The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-16

AN ABSURD RESOLUTION.

AN ABSURD RESOLUTION.
The Democratic county convention on
Saturday passed the following resolution:
Rcsolred, That we demand that the legislative
assembly OF this state at its next session pass
law making it felony punishable by imprison-
ment In the state penftentiary for any person or
corporation to bring aid assist in the bring
ing OF armed bodies of men into our state, and
we further demand that a law be passed ut the
same time making il a felony punishable by I'M
prisonment for any person. association OF per
sons, or corporation TO arm bodies of men with
q view to intimidate or excite to riot OF blood
shed either employer or employees.
The first part Of this resolution is under
standable; it doubtless means to declare in
favor of the passage of an anti-Pinkerton
law, but that portion of the resolution
which calls for the passage of law "mak-
ing it a felony for any person, association
of persons or corporation to arm bodies of
men with view to intimidate, or excite
to riot or bloodshed either employer or
employee" is so indefinite as to be absurd.
OF course no legislature outside Of bedlam
would ever pass such law, which would
corporation the primary right of armed
defense of his life or liberty or property
from illegal assault.
For employer or empioye to arm them
selves for the clear, wanton purpose of ex-
citing riot and bloodshed would be unlaw-
employer or employee to arm himself and
his friends to resist an illegal attack upon
his life or liberty or property. Suppose the
owners Of the Homestead mill attempted
to make forcible entry into the houses and
property Of the workmen at Homestead
without warrant of law, does any sane
man suppose these workmen would not
have the legal right to make armed resis-
tance with their friends to such an outrage.
even to the point Of "intimidating" the
invaders and causing bloodshed :" When
the anti-Chinese agitators in Portland in
1885 threatened to assault the Oregonian
Office the proprietors armed their employees
in preparation for such an attack. Such
preparation was but . prudent provision
to hold the fort until the authorities
could arrive. and it was the exercise of
primary right Of self-protectlon that no
legislature can take from any man or cor
poration. No man or corporation is
Obliged to wait, when he expects his prop
erty. his life or his liberty to be illegally
invaded, for the arrival of the police, the
sheriff, the militia or the governor before
he takes measures for his own defense If
the officers of the law arrive and are ade-
quate. all the better, but if they do not ar
rive and are not adequate, no man or cor
poration is Obliged to be non-resistant to
illegal assault.
invasion is primary, fundamental right
of individuals and corporations alike, and
is rightfully asserted even when it Gin
timidates" rioters, or even causes blood
shed. No legislature will ever pass any
law forbdding the right of arming for
self-defensc against illegal attack upon
the rights Of employer or employed to life,
liberty and property, and if any legisla-
ture should pass any such absurd law it
would not be worth the paper it was writ
ten upon, for the right of armed self-de-
Tense of life, liberty and property against
illegal invasion is the fundamental right
OF every American citizen, rich or poor,
employer or employed, and no act of legis-
lature can rob any citizen Of this right. S.
The idea that any man. employer or en-
ploye. is obliged to be maltreated, killed
or robbed on his own premises without
arming himself and his fellows in self
defense against actual or impending attack
- utterly idiotic. Seli-preservatiou is na-
lures first law, and no legislature can
make its vIndication a felony by calling il
intimidation" or an attempt to excite
bloodshed." If band of ugly tramps
undertake to attack and despoli farmer,
does anybody suppose that farmer could
not legally arm his workmen and his
ncighbors and beat them off. even if he
Illuminated" them and excited" blood.
shed2
The resolution is absurd The right to
arm in defense OF life. liberty and prop.
erty against illegal invasion belongsito 81,
men, employers and employed. To nro.
hibit the importation OF armed bodies q:
men into the state is one thing: to forbid
man, employer or employed. from stand.
ing up armed on his own premises in
defense of his property against illegal
invasion is quite another thing. No legis.
]ature will pass any such law. because nc
court would respect il for moment; the
right of self-defenss. armed self-defense
against Illegal invasion of life, liberty and
property IS fundamental right which nj
legislature under our form OF government
can forbid either employer or employed e
vindicate.
REMoN
Among the resolutions adopted at III,