, 1892-01-07

much concerned just now about 'llDcr
going into politics" This feeling always
manifests itself on the eve of a poiitical
campaign, and is proportional to the
Importance of the election to be held
and the strength of the labor organiza-
tions at the time. Another noticeable
feature OF these occasional exhibitions OF
solicitude for the welfare of the trade
unions is that they are most pronounced
in the most partisan organs Of the old
parties. Labor men are warned that if
they enter the political arena their unions
will be destroyed by discussions. This is
probably true in the present nature OF
things, providing they make the move as
unions, and the labor men know it. But
such a thing as political organization OF
workingmen outside of their unions is
possible, and such a movement need not
injure the trade societies, while it might
assist in securing through legislation
some of the demands of the unions. | am
not Logging for an Independent party,
but var to call attention to a method
of accomplishing something and at the
same time avoiding the disasters of
which our friends of the capitalistic
press are so fearful
The banker, railroad king and well
fed editor is continually assuring us and
the rest of the world that 'in the United
States all men are equal before the law"
and that justice is melted out to rich and
poor alike. That this is an empty boast
every well informed person knows, and
labor editors and orators are continually
~denouncing it a such. But rarely does
one outside the ranks of the ''cranks'
speak out in meeting. 1t is therefore
interesting to note the remarks of Dis
trict Attorney Ridgway, of Kings coun-
ty, N. Y, on the recent acquittal of
Darwin Meserole, accused of murder.
am not commenting as to the innocence
or guilt of Meserole, but simply submit
the district attorneys statement:
/ think the verdict is a travcsty upon justice.
Never in the history OF Kings county has a
rich mans son been convicted of homicide.
No, sir; our history does not record such n fact.
This was a cold blooded murder, and they wcro
afraid TO put the man on the stand. You may
put me down as saying that a Brooklyn jury
cannot be found To convict n rich mans son.
Governor Buchanan, of Tennessee, de-
clares that the law will be maintained
and that no more convicts will be re-
leased by the miners. From his stand
point the governor is right; he is sworn
to enforce the laws, good or bad, and
his position is the only one he could
take. But he goes too far in the follow
ing remark made ina New York inter
view:
The liberation OF these convicts was unpre-
cedented In the history of the country, and the
issue there now has ceased to be whether the
convicts shall DO leased to work in the mines.
The question now is whether law and order
shall be maintained. On the first question
public sentiment might have been divided.
On the question as II now stands | believe tho
people are united. The law will be maintained.
The issue of whether the convicts
shall be worked by contractors, to the
detriment of free labor, has not ceased
TO be, governor. The slavery question
did not cease to be an issue because of
John Browns raid at Harper's Ferry.
And thousands of good citizens have
said since the release of the Tennessee
conyicts that 1t was a question as to
whether they did right or wrong in
striking the only blow they could strike
in their own defense, after appealing in
vain to the powers that be for relief.
Tennessee must of course maintain law
and order, but she will never be in a po-
sition to obtain the respect and SYM
pathy of the rest of the country until
she makes the convict question a dead
issue by abolishing the narrow and
brutal policy she at present pursues.
Jos. r. BUCHANAN.