The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-04-22

you. and in this crusade against you, do not under
stand that We mean TO prosecute On the contrary
We wish to see the law indicated II you have at
all times obeyed the law in your dealings in the
methods by which yOn have acquired your immense
fortune, ii IL time that the many Ofenses with
which Won are charged shOnld be refuted. You
have remained silent under many damaging
charges Of iniurEg the state. We will be yuur
avengers. If You have been wrOnged, we will let
il be known to the world through the medium of
the courts Of Justice and let me say, right here,
that no money will buy verdict at the hands of
these courts. There are people who say that the
struggle is the beginning of war between capital
and labor; that il false. This certainly means
war. but it is war between legitimate capital,
honest enterprise and honest labor on the one
/ hand, and Legitimate wealth on the other hand
/ This il a war in which court the fullest invest
/ cation of our acts Do you dare 10 do the same;
/ This war means further strike. no shedding of
/ blood. II il a war in which every business man,
every commercial man, every professional Han,
every wOTkingman will be invited to enlist II will
not be war upon the innocent, and every battle
field upon which IL will be- fougSt out will be be-
fore the two courts of Law and that which makes
law-public opinion. There will be 70 mobs in
this supreme hour to silence public Opin-
ion No converts will be- made by physical force
That flag which floats over the press or mansion
at the bidding of mob, dgraces both the victor
and the victim, and under such hag as that we
will not wage the battle. But this battle of the
people against monopoly may well be fought
ont now as ten years from now, ana what field is
eminently proper on which to fight it out as be-
fore the courts Let us know whether the laws
we're made to be Obeyed ar not: and If they were
not 80 framed, then people must make laws that
Will be obeyed. No man, whether he be rich or
whether he be the poorest Of poor shall In the fu
tnre shirk the responsibility Of his acts and shield
himself
BEHIND THE COURTS.
do not write this letter to you either in spirit
of anger or revenge For you, personally, have
no dislike ! believe that If allowed to follow
your own impulses in this matter, yOu would have
had the strike ended this. Those who advise
You do not mingle with the people; they do not
care for the people You have b-en warned that
your life If in danger. Pay no attention to such
talk. No man who has the interest Of his cOun-
try at heart would harm a hair of your head, The
system which reaches cut on all sides gathering in
the millions Of dollars In the treasury. and keeping
them out of legitimate channels of trade and com.
merce must die, and the men whose money IL in
vested in the enterprises which stock gambling
has throttled, must make common cause with those
who have been denied the right To earn enough to
provide the meTest necessities of life for home and
family. When say tOyOu that We will meet you
In the courts, do not speak rashy or i'll adysedly
have taken counsel from the best legal minds Of
the United States. We are prepared to face YOU
before the courts, and now await your action in
The matter. This Is no threat. play no game of
blum or chance speak for JOOW organized
men vino are ready to pay out the last farthing in
order that ju 'tice may prevail. You have in you
power to make friends of these men by acting the
part of the man, by taking this matter into your
lwn hands. VIII you do 50, and end this etrife in
he interest Of humanity and our common country?
II is yonr duty, Brush aside every obstacle as
cert your authority and take the matter in your
lands. Settle every grievance, restore every man
q his place except those who have been engaged
n the destruction of property or who have broken
he laws. viii YOU do this; YOu can make rules
md agreements with our men which will forever
preclude the possibility Of another such disastrous
onllict as this has proved itself to be.
! remain very truly yours, {
T. v PowDERLY, I
G. VI. W., X Of l..