The Labor enquirer., 1886-06-12
He Protests.
CHICAGO, May, 1886.

For the Enquirer. ENN
Friends Of Industrial freedom away
from Chicago are frequently advised not
to trust the reports of events here, which
are sent out bv the capitalistic press.
From reports which are supposed to give
the facts to The ENQUIRER, select the
following: .~
"They have invaded the homes of
everY one who has ever been known to
have raised their voice or sympathized
with those who have had aught to say
against the present system of robbery
and oppression"
This refers to the police. Shall such
sweeping assertion 70 unchallenged 1t
grossly exaggerates the situation in Chi
cago. limo one who has chad aught to
say" etc, except those who were out
ragged by the police. thenipdeed, thereare
but few who condemn the present sys-
tenn. Thousands of people here who are
continually talking, writing or editing
against social evils. were not visited by
the police. The police scare! ed only
for dynamite. arms and supposed con-
spirators. Shall we assume that only
those they searched are real friends of
Socialism? That the police outraged
law and decency, and acted like fools, Is
true; but that the city is under police
rule is not true. The law is still supe.
rior to its executives. Suppose it were
not suppose the police were allowed to
satisfy their desire for revenge; every
Socialist would very likely be killed re-
gardless Of his views, by an ignorant
gang whose only function is force. se-
lect also the following
Here as elsewhere, when free speech
aims at nothing in particular, people are
allowed to glory in their freedom to
their hearts content. But once let any
one mention word against the exist
ing order of things, the established gov
ernment, whatever it may be, and here,
as elsewhere and as it has been IN all
ages, the cry of treason goes up, and
mighty arm of the law deftlv chokes off
your speech"
have been nine years in Chicago. |
have attended hundreds of meetings
where anyone might, and many did, ex-
press any opinion or teach anv doctri ne,
or condemn any institution, but no in.
terfe ence was ever offered. The only
check to free speech is social ostracism
or the unpopularitY of the doctrine
taught. There are exceptions that |
have not seen personally. But the ex
ception ls not the rule. Free speech is
the rule: its violation the exception.
think it important that no miscOnCep
tion be created regarding the degree of
freedom we enjoy, even if that freedom
is slowly disappearing
Alongside the law guaranteeing free
speech, another law has come down from
the formation Of the constitution. If
threaten personal injury to man, l can
be placed here l cannot carry out my
thre,t either by imprisonment or bv
bond Is this Just or unjust law?
No one will be punished by the courts
for expressing opinions and if those now
held made no threats, nor committed nor
aided any act, they will not be punished.
If they have CHALLENGED the force of the
city or state, it is equivalent to declar'
alton of war.
But it is evident that those now i'm
prlsoned, did not intend to declare war.
The war was opened by lunatic who
was their worst enemy. Let them prove
no knowledge of, or connection with that
lut attic, and they cannot be held for the
act.
| The law "deftly chokes off" threats,
but not expressions of opinion. If the
law is to be criticized, take it as it
really is. ZENo.