The Labor enquirer., 1883-03-03
HIS JUST DUES.
A Slave Driver Slain by the unfor-
fortunates He Plucked. and
Prosecuted.
To the Editor of The Labor Enquirer.

DENVER, February 28.-zIn the Daily
of the twenty-ifth instant
what frequently occurs, GA
Chapter of Crime" The past history is
full of such records, but the warnings
are unheeded by the ambitious and
scurrilous men who are always ready to
take advantage of their neighbors' mis-
fortunes and poverty to advance their
own worldly possessions. The crime
enacted on the twenty-fourth instant,
near Helena, Arkansas, was by seventy
five penitentiary ConVicts, who had been
sold to the highest bidder. j. FL Grant,
being the purchases, sent them to work
on the levee and he, of course, was to
receive the benefits of their labor. 1t is
true saying, and often said, Ill got, i'll
gone" Even this old saying is lost
sight of, Nothing is needed until the
cruel, ambitious creature, man, rushes
into the jaws of death, not leaving the
bare chance.tO retreat nor time to say
word to his family or friends or ask
forgiveness Of his enemies, until he is
before his Creator, where hope and be-
lieve more penitentiary convict are than
millionalres and contractors the former
who will stand up as witnesses against
the latter, and accuse them of the many.
wrongs they groaned under and appeals
for pity and mercy unheeded by their
tormentors in this world But.the cur
tain raises very suddenly, alas, for those
who least expect it, and ushers them up
and into the presence of Judge, who
in their mad fury to get few dollars
they never thought Of meeting so sud
denly and unprepared.
The convicts at Helena rebelled. What
is more natural for man to do under
cruel prosecutions? Tread on a worm
he will recoiI to fight for his life. Mr..
Grant, the contractor, came on the scene.
He fired at the convicts. CertainIy-he
knew they were bis property, and if he
killed a dozen or more, what would it:
matter? They were only convicts, sold
by the state authorities, who robbed
them Of the necessaries of life and cast
them out from their fathers home-tbe
Iand-and set traps before them on the
highways, in the shape of whisky dens,
which they have licensed to madden the
brains Of men and make prostitutes of
our fairest sisters and daughters. The
cOnvicts returned the fire. Why not?
Certainly they had the same right Grant
had and they got their man.
All, poor outca8t. MANY grave
marks the remains Of your fellow man
along the railroad line from kingsburv
to San Antonio, Texas, who persisted
during the construction of that railroad.
have been ali eye witness to those
cruel and inhuman deeds, where many
a good and brave youth was shot like a
dog when he attempted to escape from
the cruel punishment inflicted for some
trlt1ing matter And no doubt the
mothers Of those victims of greed and
monopoly, who were buried like dogs on
the prairie, without coffin or shroud
dragged by the legs from the paee where
they fell to the hole that was dug to te-
ceiye them say the mother often
wonders what has become of her once
faithful and darling son. "Why does he
pot write to me? If I only knew where
he is, and what has become of him I
would feel happy" Unhappy mother,
the child Of your bosom, that YOU loved
50 dearly, and prayed.often and feryentIv
for God to bless and make a good son.
a faithful citizen, lies buried on the praj-
ries of Texas, without ceremony and q
kind word in his last moments or a kiss
on his cold, pale lips, or the kind words.
Goodbye, my son, good-byn' Many
mothers living now among us. look for
the tidings that will never come this
side the grave ri.
Oh, cruel and hairless monsters, pile
on quick and fast your tyrannical laws /
and hasten the day of vengeance on
your heads, and the delivery Of Tie
poor from your clutches. v1NDrUArok
P. SIN my next ! wish to hGve a
plain, honest talk with the Rock kyMoun-
tain Celt with regard to military com.
panies, which it seems to Admire so
much' f' --.. =. / ".
\ Educate Agitate Organize el