New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-27
LIZ ND ORDER N rkNNNTLTlNJA.


Dining the labor riots last Summer the city
Of Scranton was menaccd by q mob Of some
five thousand men of the most violent and
lawless character. There was 10 organized
force to defend the lives and property OF
peaccablo inhabitants, but the Mayor called
the leading citizens TO his aid. svorc them III
as special police, and, after short but
sharp struggle with the rioters, the disturb
ancc was PIT down, and Scranton was saved
from The fate Of Pltlsbmg. In the course OF
the fight the Mayor was severely injured, ANA
owed his life to the intoTposit,nn Of priest ;
several of the rioters were shot, and three
were killed
In almost any civilized community outside
of Pennsylvania, the citizens whose gallantry
and public spirit quclled so formidable rising
and avcrted 50 much dc>tTuc ion would have
received some mark of The gratitude and re-
spcct of their toVnSmcn. But all over Penn
svlyania there seems to be Il disgTacoial out
break OF animosity against every man who
was conspicuous during the July and
August uproar in enforcing the laws
and protecting life and property. Sew
en- gentlemen Of Scranton, including some
of the leading men Of The town, are
now to be tried for mansiaughter be-
cause they served with Tie Mayors special
police. and the vengeance Of the defeated in
cendlaries who have get this shocking prose
cution on foot seems to he directed especially
against persons OF responsibility and social
prominence Nor can we fattor ourselves
with the belief that the trial is TO be mere
folmaty. At the last election in Luzerne
County the coal-mncrs and other rough ana
communstic characters went to The polls
under The lead Of thcr secret society officers,
and carried their ticket by 5000 majority.
They elected one OF the leading rioters sheriff,
and made Judge cus Of an ignoramuS. What
this forcbodcs to the decent administration of
Justice. especially az between the "bloatcd
"capitalis,n and The "hOncst w0rEmgman," it
can hardly be necessary to explain. In another
part Of the state, officers Of the militia have
been indicted for firing on the mob; and the
Grand jury Of Pittsburg has distingGishedilself
as all tie world knows, by a sweeping
prcscntmcnt OF troops police, magistrates,
and everybody else concerned iu saving the
city from total destruction after the rioters
had set it on fire. By a law OF the State no
compensation for damages 10y a mob can be
collected from town, county or state except in
the cities of Philadelphia and Pttsburg: and
Pittsburg seems to be resolved that no G..ma-
yes shall be collected from her, even il she
has 10 hang a few generals by way Of warn
ing.
Thus it will be seen that property is already
pretty nearly at the mercy Of The mob in
Pennsylvania, 0ul perhaps we ought not to he
surprised that so large number OF Pennsyl-
vania politicians are ready to dcpreciate 1t
still further by destroying ali guarantees for
the payment Of debts. How much longer will
life itself be safe if demagogues are to abuse
the processes Of law in order to avenge
themselves upon the ministers Of the
law who have simply done their duty There
must be honest men enough in Pennsylvania
to put down such outrageS. But what has
there been in the politics of Pennsylvania
during this generation to stimulate the action
of honest men 90 any subject OF to show that
political leaders have any appreciation of the
duties and responsibilities Of government