Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-13

The Difference.

We said some days ago, in speaking Of
The Pennsylvania riots. that If the militia
Of the State. OF the posse comitdtus. instead
Of the PiHKERToNs, had been called upon
to put down the Ho mestesd rioters the
sympathies of the people would have been
with the men engaged in enforcing the
law, whereas the attempt TO quell mob
by the assistance Of the PIYKERToNs
only provoked the rioters to further
resistance. The truth of this opinion was
proved at once on Monday when Governor
PATTrsoS ordered out the bone and sinew
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
with the expressed intention of enforcing
the law at all hazards. II is true there
was difference between an army of 5000
men armed and equipped according to law
ind small force of detectives or profess
sional policemen but still the fact re-
manned that the strikers recognized also
that there was a difference between being
compelled to keep the peace by a gang of
PIsKKRToN's detectives and being COM
PEELED to DO so by their own fellow-citi-
zens, many of whom no doubt, If not
large majority Of them, were workingmen
themselves. having the same hopes and
liable at any time 70 suffer the same
wrongs as the Homestead rioters.
There are always two ways OF doing
such things as Governor PATTrsoN had to
do-of performing such duty as he had
20 perform. He chose well and wisely.
He did not have TO call upon the United
States Government but of course he
would have done so If he had been shut up
TO that course. 1t is true the Federal
army can be called upon only when the
State Legislature cannot be convened"
but in such government as ours has
grown to be the word cannot will take
on new meaning.
General SsowDKN. who is IN command of
the military that yesterday occupied Home
stead and restored possession of the iron
and steel-works to tho Carnegie Company,
seems to understand very well indeed the
duties of his responsible position. Eyi-
IDENTITY he means to have no farcical pro-
ceedngs. A public reception" rendered
him by the strikers he respectfully de-
clined. When they rendered him their
cooperation he declined that also.
All he wished of them was submission to
but they were very awkward in an attempt
ed denial that they had ever resisted that
officer. whose deputies they drove from
town the day before the PINkrRroNs
arrived.
The works are now i'll possession of the
company to whom they belong. and the
5000 soldiers OF the National Guard OF
Pennsylvania will remain at Homestead at
least five days. The mobilization thore is
to be made to serve in lieu of the annual
encampment, and thus Governor PATTIsoN
will manage to save Pennsylvania some
money.
We take it for granted, Also that having
taken this work in hand after due dellb-
Grafton, the Governor will not withdraw
oil of the troops at once but that he will
leave O garrison at Homestead after the
main body has been dismissed Not to
do this might afford al opportunity for
q fresh outbreak.
The managers of tho Carnegie Company
seem determined TO fill their works with
non-union men; but it is not clear where
such men can be obtained. Possibly they
hope that after n few months of idleness
the strikers will come TO terms. Already
there are reports of some of them being in
great want.
Meanwhil from every quarter, and from
persons who differ very widely as TO the |
merits of the controversy between CARSE-
GLE ana his men. comes the information |
that the Homestead affair has worried the !
Republican leaders very much indeed. |
The sooner it is forgotten the better they |
will be pleased but the impression that il |
has made upon the public mind will not |
be removed for long time.