The Labor enquirer., 1886-06-05
STAND FIRM.
II We But Assert Our Rights We Will
be Respected and Avoid
Bloodshed.

BloOdshed.
Editor Labor Enquirer.
SANTA ANA, CAL, May "a 24:-Enclosed
find 50 for renewal Of nv subscription.
l cannot do without TIE ENQUIRER. 1t
is the only really consistent and reliab le
paperthat comes to my table. Its hu-
man sympathy, its patriotism and its
noble and manly fight for la Nor and hu-
man rights have won nv high est regard
and it holds place very near to my
heart. Nothing could please me so well
as to be permitted to stand by your side
in this conflict and assist to win the glo-
rious victory that is sure to follow
though perchance through much tribu-
lation, and-shall l say it? ves-blood
shed
The end must come and with it VIC
tory. 1t can come peaCeably only
through education and organization of
labor Let the Knights of Labor stand
firm every man in his place; an I'M
wavering phalanx, and let all other labor
organizations combine with and sustain
them the cause of labor is one
UNITED we stand divided we fall"
Lizzie NJ. Swank, "the martyr" has
nv warmest sympathy, my admiration
and my highest regard true reformer
and one of the grandest of women, let
all true men unite as one to assist in sus-
tanning her and her family and in fight.
ing her battle for liberty. She cam OF
well be spared from the field of active
duty. Start fund for her benefit, and
yours Elf see that she gets it.
When American citizens are deprived
OF the rights of Gssemblage, free speech,
free press and of refraining from labor
when and where they please, and must
be shot down like viii beasts at the bid
ding Of their oppressors, | think it high
time that they arm themselves. This is
their constitutional right and was Sc.
cured to them for the purposes of self
preservation and to keep tyrants and
their toosin awe. Surrender this right
and we are gone. Assert it and we safe
and our rights and live will be re
spected and thus bloodshed will be
avoided.
A little more of the spirit, foresight
and prudence of rs are needed.
lam no advocate Of war; for "all az
gressive war is mnrder," but to fight IN
self-defense is the first law of nature
Nature is right and no mouse is too smal
to resist aggressive war, though waged
hy an elephant! Is man less than
mouse?
But says one: 1T will not do to re.
sist officers of the law" What is law
The rights OF man are equal and inalien-
able. Whatever legal enactm ents run
in line with nature and sustain the
rights of man are indeed laws, and must
be sustained and obeyed those which
run counter to nature and tend to sup
press the rights of man. are not laws and
never can become laws They are des
potic DEGREES under the form of law
and should be resisted, otherwise they
will ALLEVIATE from man the rights which
all know to be iDaIienable. Men who
undertake to assist in the enforcement
of despotic DEGREES, no matter from
whom emanatlng, are not and caunot be
officers of law-they are thugs, tools Of
despots who are subverting all law and
reducing mankind to serfdom.
Therefore, breth rem, as you regard
country, friends, wife, children, home
as you value life itself, arm yourselves
defy opposition; maintain THE LAWS
defend your lives when assailed nc
longer stand meekly the victims ofthugs
armed with revolvers, rifles and police.
mems clubs. When it is known that
you are prepared for self defense you
will no longer be assalled by cowardly
assassins and murderers and peace and
proper respect will be secured.
| enclose 81 as starter for fund fol
Lizzie NJ. Swank.
With kind regards, believe me,
Yours, ETC., u. w. THURsToN, SR.