New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-21
THE LESSON OF THE WEEK.

The last week has brought, in the ESTIMATION
of many foreigners and apparently VI SUM
Americans also, a severe trlal Oh rePuo
institutions. Great organizations OF Worhihs
men have been engaged in struggle as"ii''S
EMPLOYERS. and deeds of violence have causeu
the military forces of three states 10 DE caiieu
ont for the restoration of order ana the ENFORCE
ment of law The strikers protest 'ha' .ne9
were not the lawbreakcrs, and II Wouid NC
infinitely to their advantage if the oreaii'za-
t;ons would make this clear to the popular APP
nrebenson by stern suppression OF all la"iess.
ness. But the week ends with triumph OF
order and of law. the military forces beihg 10
longer resisted anywhere, though 1t is YET
question whether the laws would be resPec'eo
aaJ ohovod 10 the troops should DO withdrawn.
- l. - nocessarv condition of civilized society
tot tho resnect for law and the restraints OF
law must ordinarily be sufficient to ehaDie the
daily work of industry and OF exchanges 10 ~
ON without the presence OF arh'eu io'0e''
TRANSPORTATION of products from farms 10 ido,o-
ries. or from factories to FARMS "ouiu ia ''o
long run be impossible II every lreieh'-o',
had to be guarded by soldiers balkS anu
brokers could not continue in business IL every
door had to be perpetually defended oS cor
Ills ouard The sacred delights OF home
i;to you'd he impossible if there were needed
81 tho threshold of every home soldier OF the
Cta,o +o onard against intrusion. Civilization
hos for its foundation voluntary respect Ior
law and obedience to its restraints.
When this foundation of civilized society is
.hol,or and fragrant disregard and defiance OF
,a'. ,,,,l,os rho presence of armed forces neces-
ao,,. for the protection of mon in ordinary
orcca+ons the public rightly demands tnat
greater respect for law shall be mcuica'eo W
punishment of lawbreakers what excuse VI
nretext men may have for lawlessness' or
whether they have any, is matter OF Sinaii
onoount Nothing can Justify insurrecuoh
ooo;nst the law. and the first business OF 60
c;etv ;s 10 teach that lesson by the punishment
IS those who have assailed the very foundauoh
80 order and civilization. Every good citlzen
hoe a ,iobt to feel that he is not protected as
w. sbmld he by his Government, in the ENJOY
mont Of life and liberty and property II the
iaus unon which he must ordinarily rely Tor
.-o+ac+;on are broken and defed with impunity.
II is not the question here whether 'he Jaw
breakers at one point or another were s.rihoio
or not. The law has nothing 10 10 WIN 'i'"'
question. 1t recognizes that the meh ha'o .
ri pht to work or 10 cedSo oin'is' VIZ"
omnlovers have a right to make terms or 70
orn,ov other men. The law knows only that
certain persons have burned property conspireo
70 prevent the use of railroads, or violently
assaulted peaceable citizens who were Wiling
to work at wages offered. These are crimes
ooonst the law. and whether committed by one
cot Of men or another, must be impartlaiiy
nun;sbed in order that the rights OF all citizens
NAV he protected and respect for the laws may
be restored.
The obvious and urgent duty OF labor or
carnations is to take the lead in uphoidine
and enforcing the laws which persons, pretend
inc n, act in the interest of those organizations
baye violated Whether the individuals are
strikers or not makes no difference; they are
lawbreakers. The body of organized workers
ran do nothing more effective TO enlist public
svmnatby in their behalf, nothing to demon
strate more conclusively their own readiness
70 respect and obey the laws, than to expose
and bring to Justice those who have cast odium
nnon them and their organizations by illegal
acts. If the switchmen at Buffalo and the
stee, workers at Homestead want to kindle pub
lie opinion in their favor, they have only to
SEIZE the men who have been burning assault
ing and shooting, and turn them over to the
proper authorities for punishment.