The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-04
TIE COMING QUESTION.

wires from OnlcaBOs Iefiehiu6 TIC sAlu
alton in that city with reference TO the
labor troubles, and outlining the appre-
tensions for the next day. Among
other things it was stated, that Sin the
lumber district some trouble is antici-
pated from the fac. that so many of the
employees are foreigners, imbued with
anarchistic ideas" Further, The
English-speaking labor element is a
unit against disorder. and will use all
its influence to see that the laws are
respected" The indications are that
the adjustment of the troubles and dis
putes between labor and capital, be-
tween the employer and employee
classes. will bring with it the solution OF
a problem OF another character which
has latterly grown rapidly and threat
eningly. 1t is the problem of whether
Americans or foreigners shall own,
manage and control the republic. The
idea of the founders OF the government
was that this being broad and liberal
commonwealth the power and author
ity all centred in the people, there could
be no danger to the State, which would
be necessarily lust what the people
wanted to make it. They didn't con-
template that there might COME a time
when there would be two classes OF
people, one devoted to law, order and
peace, and the other opposed to even
the slight political restraint on the in
diyidual that is absolutely necessary to
the maintenance of a form Of govern
ment and the protection Of the physic-
ally weak against the physically strong.
When they invited the poor and the
oppressed of all the world to come here
and enjoy the benefits OF government
which recognized every individual citi-
zen as being part of the supreme au-
thority, and having a voice in all that
was done from the election OF the Off
cials to the making and administering
of the laws, it was not contemplated
that the invitation would be. accepted
by an element opposed to Law in such
numbers as to endanger the very exist
ance of the republic, and threaten the
inauguration of anarchy. II the men
who gave birth 70 The United States,
and started the weak and trem-
bling infant upon its career, had
been able to peer into the future one
hundred years, the danger which
threatens would not now be apparent.
and no such significant dispatch as that
which is quoted above would be sent
Our naturalization laws would not have
been the liberal enactments that they
are to-day-so recklessly liberal and
unstatesmanlike that the worst enemies
to the nation, men determined only on
the overthrow and ruin Of the govern
ment and the bringing about Of absolute
disorder, can come here and in five
short years possess, exercise and enjoy
all the political powers and privileges
held by the sons Of the heroes and
patriots who laid down their lives in
founding the Republic. In theory the
thoughts and principles of the Revolu-
tionary fathers were grand, glorious
aud humane;- in practice, they are
shown to be threatening to the pros
perity and permanency Of the govern
ment itself.
The problem that the socialistis
and labor troubles now so gen
eral throughout the land promise Il
work out. and adjust is one involving
much more than whether or not EN-.
/ ployers pay too little wages or working
men labor too many hours a day; it i
: problem involving the very existenc'
and future of the Republic upon tn,
theories and principles upon which i
E was built and has been conducted fo
the century past. As q first step fol
3 the adjustment of this problem. on
naturalization laws viii have to b,
amended and citizenship made NOR,
valuable than il is now. Safety mus
be thrown around the government b,
Withholding from individuals politica
: power until they prove their worthines
to exercise that power rightfully, an,
c for the strength OF the nation rattle
than as a weapon for the overthrow
+ of the latter. There viii be no safet,
J while foreigners infused with anarch
istic ideas" can DEFY the constitute,
authority and engage in riots and vic
} lent disorders. 1t is that element vhicl
is truly threatening the nation, and it
thst element which must be repeIle
and repressed, first by making it les
welcome in coming and less easy. in &C
4 curing citizenship, and second by Civ
Il ing it to understand that while all nee,
= full and reasonable liberty is conferre
/ upon and confirmed in the individua
Il that broad freedom does not conten
e plate and enforce protection in plottin
$ against the government or acts Of vic
y lence against other individuals or Ii
d nation The sooner the effort is mad
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