The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-02-03
GOVERNMENT BY THE
PEOPLE.

Foreign critics, ever on the alert |
for pretext to carp against repub-
lican government in America, have |
not failed to seize upon the recent
labor outbreaks as a theme for dis
course.
But these very outbreaks have
brought to the notice of the world
feature of American life and gov
eminent of which every American
has reason to feel proud.
Labor troubles and lawlessness
are not peculiar to any country.
They are common the world over.
But in no country are they less
menacing to society or less danger
Gus to government than here. And
yet in no country is larger free
dom or more rights given to work
ingmen, and in no other has the
cause of labor made greater pro-
gress.
To-day armed representatives of
the law are confronting bodies OF
laborers in three States two OF
them the greatest in the Union.
But no one sees in the situation
any menace to the government, any
peril to society or any trouble that
may not be easily overcome. No
one doubts the capacity of the pub
lie authorities to enforce the law,
maintain public order and protect
private rights.
The lawlessness committed or
menaced which gave occasion for
the call of troops is, of course, to
be deplored. But the muster OF
the militia for the maintenance Of
law and order is a magnificent
illustration of government by the
| people. Under despotic rule the
suppression of disorder beyond pc
lice control is the function of thu
army. Here it is the duty, as it il
the privilege, of the citizen, who OF
an hours notice drops his dali,
pursuits and leaves workshop
counting room and home animated
with the sentiment that the high
est duty of citizenship is to main
; tain order no matter where or b.
whom threatened. Only while o.
duty is the guardsman a soldier
Once relieved he is again citize
| absorbed in the busy pursuits
! peaceful life.
The sentiment that animates til
militia called to arms is the sent
ment that animates the entire pei
pie. 1t is the dominant sentimer
of the nation-namely, that Will
the greatest liberty must be az
corded every individual, thel
must be no violation of privat
rights, no invasion of public orde
, no infraction of law. On dete
: mined labor controversy, on gres
strike conducted on legitimat
: lines, public sentiment looks wit
interest, with sympathy for tt
side believed to be in the right, b,
!. without interference. It is onl
= when either side goes beyond tt
pale of the law that halt is Gale
and the edict proclaimed that n
lawlessness, violence or disorde
actual or threatened, will be tole
ated or countenanced.
No matter which side may reso
) to it that side will be called to az
count. While popular sentimer
condemned the men at Homestea
i for the lawlessness they exhibite
it also condemned the action {
Messrs. Carnegie and Prick in CO..
verting the mill while still r
sounding with the hum of indu
try into fort equipped with deaf
dealing devices, and also in il
porting force of armed mercen
ries instead of calling upon tt
public authorities for protectio
IF While it condemns the lawlessne
of the miners in Tennessee it al
condemns the State for establis
ing a convict system which has T
legitimate place in communi
where all labor is free and all |
borers are freemen.
1.-THE disorders of this SUNNI
have their deplorable side they 6
u so have their congratulatory a
- pect. They have brought into
al bright light the dominant force
public sentiment, which holds t
IN maintenance of law and ord
above all other considerations in
government of the people, by tt
ne people and for the people-a &C
i. eminent under which order
ar maintained and peace preserve
he not by soldiers but by citizens.
- New York Herald.
The YI1nafY4fe5 Torrfsfsi Gni