The Labor enquirer., 1883-05-12
MORAL VS.. PHYSICAL FORCE.

Every day we meet people who say
we are fanatical, that we are crazy tc
talk of physical force to right the
wronged people. There are those who
say the nihilists are wrong in advocat
ing and practicing the destruction of life
and property, the Irish are criminal il
their dynamite measures, etc. They say
these matters ought to be conducted
without the shedding of blood-the tax
ing of life is unholy, freedom and rights
SO obtained would be of short duration
and without happiness. These drivelers
say that moral force should be used. Ii
is only the man who realizes that the
continual starving and killing Of the
people in some countries can be stopped
by a little judIcious life-taking, who
really knows the value of life, who un
derstands that it is necessary to ampu
tate diseased limb that the body may
be saved from death.
How long have the oppressed of Rus
sia, England, Ireland, Austria, and all
those old countries tried by moral force
to release themselves from the thral
dom of an unjust and unholv power
Is there man who has read the. history
as daily recorded, of the past twenty
years-to say nothing of centuries
is not familiar with the long suffering of
the people and the increased misery
entailed?
To hear this talk of moral force re-
minds us-with no desire to be humor-
ous-of railroad wreck we once partic-
ipated in upon the Hannibal & st. Joe
railroad in the dead of winter: A car
overturned aud one of its occupants
was crushed into corner directly be-
meath a red-hot stove. He shouted lus-
tily for help, his cries attracting one OF
the party who were rescuing the dying
and was told by this man to keep cool.
How in hell can keep cool under a
red-hot stove" was the logical reply
shouted out at the top of his voice. So
with those poor devils who are naked
and hungry, their children dying Of
starvation and the red-hot iron of tyran.
nv holding them down you cry out tc
them to keep cool; )" you advise them
to reason and appeal with their oppress,
ors, as they have for ages; "do not use
physical force" Let this fiery scourge
but touch you, and your moral force doc,
trine will soon be shattered and scatter
ed to the winds.
In our own country we have the thing
in a milder form. We hear of strikes
against reductions of wages very otter
these times, and we find plenty of mer
who are willing to condemn the strikes
say they are wrong. The proprietor
and operators are paying all they car
afford and the workmen ought not tt
ask for more. Do you think your fel
lows are just and fair when they say
that concerning your strike? Oh, tina
makes all the difference in the world
You never made an unjustifable de
mand in your life. Then there art
those who admit that the strikers arr
not being paid enough, but what is the
use in striking, they will certainly los,
and be the poorer and more wretchet
because of their idleness. Why do the!
lose? Because you add your voice t.
that of the masters in denouneing th'
step, in greater or less degree, and soth'
y little band of strikers have the who'll
country arrayed against them.
Take the pending strike of, miner
in Pennsylvania, which will he largel.
augmented by June l. Those men ar
barely obtaining enough for their un
ceasing, toll to keep soul and body to
gether. The operators have decided t
reduce their pay about 10 per cent; and
although 100000 men and over half a
many families will be left without