St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-08
THE HOMESTEAD OUTRAGE.
A st. Paul Newspaper Is Taken to
Task.

"A 0t. raul Newspaper IS Iahen 10
Task.
To the Editor of the Globe.
Yesterday the Pioneer Press undertook to
show, editorially. that the Homestead strik-
ers and they alone. were responsible for the
{ fearful consequences attending, the at
tempt of the Carnegie managers TO overawe
the workingmen by invading the state of
Pennsylvania with a band of hired
mercenaries. armed with Winchester rifles
and loaded down with cartridges for
the same. Near the beginning of
his labored. and at times ''hystericy.'' article.
the Pioneer Press editor says: 1.-The Carne-
a contemplated reduction of wages. Whether
this was right or wrong, necessary or unnec-
cessary, we do not pretend to know Note
this: The Pioneer Press does not pretend to
Wronged by the proposed reduction, but it
didactcably proceeds to place the men in
the wrong without stating or even consider
ing :, their side Of the case. This is
who desires to search out the truth
and award just decision, but
unfortunately it is the usual temper in which
the wealthy Pioneer Press discusses any mat
rayed on opposite sides 1t follows the quo
tation above given with this sapient remark:
What we do know. and what every man
knows is that, II the act was an injustice to
shC A1Slis tucy udu tttelr remedy at mana IN
refusing to accept the lower scale. This was
their right and this they proposed to do"
certainly, 1t was their right The right to
starye Is one always generally accorded by
the rich to the poor; but the right to be treat
ed as human beings, the right to life, liberty
and the p ursuit of happiness. the right to
just and equitable return for the most toll
some and cruelty exhausting labor probably
known In this whole cOuntry-these rights
are granted-when allowed at all-with much
demur ard very i'll grace. to be rescinded by
piutOcracy whenever 1t can plan way to
ROB American citizens Of the rights guaran-
teed them by their national constitution.
The Pioneer Press then proceeds to fercely
arraign these unfortunate men for losing
their temper when confronted by an armed
mob OF Pinkerton hlrelings-for, legally, it
was neither more nor less than a mOb-and
scores the frenzied strikers for using vio-
ience to resist threatened harm and for ex-
cesses committed in the heat Of conflict
with blood boiling, frantic with rage at the
injustice ana arbitrary wrongs inflicted Oh
them. as they think, causelessly and without
justification.
Much to the chagrin of the Pioneer Press
Mr.. Carnegie's slaves are not gifted with
philosophlc minds. They cannot face the
wretchedness that falls to the lot of the un-
employed with stoicism. nor can they recon-
Gle themselves with patience to the heart
breaking toll in his mills for the recompense
OF poor and bare living, when the evidence
is before them that he is amassing more and
more millions as years go by. Whsp the
choice between starvation or slavery is given
them as the only alternasive they do not face
the situation with judicial calm. They have
not that cool self-poise in desperate straits
that marks the castle of We're de Vere"-and
the P. 2. editors gorge rises within him
thereat.
The brutal obstinacy of the masses, their
stupid refusal to become mere beasts of bur-
den and to bow with docilc submission to
any and all unreasonable demands made by
the arrogant and purse proud, is much de-
plored by all the Miss Nancies in the coun-
try. 1t is very disturbing. very If the war
department. would order out few battalions
and shoot down some thousands of the dis
reputable. Hl-smeli!ng beggers, it might quiet
the rebelilous rascals everywhere. 1t would
certainly calm those operated on.
S. G. SHERBURNE.
st. Paul, July7.