings which no one suspected, and few believed possible.
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