The Labor enquirer., 1886-06-05
situation and as quickly determined how

Ing Ine QOOr, WIN leVeleQ rlHe ne con-
fronted the authorities, and defied the
law and the constitution of the United
States. For moment the bowling mob
and officers of the law were dumb
founded at the sudden audaeity and
courage of that heroic man., Bow as
was, the majesty of that mans courage
fairly magnetized my soul. Oh !! If ever
there was a man deserving Of immortal
ization IN verse; if ever there was q
man deserving of remembrance in
bronze, it was that man Burnett.
Fifty years have nearly passed away
since that event, and l, here in this Al ii
Gle, paw simple tribute of respect tc
his memory by saying that as long as
exist and have consciousness, the mem
ory of that brave man shall live.
The spell of his bravery over the mob
was soon broken, rush was made, and
over his PROSTATE form they pressed into
mis- house, ransaCked it, AMI found their
poor, trembling fugitive; they brought
him out to view amidetth fendish yells
of delight from the mob. He was soon
hurried back to slavery and the lash,
and his gallant ami disabled defender
was incarcerated In prison for defending
human rights in violation of law.
| mention this in order to show that
there were just such a set of miserable
croak ers IN those DAYS as there are in
these days-eternally prating about
law, order, vested rights, constitution,
ETC., etc, but never word in defense of
Human Rights. They were the lovers
of peace, but not of Humanity, They
charged the Abolitionists in those days
as they charge the SoCial lists in these
daYs-wth being the disturbers of the
peace. So tt:ey were and so they are,
and so Is every true reformer. Beware
of the peace-makers, they are not the
the true friends of reform.
l claim tat, on the true basis of R. ght,
John Browns action at Harper's Ferry
was justifable. l claim that the action
of Burnett, herein stated, was justia-
ble. l claim that the men that dumped
the tea overheard IN Boston harbor in
'76 committed jIstifabe act. claim
on the basis of Right, that if the work
ingmen who were dubbed out Of Tomp-
kin's square in New York some wears
ago, had been armed, which they should
have been, and had shot down every
policeman that attempted to club them
or arrest them on that occasion, the act
would not only have been justitiable,
but praiseworthv | claim that the
workingmen of Chicago, in their recent
conflict with the police, stood up for and
defended the pre- eminent right of free
speech, and the dastar lily act Of the au
thorities in dispensing that assemblage
of workingmen, was virtually and to all
intents the hauling doan of the Ameri
caslon responded tn the famous order of
General Dix. All honor to them for the
manly act In less than five years from
now the pusiIlanimous skunks that are
now advocating Revolutionary ideas of
social reform, shi liking the responsibility
of their teaching, and denouncing the
Anarchists of Chicago, will be the loud
est in their praise and the first to steal
their laurels.
Any hireling of the Law that under
takes to interfere with orderly free
speech on the part of workingmen, and
they do not resent it, are unworthy to
be called American citizens. 1t would
be fatal mistake to submit to arrest or
dispersion, and trust to a court after
wards to define and. vindicate the right
of free speech. They are towards who
are afraid of the scare crow called public
opinion. Who are the public after the
working classes are deducted? ? A lot OF
drones, parasites, boodIe-takers, and
wealthy paupers. Who paws all the
taxes, creates all the wealth, and has no
Just representation in legislation? |?
Labor. From whence spring the true
reformers of the race? From the lotns
of the common people. VINO furnishes
the world with masters ST art, science,
philosophy, poetry, invention and
heroes of true patriotism? The common
people. Who monopolizes this wealth,
these treasures and luxuries of Civlliza-
tion2 The so-called elite of society,
that faunt their stolen wealth day by
dav in the faces of the honest poor, and
despise them for their poverty. How
long will these things continue to exist?
Just so long as those wh5 are oppressed
will submit to it.
What need the working classes care
for the opinion of these society loaters,
adulterers, and fornicators ? They and
their opinions aye not worth the powder
to blow them t. jericho. What wealth
they have belongs to the working classes,
and they know it. What is the basis OF
most of the legal enactments of con-
gress and state legislatures Fraud,
bribery and corruption. Can the indus
trial Grasses have any yeneration and
respect for laws that rest upon such
basis? None whatever. For nearly
every dollar of organized capital In this
country is the fruits of robbery and op-
preston. We hear occasionally a plea in
behalf of honest capital. Show me an