The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-26
srArrLE. TUESDAY, JULY as.
ONE GOVERNMENT AT A TIME.

ONE GOVERNMENT AT TIME.
In the letter of Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the American Federation of Labor,
published in our issue Of yesterday morn
ing. We find the following passage:
Yes, my friend. it has come TO this that the
wage workers are defending their lives, their
homes their firesides and their liberties against
a pretorisn guard, hired and fitted out to kill
for the purpose of wiring ng q few more dollars
out of the flesh and blood OF the wealth pro-
ducers.
This is Mr.. Gompers' definition of the
crimes perpetrated by striking labor at
Homestead, Pa. Let US reason together
without heat, and see whether this
Is . truthful statement. The gov
eminent of the United States is
founded upon the principle that
the majority shall rule; religion is free;
the ballot is almost universal; the rights
of the states are carefully guarded; the
supremacy of the federal government is
carefully limited. 1t is a fundamental
provision of both the federal constitution
and of all the state constitutions that pri-
vate property can only be legally invaded
and occupied by the state under the law.
and even the state cannot exercise its
right of eminent domain in taking private
property for peaceful public purposes or
for military defense without compensa-
ton.
The constitution of the United States
says. Nor shall private property be
taken for public use without just compen-
sation." The constitution of Pennsylva-
mia says, "Nor shall private property be
taken or applied to public use without just
clear. therefore. under our form of govern
ment, until it is constitutionally changed
by the will Of the majority of the people
speaking through their ballots, or is COM
pletely upset by armed revolution, that
the property-owner must be protected
in the possession of his property, whether
he is rich or poor. employee or employer,
and that the invasion and occupation of
private property can only be made by the
lawful agents Of the government on the
judicial appeal of the citizen, or in protec-
ton of the public veal exercised within
cupation of private property. or resistance
TO the lawful occupation of private prop
erty is gross breach Of the fundamental
legal and constitutional rights of an
American citizen.
Secondly. under our federal constitution
and under all the state constitutions the
right of every man to work for whom be
piease., when he pleases and on what
terms he pleases belongs to every Ameri-
can citizen. Under our form of govern
ment the right Of labor 10 form unions for
the protection of its own interests can not
be questioned, subject. of course. TO due
respect for the fundamental, constitu-
tional rights Of oil American citizens
A trades union, Of course, has right to
reject the terms of the employer; it can
command its members 20 strike. but there
its authority ends; it cannot legally pre-
vent mill owner from securing other
help; il has no right under our form OF
government TO interfere with any non
union man who chooses 10 accept work !;
ii has no right 10 occupy the employers
property, 20 prevent the officers of the law
from protecting il or the owner from occu-
plying it free from illegal restraint
No sane, intelligent man viii dispute
that under any government a man is an
anarchist and an outlaw who sezes the
property OF another man without legal
authority and resists with murderous
violence the legal efforts Of the property
owner to protect il OF rescue it from seiz-
ure by al armed mob. From the testi-
mony az the men themselves il is clear
that they hal taken armed possession Of
the property and proposed 10 resist with
force any effort of the company 70 operate
Il with uon-union men, and they opened
fire upon the so-caIled ''pretorian guard
because they were being landed upon the
property to cover and protect the intro
dGetion of non-unIon labor in the mills
The so-caled 'pretorian guard" came
for the same purpose that the National
Guard Is there for today. and logically i. i.
absurd 20 pretend that the presence of the
militia Is y biz more welcome than the
presence Of the "pretorian guards" be-
cause the militia are merely completine
tHS NtfA bdSt kslo REetOriaUS were not
permitted 10 Gaish. An armed mob in.
wade private property where they had nc
right 20 re ana oPen Ire upon the agents
of the property undertaking 10 land upon
the property. The ire IS finally returned
and some Of the mot are shot.
Nobody UnlsWfl,iy invaded the houses
attacked the hives. deseccated the Preside.
or violated the liberties Of any Of the
strikers. On the Contrary every striker
who los. his life was S rioter and tnemhe,
OF an armed mob invading private prop
er;y and seeking 10 prevent 49, OCCUPATION
hv - Lawful owners. This Is the situation
which Mr.. Gompers falsely describes wAeg
be defines the Homestead rlot as seen,
wh-re 1.-The 'sage-workers sre 6eteud,n.
,heiI lives. their homes. their dres!tes ar.
their liberties against a pretorian guard
hired and cited cut 70 kill for the purp0s.
IF wFincing : few more dollars out o. III,
flesh and blood If the wealth producers
Now, o. course. Mr.. Gouuers does no
mean that any legal or constitutions
right Of life, ..tertv or property heiongin.
10 any Wage - ,r.,,r . IS assaulted. for Ia,
thAg ueea the case the Advisory Commits,