The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-10-19

to fzlter in the performances Of duty,
when that duty has been clearly and fir
y presented TO them II Jurors fail in
this respect, the courts can accomplish
nothing. and the resGlt Is anarchy.
PUBLIC OPINION DISEASED
Iii much to be feared that there Is a
diseased state Of public opinion growing
I'D with regard 10 disturbances OF this ns-
tsre, and that confused, If not erro-
neous, view Of The laE bearing upon these
questions has found lodgment in the pub
lie mind. This Is evidenced by the COM
ments Of 8 portion Of The press and in the
atterznce OF demagogues who pander to
the mob and the politicians who hunger
for votes II finds expression in symps-
thy for men who. without recognized
grievance, trzmple upon the law and the
rights Of others, and yet have no sympa-
thy for the outraged laE. OF the la5Orer
who Is beaten and sometimes murdered,
in bis effort 70 seek honest employment
for the support Of his family. The
growth Of this sentiment may have beeu
promoted to some extent by the addition
Of large numbers Of foreigners 70 OGr a
boring population. Many Of them are
densely ignorant, as well as brutal in
their dispositions. They have false ideas
in regard 20 the kind Of liberty ve enjoy
in this country. Il is needed that al
such persons should be taught the lesson
that our liberty Is the liberty Of Law and
not the liberty Of license
The present occasion requires me 10 de-
fine the law. 1 viii endeSvor 10 do II
50 clearly and fully that there shall be
hereafter 10 excuse for misunderstood
ing II. To some extent II hiss been al
ready foreshadOEed.
TIE Law DEFINED.
When theoompany shut down its works
and discharged is men il Vas acting
strictly within the line Of the law; It
could not compel the men 10 Wofk, nor
could the men compel the company to
{ employ them no arrangement could Be
made in this regard except in the n.ture
OF a contract agreed upon by the parties
Upon this subject their rights were mu-
tual. The company had the undouoted
right 10 protect It's property; fer the Pur-
pose It could lawfully employ as many
men as i szw proper, and arm them. 4
necessary Many ofour banks and other
! places OF business, are guarded By armed
( vatchmen- The law did not require Il
1 TO employ as wstchmen the men fr0m
whom it anticipated the destruction Of
/ its works. When : man seeks 10 protect
his house from burglars K would be IN
reasonable to require him 20 place The
/ burglar. in possession for thst purpose ;
50 ss long IS the men employed By the
company IS wztchmen, 10 guard and pro-
tect its property, acted only in that ca
pacity, and for that purpose, it mattered
not 70 the rioters, nor to the public who
they were, 1or from whence they came.
! Il was an act OF unlawful violence TO pre-
vent their landing upon the property Of
the company. That unlawful violence
am Cunted 10 at least iiot upon the
Part Of al concerned IN il; II life vas
taken in pursuance OF = purpose 10 resist
the I.nding Of the men by violence, the
ofense vas murder, and perhaps treason
d Z L - -
The rights Of the men, as before stated,
we're TO refuse 10 work unless their terms
were zcoeded 70, and TO persuade others
to Join them n such refusal, but it vii
Sustain them 10 further. The moment
they attempted to control the works and
20 prevent By violence, or threats OF vio-
lence, other laborers from going TO Eork
there, they placed themselves outside the
pale Of the law and became rioters. 1t
cannot be tolerated for a moment that
one laborer shall SAY 70 another labOrsr
you shall not Eork FOR this man for that
wage without my consent, and then en-
force such command By brutal violence
upon his person; and what viii not be
permitted 70 one msn to do vii 40, be
permitted 70 an organization Of men.
rHEDUrY OF THE STATE
lis the duty Of the STATE to protect
I every citizen within her borders; in thi:
there Is no distinction between the laborer
and the capitalists; j. protects each witt
equal inpSrtiality when the State fall
to DO this, it fails in lis duty as sOvsr
eign and il vii protec; with firm banC
the individual lzborer from the tyranny
and unlawful demands Of organizes
labor. The iaE sheuld be 50 enforce
from the Delaware TO the Ohio that thl
: humblest lsborer can work for whom hi
plezses and al what wage he sees ft, IN
deferred By the bludgeon Of the rio:er o.
} the pistol OF the assassin
II We we're to eoncede the agrzrisr
: doctrine that the employe may lawful!
dictate 70 his employer the terms Of hi
employment, and upon the 'efuszl nth
latter to acoede 10 them, take possession
Of bis property and DIVE Others ava.
who are wiling to gork, We would hRy
anarchy. 20 business could be eonduci
. ed upen s1eh q principle, the doctrine
vhen once eountenznced, viii be extend
! 81 10 every industry. Some Of you ge1
7 aemen Of the Grand Jury may be farm
ers- I am one Dyself, and take an homes
5 pride in It. Suppose when your crops AZ
rsasy to be gathered, your men with
( without Gauss refuse to WORK, and 10
: only refuse to work, bu: also take posses
: sion Of your farm and by violene
and threats prevent all o;heI
( f,on doing 50, unless you accede I
the demands which yoE regard as u
reasonable: in the meantime your croT
/ perish and yon lose the fruits Of you
5 Years toll Under such circumstance
|. Won would Dot like 70 be told from thi
2 bench that you have no right 70 prote'
i vour property, OF to employ men
: wa.chmen for thai purpose There is n
: such law
: THE oFFESsE OF TEEAsoS.
: I have made these preliminary Il
: marks in order that you may the betis
: understand the offence Of treason,
; which I now come II Is defined by Il
+ first section Of the act Of MsTct 81, lS6