The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-03-01
THE STRIKE

81 btA ~ lsfb1i VI NhI Hlll
may have had at The start, tier
are now Two other sentiments lha
are growing stronger every day
viz : pity ard Contempt. Pity 70
. those who, for want of c0urige
unWIllingly abstain from work aut
face hunger and want fedrfully
Contempt for those who, being les,
dependent, recklessly place sharl
: edged tools in The hands OF intel
leciual infants, or, finding Them So
unwisely armed not only withhold
righteous counsel, but frown upon
and condemn those who would
lend a helping had for their good
and the good Of society. The first
are those who profess no grievance,
and would willingly return 10
work if they dared, and they are
found 10 be quite numerous among
the knights, Judging from their
own declarations. The last are
the more intelligent leaders, who,
it is said, threw fir ebrands, at The
outset, into the infamable hemp
OF ignorance and malice, and, 50
far as the public can see, now view
with complacency The growing
tendency to open violence and
vicious molesiatiOn of persons and
property. So The public is forced
10 judge, as the knight, have fire.
quently met together since the
strike, affording ample opportunity
20 The governing spirits to eXtin-
gulsh the fame they kindled, but,
alas! that fame grows more threat.
ening.
Upon the interposilion of the
officers of the law for the protec-
tiOn Of society, the report was
adroitly and shrewdly manufac-
tured, evidently by The more acute
and designing intelIects, that such
legal action was prompted by a
desire 10 cOerce the labOrrrs back
10 work by stripping them Of pow
er. There is method In this, but ii
is The method of madness, and uiH
rebound. While the laws Of this
country are most liberal in giving
a wide range for freedom of speech, |
the right 10 peaceably assemble, to
organize, 10 openly discuss private
or public grievances, real or i'm
aglnary, that same law is equally
strong for the indiscriminate pro
lection Of life, liberty and proper
~. Our officers are not only sworn
10 execute this law, but would be
unworthy their sacred trust were
they not to enter into its spirit and
WELD its full power when occasion
offers. And apropO of these re-
MARKS is the pointed expression Of
Sheriff Lewis in his proclamation
a few days since. announcing his
appointment Of lhirty-One special
deputies: "All persons violating
the law, or melting, or causing
others 10 do so, will be promptly
dealt with, as l am determined
that peace and order shall be main
tanned at all hazards" Every
right thinking citizen will endorse
this official action fully, hold up
the hands Of the Sheriff, who, If
need be, can call into action the
power Of the country.
And right here is a Lesson for
strikers. If violence alone can al.
tain The end at which the strike
aims that strike is worse than folly
on the part OF The handful Of la ,
borers. II is a species of hardi- a.,
hood that a elicit no sympathy. !
And right here we would call at !
tentiOn TO The recent strike Of car
drivers and conductors in New F,
York city, who resOrled TO illegal {
violence TO maintain a strike, SIM |
ply 20 establish the rule that EN-. {
ployers should deal with them /,
through their leader, the head ex- /
ecuiive board man, who was not a I
workman himself, but an ex-cun-
vict and characterless adventurer.
The thing failed, of course, as it
and was bound to do.
The officers of the law came for !
ward for protection of life and ,
property, and, being so protected
other laborers took up the thrown
up jobs. F,
There are two lessons here. First i.
illegal methods are the weakest !
and least succ ssslul, and secondly '
laborers must act for themselves (;
II they would have The respect /;
and recognition of their employers.
Read new land notice. :