New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-11
THE DANGER IN SAN FRANCISCO

In San Francisco 6y coming to the ala ana ue-
fence of the inoendiary mob with an lncenu-
ary proclamation. If any evidence were lack
ing to convince us Of the necessity OF the
movement begun some time ago 10y the
Citizens Protective Union. just now maze
public, 1t would be furnished by this disgrace
ful address. Mr.. Kalloch declares that there
is not and never has been the slightest rea-
I" son to apprehend any disturbance, riot or
"lawlessness whatever from the working
"classes of San Francisco that they
have been "goaded" and outraged, but
their conduct has been admirable, and
eff trouble comes it will not come
" from them" Mr. Kalloch recently al
dressed his lambs at Union Hall, ana
prophesed trouble and blOodshed III men
" of capital and resources continued 10 SNOW
Z" such criminal indifference as many OF them
"had to the sufferings of the people" but al
the same tune he begged the wOrkngmen 10
exhaust peaceable means before they pro-
ceeded to extremites Then. he assured
them. the trouble and blOOdshed would be
chargeable sto their oppTessors. NOBODY
knows better than the Mayor of San Francisco
that the mob in their ward meetings ana
their mass gatherings at the Sand Lots, are
daily threatening a general rising OF tne uI-
emploved. They have collected money to build
permanent galows." They have en-
rolled themselves in companies sworn 10
"use force of arms.n They have passed
resolutions to procure guns, and get
ready to follow their Mayor" They talk
about blowing up buildings, wading knee
deep in blood, and "cleaning out " all the
"a: Il Ill. them.
Two weeks ago q meeting of the presidents
of ward clubs, with several municipal oiicers'
inclu ing Mayor Kalloch, was held under the
presidency of Denis Kearney, and 1t was for
mally resolved. If the police interfered with
the Cleaning out of Chinatown, or IL
United States troops attempted to protect
the Chinese in compliance with the
request of the Chinese Vice-CODsul, Colo
mel Bee. that the workngIncn would
assert and maintain their rights, ayenge
"their friends, and visit upon low de-
signing miuions of power, backed M though
&" they might loo by coward!y capitalists and
corporations, a punishment 80 swift and terri
Die that the reader of history would shudder
." at the record" Mayor Kalloch then rose
and saidi "Thc resolutions just read embody
my views There is no danger that the peace
will be dis rbed by our people, but we do
" say that If such interference comes as Colonel
" Bee suggests, then We shall visit on the
"perpetrators such swift and terrible punish
mont that the historian viii shudder to re-
" cord 1t with his pen"
The recent movements of United States
troops, the precautions to secure the arms Of
the San Francisco militia regiments. ana the
increase Of the police TO 900 men (Which
Kearncy calls an outrage) show that other
authorities do not share tho opinion OF Mr.
Kailoch that there is no danger. The out
break may como on either or two pTcteXfa
Mr.. Parrott, the president OF a mining COM
pany. has carried the question OF the
constitutionhity OF the law prohibit
ing corporations to employ Cinnamon 10
the Federal Courts, and has been tlic' r"rd
with death in consequences decision -
the law might be followed by the mardrTous
| Instruction for which the addresses of Kali
Loeb are keeping tho mob In heart. more
! pressing danger, however, arises from the ac-
! ton of the Board of Health In the matter of
| Chinatown. The whole district has been de-
clared q nuisance, and on the oath OF Febru-
grv thirty days notice OF abatement was
| issued by the Health Officer AT the cxpra-
ton of the period OF grace. this elegant func-
tionary declares that :" all the power Of the
claw will be invoked to empty this great
reservoir of moral, social and physical pol
"ution. which is constantly extending it,
"aIea and threatens to engulf with its filth
"ness and immortality the fairest portion OF
"ourcityn Now the mob see fit TO interpret the
action of the Board of Health as an order tC
the entire Chinese population to leave the
city; and they have declared over and Ovei
again. with the full approval OF their Mayor
that they will see the order executed in this
sense and will visit the most dreadful ven-
geance upon anybody who intcrferes with Their
purpose But the Board of Health has no
authority to expel the Chinese; 1t can oblIge
the owners of the buildings (most of whom are
Americans) to put them In decent and whole
! some condition. and 1t can enforce the law
against overcrowding. Here its authority
ceases. Whatever is done beyond this will be
mob violence; and it is plain that KeaTney,
Kalloch and the rest are getting ready for it,
We do not imagine that the Citizens Protec-
tive Union has the remOtest idea of protect
ing the Cinnamon against Illegal expulsion but
the citizens who have joined the organization
are simply taking precautions against the gen
eral riot, pillage, bloodshed and destruction
which would be likely to follow an attack
upon the Chinese quarter. 1t is to all ntents
and purposes Vigilance Committee that they
have formed, but there is reason to hope that
a repetition of the summary processes OF 1886
Will not low be thought necessary. Formerly
the G. and nearly all the municipal officers
we,c ~ sympathy with the criminal class Al
the present day the Mayor and Sheriff side with
the mob but the Chief of Police does not
there is no complaint Of the judges or pub
| nrl tLnrn ~ q lnunl IniIitin