The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-26
THE LAW AND TEE COMMITTEE.

ment depend the peace and stability Of the
government and the security of the people.
With the law-making power in the hands OF
the masses it is within the power of the peo-
pie to make the laws what they choose. Ii is
foolish to decry them as tyrannical or unjust,
since If they are, the fault lies with the people
themselves. Hence, at junctures like the
present, with so great number Of citizens en-
gagged in a movement that threatens the peace
of the country, it is imperative that a decent
respect for the law be shown. In countries
organized on a basis of restricted suffrage it
may not be unreasonable when the people
complain of the injustice Of the laws in the
making Of which they have little or no voice.
But in this country, where each man has ex-
actly as much to say about what the laws
shall be as any other man has, there is left no
excuse for complaint that they bear unevenly
upon the people. The spirit of fair play is
shown throughout, from the time the legisla-
tive candidates are chosen to the day the bills
are put upon their passage. No man has the
advantage of another. Men may nominate
whom they choose, elect whom they choose,
and may announce themselves as candidates.
It is left for the majority-the people-to say
who shall formulate the laws; and to make
sure that they will not abuse the power con-
ferred, their terms of Office are made very
brief. In this way no wrongs can creep in
and be perpetuated, for at the end Of two
years the people again have it in their hands
to select new legislators and to instruct them
p~ressive. The law cannot possibly get away
from or ride down the people. It is the peo-
pies servant as well as safeguard. Better re-
spect a bad law for a time than to have no
law. Lawlessness is anarchy, and anarchy is
tyranny in its most dangerous, most hateful
form. Tyranny is the evil genius that m
only too readily at the bidding Of POWER,
whether that power is exercised by one man
or ten thousand.
This is a government of the people, for the
people, by the people. To render the govern
ment effective and systematic, so as to bear
alike upon all, the majority has caused laws
to be formulated. The workingman has been
granted the same privileges that the capitalist
has, each having but one vote, no more. W.
I'll. Vanderbilt, the many millionaire, cast but
one ballot in the election of 1884. His colored
footman's claim to do as much was respected,
and he. too, cast one ballot. This is Democ-
racy pure and simple. and leaves no man a
grievance, unless he wearies of popular gov
eminent, and wants something else. There
are several something's else. There is mob
law, or the law Of brute force, and there is
anarchy, which is the overthrow of law.
Against each of these organized government is
a standing protest. Then there is what is try
ing to be introduced in the shape of commit
tees. But these last, however plausible they
may be in theory, cannot supplant the written
and recognized law Of the land. This Repub-
lie is not builded on that principle, and it can
not forcibly obtain until the majority of the
people pronounce in favor of it, should they
ever be so inclined. For the present the law
of the people must obtain and be respected.
Any man and all men who may attempt to in
terfere with the law as it is, except in an Or
derby way, is the enemy of peace and good
order. There is no more reason why a COM
mittee from from the Knights of Laborshould
abrogate the law than that a committee of
employers should do the same. If one man or
set omen may do go, why not anotherg The
safety Of all is in the integrity Of the law as 1t
is written. If it be found oppressive or un-
just the remedy is in the hands of the people.
1t is not saying that committees may not
and should not be appointed to attempt a set
Element of the present labor troubles. This
may be done, and should be done, if done in
the right spirit; that Of a desire to arrive at an
honorable and just settlement Of the misun-
derstanding. But if for any reason these com.
nittees should fail in the accomplishment Of
their purpose, it does not follow that the
Knights or anybody else should be a law unto
themselves. If the railways refuse to do JUS
tice, tdoes not warrant the burning of bridges,
paint-shops and depots the tearing up of
tracks and the destruction or impairment of
locomotives and cars. The courts are open
for the settlement of such cases as involve the
rights of all men. If the laws as now written
do not afford justice it is easily in the power
of the people to change them. No corporation
can perpetuate a wrong.
1t may be answered that the Knights are
not guilty Of the outrages committed, and it