The Labor enquirer., 1886-05-22
The Press and Pulpit of Chi
cago are Topsy-
Turvy.
A Preacher Who Mixes Atheism
and Empty Stomachs in
. His "Causes.
Definitions Of Socialism, Communism
and Anarchisms, and q Word
ON "FOrce Advocates"
For The Enquirer.

lost their wits. A policeman is heard
to say that he would fill any Socialist
with lead on sight, Citizens wonder
why all Anarchists are not put to death.
A man was seen in procession dragging
the stars and stripes in the dirt; be
should have been shot; and so on ad
nauseum.
The argument Gf logic can be found
in the turmoiD seems to be that, as
lunatic has dehed law and order in an
attack on policemen, tbesefore the police
should also suspend law aud take indis-
criminate revenge, although there are
now more dead Anarchists than dead
policemen.
Capitalists and corporations have de-
cided not to employ any one having anv
relation, or tendencyto Anarchism, So.
cialism or Communism. tissaid that the
dangerous class came from Europe. Now
it is known how they came. They were
under contract to these same corpora
tions to come here and work for time
to pay their passage. They are now
turned out to become still more hungry
and dangerous.
While 1t must be admitted that the
talk of Anarchists has contained more
violence than they ever intended TO
carry out, the particular idiot in this
calamity took them at their word. There
is no evidence of conspiracy. Had all
of them known what would happen,
surely there would have been twenty
bombs instead of one, and the whole
crowd would not have run like sheep;
and if the bomb thrower felt the disre
gard for life that is claimed by Anarch-
lists he would not hide, outcome out and
save his friends by a confession.
The act may be revenge of some enemy
of the police. Men have been cluhbed
by policemen in many strikes, in
brutal manner. A street car striker of
last summer NAV be the avenger. The
affair Of 1877, when the police entered
Turner hall and dubbed, shot and killed
| Socialists without mercv, may he the
origin of this act. At any rate, the ac-
cused must have fair chance. Leave
indiscrlminate murder to fools with
bombs; if the law be majestic, 1t will
discriminate. A mob of people in the
Sixth ward of Chicago sacked a drug
store, and drank all liqnid goods in it.
As one paper said, the whole ward was
"put to Sleep" The number killed by
poison cannot be ascertained. This In
cident may or may not be an instance of
freedom of the individual at his own
cost"
The ultimate effect on the labor ques-
ton cannot vet be told, At present the
reaction is very great against all schools
of Socialism, all being classed together
as dynamiters. Even the eight hou
movement suffers for part of the blame.
The pulpit of Chicago is as crazy as
the press. Of three pages Of sermons in
morning paner, but few lines are de-
voted to truth. Some of the divines
locked behind the dynamite explosion
for the real cause, but nearly all traced
the evil back to the same source athe-
ism.
Saws one "What, then, is the remedy I?
My friends, there Is but one The gospel
of Jesus Christ preached and practiced."
Unfortunately Christ advocated COM
mon property, which being expressed bv
the term Communism, is the very evil
the gentleman was preaching about.
A tornado in Kansas City killed more
people than the bomb in Chicago. Little
children we're among the victims If q
devout person would say this was an act
of providence, what would he say of the
bomb affair? Deity must have planned
the one, and could have prevented the
other. No consistent Christ an would
punish the dynamiter, because, "Ven.
geance is niue, I will repaY saith the
Lord" This is in accord with the fact
that the criminal cannot he found.
One preacher thought Anarchy comes
Of reading Thomas Paine. Perhaps this
ignorant diviue thinks Paine was ar
atheist. But for Paine he would be {
persented dlssenter, or pilgrim, unless
his self-lnterest kept him In the state
church. Paine established freedom fol
all religions in this country.
Another sermon contained the follow
/ ing: Even the gatling gun is punv BY
the side of the internal machine and the
/ dynamite cartridge. TIE truth is ths
r science of destruction has 80 utterly dis
: tanced the science of defense, that hu
J man life Is at the mercy of any wretch
. desperate enough to take it without com
junction. True, wretches o.
/ this sort are generally towards. Yet
even coward NAV be maddened BY
, whisky or hunger"
r Indeed A moment since atheism
. was the cause now it is hunger. Prove
atheism the cause of hunger, and the
: chain is complete. The gentleman may
he useful society if he continues to
> talk about this stealthy, terrible force
3 that may be pacified by filling up stom.
) achs.
| rTNpfinnad m ourth Ta0 |