The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-06

has the ballot; he casts his vote and it is
counted; tho richest capitalist is per-
mitted to do no more. The American
workingman Is hedged about by no laws
which protect classes to the exclusion
from their benefits of the masses; the
American workingman has the free school
at his door; the American workingman
who is q brakeman on . railroad train to-
day knows that the late Thomas J. Potter
began at the brake and died manager OF
the Union Pacific; the American me-
chanic knows that Sydney Dillon began in
the shops and died q railroad manager
worth millions. The American working
man knows what every gallant grenadier
in Nspoleon's army knew, that "there Is
a marshal's baton in his knapsack.
The American workingman knows that
he lives under q government
of equal laws, government of majorities,
government of universal suffrage. The
American workingman knows that he has
no need to turn nihilist or anarchist in
America, because it is the votes of Ameri-
can labor that make our laws, and the
votes Of American labor can unmake them
when they do not like them. The Ameri-
can workingman has over his head the
American flag, which assures to him pro-
lection for his life, his liberty and his
property. the fundamentals of all free gov
ernments. equally with all other citizens,
tied only by the federal constitution and
laws and the laws of the various states.
II these constitutional limitations and
definitions of the fundamental rights of all
American citizens do not satisfy the
American workingaan, he has the right
of free speech, free press and free ballot to
peacefully recast the federal constitution
and laws to his liking. If he finds that
the majority is against him he has in the
last desperate extremity the right of revo-
luton, and if he concludes to assert this
right he must abide the issue, just as the
South did in iS61-65, when they
refused to accept the decision of the
ballot box, appealed to the bayonet
and were beaten by the bayonet.
In any event there is no excuse for mob
law or anarchism in the United States.
There is the ballot box, if the methods Of
peaceful redress are sought; there is the
last solemn resort Of revolution through
an appeal to arms. But the right of revo-
luton, when men are beaten fairly at the
ballot box, il not to be enforced by
mob law or acts of anarchism. The revolt
OF the American colonies was not
the wild uprising Of a Paris commune;
the revolt of the South was not passion
ate eruption of mob violence. The Amer
lean colonies served fair, deliberate notice,
speaking through their representatives.
that they intended to appeal to arms and
take the consequences; the South served
fair notice upon our government that they
would secede by force OF arms and take
the consequences, and they did take the
consequences, and are enjoying them to-
day under the old flag.
There is only one way under a repub-
licsn forrn of government, where the ma
jority rules. limited by written constitu-
ton. TO change that government; and that
is 10 go 10 the ballot box and recas. the
government, If you have votes enough,
within the constitution. Failing of Vic
tory at the ballot box. we must submit TO
the law. II the beaten minority are not
satisfied to submit, then they can try By
arms 10 subvert our government by
shooting down the American Tag, tear
ing the constitution 10 tstsers With
the bayonet, ana erecting on the
ruins OF an experiment. of indi-
yjdualisn whatever form of govern
nent suits the successful rebels best. II
the rebels don't succeed OF course they
must expect TO suffer the consequences Of
rebellion az the hands OF the government
they have failed 10 destroy.
The gift Of the ballot was intended 20
preclude the necessity for the desperate re-
sort 10 armed rebellion in America. and
the right Of revolution reckless.y resorte8
20 and enforced IS crime agains. c7ea,
free state, which has ro despot, no car, no
privileged classes. no state church, no Sec
tartan state schools.
The American work.ncman knows all
these things, and therefore the American
woyklusnan will not tolerate o-can:ze3
nnarchlsm in America; viii not allow
mobocTsts to bring law and order into
| chronic contempt wi}h the reopls: The
American vorkingmsn will teach ansrch.
ISIS. whether Of foreign or domestic ante.
| eedentS, that the American citizen has no
rights ua3es las except those guaranteed