The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
c0lnLLNLsIsD DNLLLLNE:

JHlCAGp ttAt [ -'Ac- y I'm L. .'-' N'
Are we 10 have last summers terrible
disturbances over again There are
mut,erings Of distant thunder from Chi
caco, and echoes from other cities. The
men who cheered on the mob Of last
summer-many Of them-wcre at'eT'
wards ashamed Of il and had to help
paw for the wauton destruction Of mills.
ions ofproperty. No punishment that
was dealt out 10 the few Of the many
concerned was too severe. Let the
authorities be prepared, and when the
first communisuc outbreak occurs le; II
be dealt with in q manner tina. Tlll
require a coffin for every one wko again
raises his arm against law, order and
property.
From Chicago it is reported that two
thousand Communists in Chicago are
drilling once or twice week. In the
Fourteenth Ward about 500 men have
been under arms during the Winter.
On the North Side there are three halls
where 400 men drill every week. In the
Seventh Ward between 500 and 5O0men
are organized, and there are drills As
often as three times week. IN the
sixth Ward 700 men meet in two large
halls. and in the Fifth Ward the num-
Der of recruits is daily increasing. The
Superintendent ofPolice states that the
Communists generally drill in deiach-'
ments Of twelve men, so rs not to at
tract public attention; but Of late they
have become bolder, and whole compa-
MES are placed under discipline at
time. The arms used are mainly SPRING
field rifles Of old and new patterns but
several companies have Enfield rifles.
The most startling fact that the Super
intendent announces is this: The Com
munists have sent an agent 10 New
York TO purchase arms and ammunI-
ton.
The Chicago newspapers, says the
Tribune, are full of Communism Il
continues to excite an uneasy feeling
there and elsewhere. There seems TO
be a nervous awaiting Of trouble-aa
apprehension that the terrible scenes OF
the last Summer may be repeated dur
ing the next. The facts are these \
considerable number OF operatives in
Chicago have provided themselves with
arms and ammunition they have done
this secretly; they are said 10 have drill
ed. II is consequently apprehended
that in the probable event of general
strike, they intend 10 DO battle with
the authorities who may seek to pre-
serve order and to protect property. The
strike is looked for before the last Of
May, and there is no hope Of peacea-
BILE one. When men buy guns, the time
for argument has gone by. When men
organize themselves into regiments,
Of law and order. Muskcts mean mis-
chief. II is said that the American
Commune" is 2SO,0OO strong, and is still
growing stronger. If so, though we
hardly believe the story, peaceful poo
pie ought to be ready 10 become warlikc
at a moments notice. So they think in
Chicago. The Board Of Trade has SUBJ
scribed s., 800 for the better arming and
equipment Of the police. The packers,
the commission men, the elevator men,
are putting down their money hand~
somely. The Governor Of Illinois has
placed himself in communication with
the civil and military officers ofChicago. |
The militia regiments have been sup
piled with ammunition. The newspa
pers bristle with warnings printed in the
largest Of type. These precautions may
suffice. There may be no important
outbreak Of the mob.spirit in Chicago. |
The philosophers With breech-loaders
may consider discretion TO be the better |
part Of valor. A bold and determined |
front, with law on its side, usually has
q wonderful effect upon the most voiu-
bic reformer. lie can do no mischief, |
unless he catches the body polite asleep
as he did last Summer. We are told |
that the headquarters Of this American
Commune" are in New-York.