The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-08-09
Reckless Violation Of Law.

The country has been appalled, dur
ing the past week by riotus demon
stration that endangered life ana prop
erty and paralyzed the industries OF
the country. It began in the dissatis
faction on the part of the railroad TN
ployes with the Wages they sers re-
ceiving. To what extent the railroad
men took part in the demonstration
which results in the closing of factor
les and the sacrifice Of human lite, W
do not know. Probably not to any
great extent, but still this was moi
necessary to make their action a gros.
and reckless violation of the law. Ey
erv man who is dissatisfied with III.
wages has the right to quit his employ
er's services. Any body Of men cau
refuse to work for any employer, il
they choose. They have the undoubted
right, also. to combine and secure the
willing support Of every man whom
they can induce to join them TO pro
tect their own interests in legal way
But they have no right to interfere
with the business If those in whose
employ they bavs been, b. preventing
! by force other men. who my be- vii
ling to work, from working; Or BY
dtpriving tneiT former empi"yers from
"a tree use of their property The
courts are the only pepper means tor
Iedressing wrongs Ii there is moth
ing that the caurts can take co.n,z
ance OF, either there is nothing to re-
dress or the law is defective Ii til.
former, there is no cause .. complaint
III the latter, amend the law. Mob
law c'nnot be permitted, if We intend
10 avoid anarchy. Men canno, be al
lowed to be the judge or the executor
OF the law In their own cases L!
caanSes are needed in the law, the
balio, box is the place to go. 1t salts
faction tor wrong is required a SUI:
mons and not club Is tho instrument
to begia with. Respect for law shoud d
be maintained ut all hazzl ards This ,s
the decree, too, OF the American peo.
pie, vine men band themselves togeth-
er to oppose aud defy the law. The
country sacrificed million llyes four
years to establish the supremacy OF
law. Chicago sacrificed dozeu last
week for the same pusp,se Had the
mob been wise enough to think OF TITS
there would not be SO many broken
he, dis in Chicago as there are now.
But, our difficulty seems to be that
We never recogniz; the violation ot the
law, ,.untii it IS su b,azen tina; we cannot
help it. The railroads. against wuicn
the force Of the late riots was ut first
directed, have been a law unto them
selves, in direct conflict with the law
Of the land Or all classes in the
world railroad corporations can com.
plain of the violation Of the law by
others with the icus: grace. 1t is not
a matter OF wonder that subo.dlnat. -
should grow contempiuous OF the law
when their superiors have openly dis
regarded it. We need a reform in
this matter. Everybody violates the
law, to a greater OF less extent, with
IL pani:y. Legislators make laws, and
then violate them JUICES violate the
laws whose penalties they iufict upon
others; jnr,es violate the law uni, r
which they find Others guilty, ard thus
there is growing diseespecs for the
majesty OF the statute b,ok. 1t i,
wrong and dangerous, and i, is hiyn
time tina. reformation Was commenced
beginning with railroad corporations.
-TWes,ern Rural.