The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-29

necessary 20 give full protection TO all
concerned. You are now before the court
under an order based upon affidavits TO
show cause why you should not be at
tached for contempt for refusing to obey
the orders OF the court copy OF which
has duly been brought TO your attention.
20 suggest TO you that you should not
overlook the nature and Importance OF
your employment. You are engaged in
service of public character, and the pub
lie Is not only interested in the manner
In which you perform your duties while
you continue in that service. but is quite
as much interested I'm the time and cir
cumstances under which you quit that
employment.
You can't always choose your OWN time
and place for terminating the relations.
IL you were permitted TO do so you might
quit your work at a time and place and
under circumstances which would involve
irreparable damage to your employer and
Jeopardize the lives OF the travelling pub
lie.
Your employers owe a high duty TO the
public which they are compelled TO per-
form under severe penalty, and they
have in turn higher claim upon you and
your service than that due from the ordi-
nary employe.
This court does not assume the power
10 COmnel you 10 continue your SERVICE
20 your employers against your Will. but
II does undertake TO compel you to per-
form your whole duty while such rela-
lions continue. and does further claim
for the purposes Of ascertainng whether
its orders have been violated the right 10
determine when your relation 10 your
employer legally terminated and when
your obligations 10 observe this order
cease.
II may, in the meantime be important
for you 10 reflect and consider whether
you can safely proceed TO continue in
your employers service with the purpose
TO quit at a moment when some duty may
be required OF you which is in violation
of some supposed promise or obligation
you owe another not your employers.
This order, opinion. or whatever you
may choose TO call it. asserts uncondi-
ticnally a right in an employer &c com
pei an employe TO remain in his service
during a period that the employee has
agreed TO serve. although the emrloyc is
unwilling 10 complete the term Of service
and has determined to quit There is
nothing in our institutions or in the his
tory of them which justifes such con-
tention. but, on the contrary their very
cornerstone is the liberty Of the citizen
TO do just what those employees did In
the Roman civilization, one OF the bull
warks of which was slavery, men could
be compelled to perform their contracts
specifically as they made them. But the
essential distinction between 1t and the
barbarism Of you please Of their Ger
man conquerors was that amongst the
latter no man should be compelled TO do
anything against his will.
He might break his contract at his
pleasure substituting for performance
money compensation or damages, yet even
this was not to be assessed against him
unless twelve Of his neighbors unanimous
ly agreed that it was fair and equitable
under all the circumstances Of the case
that he should pay. and it was for them
also 10 determine just how much he
should pay. This principle we Of the
United Staes have inherited and now
maintain as part Of our organic law.
on 1t rests the glory of the civilization
that Englsh-speaking races have set up
pendence and the self-reiance Of the
Englishman and his descendants where
ever they are found. 1t is the dividing
line between the corrupting and slave
breeding institutions of old Rome, and the
healthy. freedom-loving principles that
our Anglo-Saxon ancestors transmitted to
us. The action Of the United States
Judge strikes at the very foundation Of
everything upon which our republican
institutions rests. 1t is declaration that
money may reduce men TO slavery if
moneys interests are put in peril II is
principle that the American people will
not tolerate for one hour unless their
national character has suffered a real
Accommodation