The Labor enquirer., 1886-05-22
ANNIVERSARY OF A MURDER.
The Citizens OF Tulare County, Cali
fornia, Celebrate An Event They
VIII Not Forget,

the Mussel Slough strict, Oh May II,
1880, while they were defending their
homes against the invasion of the hired
jumpers of San Francisco capitalists.
The eleventh of May, the sixth annl-
niversary of the murder of six Mussel
Slough settlers by United States mar
shalls, was observed at Hanford, Tulare
county. CAL, with more than ordinary inn
pressiveness. The affair was adver tised
as being under the joint auspices of the
International Workmen's Association
and the Mussel Slough Settlers League.
There were over 1000 participants in
the celebration.
Three mounted men rode in ivance.
These were followed by William P.
Deardorf secretary of the Mussel Slough
branch of the l. w. A, bearing the red
flag of the International. The flag was
six feet long, and was topped with a
bouquet and a wreath of flowers. By
mis- side sat another comrade bearing
twelve-foot American flag, topped with
the red cap of liberty. Behind these
came a band in wagon. A prominent
feature was Mr.. Ball, the fifer, an eighty
year old member of the Gran Army Of
the Republic, who started the ball roll
ing with The Girl l Left Behind Me-"
After the band, came the settlers and
their families in buggies, carriages and
spring wagons.
The procession halted at Hanford
park, where several addresses we're
made, but lack of space prevents the use
of all. DR.. E. ]. Schellhouse, of the
l. w. A., made the principal address of
the day. Among other things. he said:
"It is impossible to enslave moral
and intellectual people-hence this
struggle. The rapid emancipation of the
people from party rule is as gratifying as
as it is real The father of our country,
in his farewell address-a legacy that
should be dear to US all-Warned us Of
precisely the danger that menaces the
defeat of the principles Of free govern
ment-principle so dear to him and his
compatrlOts. In warning US OF the
danger of political parties, he said: Let
me now take more comprehensive
view, and warn you in the most solemn
manner against the baneful effects of
the spirit Of party generally. This
spirit is unfortunately inseparable from
our nature, having Its root in the strong
est passions ofthe uman mind. 1t ex-
lists under different shape in all govern
ments, more or less stifed controlled or
repres ed; but in those of the popular
form it is seen in its greatest rankness
and is truly their worst enamy.' Think
of it. The theory of our government
is, the best men for the peoples service,
and the best work for the peoples in
terests. The practice of CUR govern
ment is, the cra(tiest men for party SER
vice. and their best work for party in
| terests. The result is, party combina-
tions for the purpose Of getting Into
power, or keeping in power. And public
! officers, instead of doing the work of
their office, have always done the work
for t.. cir party. Instead Of serving the
people they are serving their party in
stead of being statesmen they are schem-
Ing and INSCRIPTIONS politicians. And
these have, through the government
machinery. controlled all the resources
of wealth and all the instrumentalities
of its production.
The direct and immediate agent in
the production of wealth is labor. The
right to the full aud free employment of
labor in the pro luction of wealth is a
right equal to that of life itself; an is
in accordance with the edict of the AL
mighty, In the sw eat of thy face shalt
thou eat bread The full possession and
enjoyment of the land by all would Sc
cure the employment of labor to all.
These natural rights, assured tn us by
our great charter OF liberty, the Oeclara-
ton of Independence, and secured, as
we supposed, by the federal constitution
as American citizens, we have q
right to demand and the attempt to as
sert that demand in this instance led to
the tragedy that has brought us here to.
day. Let US contemplate it with calm
ness and reason:
"Who made demand on you for the
surrender of these indisputable ard in
alienable rights? Was it not blythe su-
thoritv of the governmental in which you
had placed the most implicit confidence
for protection, and which is pledged to
extend its protecting wing over you2 Is
the eagle, the emblem of liberty and
power, transformed into harpy, whose
instincts are only for pluuder? Are we
not betrayed by band of brigands who
have usurped the sovereign functions Of
government and are exercising them in
their own interest and for their sole use
! and benefit? Do we feel a moral obli-
CATION in obeying a government man
date because it is a government man
date, regardless of its being right or
wrong?
"Must we still continue to bend the
knee to authority simply because it is
authority? Are we justified in obeying
law that Is tyrannical and subversive
of our natural and unalienable rights :?