The Labor enquirer., 1886-09-25
aVhrOtfIe the LAW -

- "Throttle the LAW"
For The Enquirer.
During the late so-called trial of our
comrades in Chicago the capitalistic
press never tired of sneering at the An
archists on account of the latter's readi-
ness to appeal to the law for protection
and vindication; asserting that. as
Fielden and his friends advised the
throttling of the law, it was shame
that they should be allowed trial by a
Jury. The farce of a trial was gone
through with, however, and the resul t
is inst what the Anarchists predicted 1t
would be. 1t is a complete justification
of the charges made by the Anarchists
against the laws of the land namely,
that 1t is impossible to secure justice in
any action at law unless the client has
influential friends, or money. There
has not been for years a trial where
wealth and influence have been arrayed
against friendless poverty in which the
verdict has been in favor of the latter
Verdicts are just as surely bought
whether money actually changes hands
between the judge or Jury and client or
not In the absence of actual bribery or
open corruption there is tacit under
standing that the verdict will be on the
side of the almighty dollar. Our court
records TEEN with cases where rich
criminals have got of scott free. The
money bag placed in one side of the scale
of justice out-weighs whatever may be
placed in the opposite balance.
Have not the Anarchists every reason,
then, to condemn the law? Is not the
late verdict an added proof of the truth
of their charges? Here is a case where
the most infamous measures were re-
sorted to, to swear away innocent mems
lives. Perjury, the most open and stu
pendous lying, and every appearance ot
bribery; everything that money coulC
purchase and human deviltry devise
were brought in reQusition to procure q
verdict of death. Revenge was the oper
cry of both police and press, and they
were backed up by the money power o.
the whole nation, and the sentiment o.
the entire bOurgeoise world. In the
face of all these evidences of the impO
tencv Of legal measures to right the
wrongs of the poor and oppressed, is
there not reason and justice in the cry
of Throttle the law, OF it will throttle
you ?" Let us reiterate that cry let u'
shout it from the house tops echo it II
assembly halls scream it into the un
needing ears of stupid workingmen auC
cram 1t down the throats of shameless
newspaper prostitutes.
The law Is but whip in the hands o
our masters, used to lash the working
slaves into obedience. 1t is weapon o
otfense and defense for the privileged
classes alike a sword and shield AS
long as you respect the present law you
will be at the mercy of capitalists
will be slaves for the law is made to
serve capital and 10 hold labor in sub.
lection.
If you need further proof of this re,
fer you to the recent judicial decisions
in the boycotting cases, and i'll the>cases
of the southwestern strike; to the mur
derlng of citizens by East ST. Louis dep
uties, and to the brutal murders com
mitted, almost daily, by the police O
Chicago, New YORK and other cities.
If they would have us respect the law
why don't they admi aister it fairly? Why
do they not make ii respectable, digni,
fed and just to all ? They will not dc
that, for it would cripple their power tc
enslave the masses They hold the kew
to the whole situation; they make the
laws and then administer them in such
way that we have no redress but IL
rebellion.
Workingmen, analYze carefully this
thing called law which you respect sc
deeply. Let no fetch, however sacred
and protected by custom, keep you from
asserting your manhood. Ask yourselves
and your neighbors who make the laws,
how they are made and why? Be not
satisfied with newspaper drivel or the
definitions and arguments of political
hacks belonging to any party. Be wise
in time. You will surely come to the
conclusion, after careful investigation,
that you must throttle the present bOur-
geoise law or it will throttle you.
CATO.
Comparisou.
The editor has received from j. E.