New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-10
CUE TdV IND THE UNIONS.

THE IdU md THE UNIONS.
President Cleveland has met the emergency
manfully. and his proclanIations deserve the
hearty support of all good citizens. The hrs''
regarding Chicago. Is the more explicit III does
not trench upon the rights OF any honest man.
but warns all that those who take part with II
riotous mob in forcby resisting or obStructihs
the execution Of the laws Of the United States
or destroying or attempting TO destroy property
under It's protection, cannot be regarded o'h'r-
wise than as public enemies. II the people
were not ready to welcome ana Wiling III an!
cost TO support such declaration, they "ouiu
not be fl for self government. 1et IL IL INC
strangest and saddcst phase or the prevalent
lunacy Of labor that the President - more
savooely denounced for this than for any other
act OF his life. He asks simply FOR ORDER anu
obedience TO law, which every decent worKlhs-
man wants and condemns only the ro'lhs anu
violence and lawless destruction of property
which every leader Of labor IN words elaborate
" condemns, and yet these same leaders DE-
pounce him as an enemy and tyrant because
he enforces the laws. The unions OF chicago
according 10 DISPATCHES, answer his appeal by
ordering general strike. Is II possible 'hat
they intend 10 make common cause WIFI 'n'
rntt,ons and the lawbreakers by whom, the lead
ers of the Unions say, all acts Of violence ana
crime at Chicago have been pcrpcirated!
There are men OF sense and substance In these
organizations, at Chicago as In TINS ci'y' me"
who have really served the cause OF LABOR WIN
honor Yet the resolutions which are anop'eu
onnear IN avow sympathy with crime and Anar-
civ. with persons who falsely pretend TO repre-
cont tho cause Of labor while in fact, scheming
10 destroy the older labor organizations Tor 'hei
personal advantage with men VINO are u"'"s
infinite harm TO the cause they pretend 10 serve
and who have made themselves lawDreakerS
and fugitives from justice. What other meah'
inc can there be, in resolutions when dehou"'c
the use Of troops in supprcsslns mons ana up
holding law? Either Mr. Debs ut'ers laIse'
hood. or his followers have no part III the Nv.
structlon Of railroad property, or III uehiai Vi
freedom 10 men who wish 10 run railroad 'raihS'
II he tells the truth. the moDs are not coihpoS''
Of strikers and are bringing dishohor upon
labor. and shots aimed at these MODS are ho'
aimed az any union man or honest Iupoiei Va
their cause II he does not tell the tru'h' anu
his organization Is in practchl lhSurrec"oh
against the United States, 1t deserves ho' inc
slightcs, sign II sympathy or encouragement
from any respectable wagecarner or any goon
citizen The events Of yesterday Indicate "l"'
an attitude Of insurrcction against the "o'eTh-
ment Is not one which most OF the members "l
labor organizations intend 10 take, whether OF
dcred or not But II may be that the sou'r SEC
ond thought has not yet come, ana mat me law
less element has yet TO be taught that Il Nhuoh
which makes its own laws will also enforce
them.
The working people Of the United States are
the people. and they are not blind nor ignorant
They know something Of the turbulent ana law
loss snrit which too often gets uppcrmOst IN
labor organizations and mlsrcpreSenls honest
labor. The people know that all their rights
and liberties depend upon the faiihtul ana
unninching enforcement OF The law against
every lawbrcakcr, whether lie be III TACT
an overexcitcd striker or habltual Grim
jnal or an Anarchist wearing the mask OF
labor Law alone guarantees 10 the WORKMAN
his wages. his home his freedom and his cvl
and personal rights. If any mob can deiy law
on one prc,ext, II can as well on any olhcr'
First Of all. before anything else can be even
considered. the people Will insist upon the SUI
prcmacy of the law Thus 1t Is that the Prcsi-
dents procamatons have the support OF good
citizens without regard 10 their political rela'
tons.
II Is stated that the American Railway Union
embraces 125,OO0 members, and The knights OF
Labor as many more. Perhaps al the o'her
unions which have been asked 10 join III Il
movement against the public welfare and peace
NAV raise the number 10 million. But me
wage-earners Of this country number more thah
twenty millions, and the laws which are made
by their votes they will not fail TO uphold. Inc
cause of labor Is, in fact, that Of the twenty
millions. and not that Of any fraction OF one
million 1t is the cause Of law, and not that
OF riotous lawlessness No labor organization
can ever command the confidence ana support
Of the majority, or even Of a considerable minor
ity. Of the wagc-earners In this sclf-governing
country which arrays itself against the laws, or
! suffers itself to be drawn by mistaken leaders
into any form Of hostility to the authorities
charged by the people with the duty OF main
! thinning law