The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-08
A Preacher Of an Anarchy

The law abiding and honest citizens of
Rock Island, we surmise, will not relish
the announcement that they have in their
midst an advocate of anarchy and social.
ism-a believer in the doctrine of the red
flag which breeds only instruction, riot
and bloodshed. Yet it seems to be sol>
emn fact that such is the case His own
words prove him to be fit associate for
such pests of society as Spies, Schwsbs,
Fielden. Parsons & Co., of Chicago. who
are locked up in the Cook county Jail on
the charge of murder. The Rock Isl.
dnder, of this week, virtually joins
hands with the Chicago vipers, and
urges them on 10 renewed deeds of vio>
lence. Whatever doubt may have exist
ed as to the policy of this obscure sheet
it has now plainly taken its stand against
law and order, and may hereafter be
classed with such incendiary journals
as Most's Freiheit, in New York, and
Spies hrbeiter Zeitung, in Chicago. If
there was the same lawless element in
this city that made itself so conspicuous
in Chicago this week, nothing more
would be needed than the infammatory
remarks of the Rock Islander to incite it
to violence. Like the socialistic jour-
nails of the metropolis, it applsuds the
slaughter of the brave policeman.
In long letter on the Chicago troubles
the socialist Of the Rock Islander miscon,
strues the facts, and lays the censure of
the unhappy result on the police force.
He abuses the noble men, who as guar
dams of the peace, were called out to dis
perse turbulent mob, and met death and
Disagreement at the cowardly hands of
an assassin, who threw bomb in their
midst. Men who are receiving the united
praise of all good citizens, and for the re-
lief of whom large contributions are pour
luS III lIoul I'LL uuhitcIS'
As the pretended official paper of the
Knights of Labor, the Rock Islander in.
suits every true workingman in the land
In CHASING these arch friends of society
and civilized cut-throats with honest
toilers, the cause of labor is Inundated
into the very dust. There is decided
and discernible difference between the
men who learn their bread by the sweat
of their brow" and these nihlistic blath-
erskites with venomOus tendencies. Sew
eral Knights of Labor assemblies through
out the country, have openly denounced
the red handed fiends, aud have plainly
stated they were not in sympathy with
these lawless elements. State Maste.
Workman Bennett, of this city, said few
days ago, that the Knights of Labor were
not at all identified with the present dis
graceful affair in Chicago, and people
who so argued, didn't know what they
we're talking about This places social
list Danforth in bad light.
Freedom Assembly, Knights of Labor,
of this city, owe it to themselves and the
general mass of workingmen, to join il
the denunciation of the recent outrages
II the impression is created that theil
order sanctions such proceedings, they
will lower themselves in the estimation OIL
the people, and do the cause of labor ir-
reparable injury. Their "official" (f) or
gan has placed them in an unenviable
light by its blatant talk.
The horrible outrage in Chicago is like
ly to put an end to the easy indifference
displayed toward the incendiary speeches
of the red flag orators OF central Europe.
The federation Of appeals to murder and
arson is thing of the past. The lesson
of the danger of allowing these atrociout
wretches to continue their mouthings has
been learned at too fearful cost to be
soon forgotten. People who proclaim
themselves at war with society will be
taken at their word and treated accord
ingly. 1t would be well to make be-
ginning with the wretcheswho instigatet
last Tuesday nights murder. They
ought to be hanged. II any less punish
ment is inflicted, justice will not hav.
been done.