New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-25
AMERICANS AGAINST AWLESSNESS

The shooting of Mr.. Prick is not TO be
attributed to any organization of labor. Doubt
less. the same strikers who began by hanging
him in effgv would have frowncd upon any
ottempt 70 nut him out of the way. They
evidently feel that the act does not help then
cause. but 1t would have much less influence
if the labor organization had prevented shoo'-
ing and killing when guards were brought to
the steel works in barges. Inc endeaVor 10
Justify that act has brought about state OF
mind which turns stronger heads than that oil
the Anarchist who put into acts the words Oh
some crazy newspapers and meetings in this
city. If it were right, he reasoned, TO shoot
down a non-union worker or guard employed
nv Mr.. Frick. would it not be right to shoot Mr.
Prick himself? His logic is less easily disputed
than his premise.
The seed which bears such bloody fruit is
the idea that worker has right to stop by
force and bloodshed any who may be Wiling
to work in his place. If black sheep may
be shot, anybody who guards him must be
thug. and the employer Of both must deserve
no better fate. Leaders of organizations DO not
always consider what spirit their strong words
will kinde in followers who arc excited lgno-
rant, ana lInpdlitllt VI az iN'''""'N'
the nflammable materials have been lighted
the blaze often extends further than the pru-
dent leaders wish, and far enough to destroy
their own best plans. The sympathy OF New
York work ingmen was intended to help Home
stead strikers But the sympathy which started
off n Russian nihist with revolver a knife
and dynamite cartridges is not of the sort
which helps any cause in this country.
The attempted assassination is likely to have
n far reaching, moral influence. Ii affects the
spirit of the troops who are at Homestead. 1t
will not make the Governor of Pennsylvania
more ready to leave the region without an
armed force. 1t will move thousands of voters
TO uphold him and the courts in every step
for the restoration Of order and the punish
mcnt OF lawless acts Juries may find the
accused guilty of participation In riot in more
than one case where they would probably nave
disagreed week ago. All these are consequences
which naturally follow when the American love
of order and respect for law are strongly aroused.
The people of this country are laborers' ana
sympathize strongly with labor in all just eff
forts. But they have no sympathy with de-
mands or theories which excite to violent
deeds. nor with the lawless acts which too
often follow
1t is to this same aroused and determined
public sentiment that the country must look
for safety. There is no remedy to be found
without rcsolute and strict enforcement of law,
no matter what the pretext for law-breaklng
NAV be- The true laborcrs OF this
country have less excuse than those OF any
other land for any resort to unlawful means
They are the great majority. They elect the
lawmakers and make the laws, and when they
are united in the conviction that they need
Modification of laws for their welfare, can
always rest assured that they will get it, The
only true remedy for all evils Is in their hands,
provided they rely upon the laws alone, scrupu-
louslv obey and strictly enforce them, and UNI
ainchingly suppress all resort to violence by
any of their own number. They cannot expect,
and ought not TO expect, that laws VIII be
enacted TO please some OF them at the expense
of all other workngmen. But whatever the
working people Of this country require for
their defence in any right or against any wrong,
they can get more surely and more quickly
through the balot-boxcs and the laws than
in any other way. When men in that position
of power and responsibility tolerate any resort
70 violence in their behalf, it is a fatal error.