Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-07-11
Stauntolt Spectator.
WEDNESDAY. JULY11
THE GREAT STRIKE.

Loss OF PROPERTY AND HUMAN LIVES.
The apprehension we expressed last
week that the strike of the american
Railway Union would not only result
In great loss of property, but of human
lives, before settlement would be
reached, has been realized. For the
past week reign of terror has existed
at Chicago. Property to an incalcula-
BILE extent has been destroyed, and
human lives have been sacrificed. The
incendIary's torch and deadly weapons
have been doing their dreadful work.
As the american Railway Union"
had no grievance of their own, but,
because of the difficulty between the
Pulmans and their employees, de-
termined to refuse to work ON the roads
that carried Pullman cars, their strike
was causeless, senseless, and wicked,
and has resulted, as might have been
foreseen, in the loss of human lives and
the destruction of vast values OF
property, without any reasonable hope
of being of any benefit to the strikers
themselves or to anybody else. By the
obstruction of trains carrying the
mails, and interstate commerce, they
violated the laws of the United States,
and by their refusal to obey the man
dates of the Judges of the Federal
Courts, and resisting their officers with
a force that prevented the execution of
the law, they made it incumbent on
the President, whose sworn duty it is
to have the laws executed, to order
Federal troops to the scene. And he
acted wisely in acting promptly, and
has thereby saved both lives and prop
erty. Without such action no imagi-
nation can conceive the horrible scenes
that would have been enacted, with
arson, riot, disorder, pillage, and
anarchy rampant.
The President could not act too
promptly or too vigorously, for the
sooner and more vigorously the better
for the country. The question is
whether we are to have a government
of law and liberty or one of anarchy
and license-whether the head of the
government shall be the man chosen
by the people in accordance with the
Constitution as the President of the
country, or whether he shall be the
man who is elected by the American
Railway Union" as the President of
Cleveland or Debs. The sooner and
more decidedly this question is deter
mined the better, for, as the I'ader-
appeal says, cit is a critical time in
the existence of the republic, for it
portends a mighty struggle in the
future. Unless the representatives of
lawlessness and anarchy are crushed
out now, the time will come when the
country will have to fight for law and
order on many battlefield, and when
we shall be compelled to have as a
defend life and to protect property"
AS the New York Times says, 1.-The
American Railway Union, whatever its
other purposes, is in this case an arbi-
trary body engaged in an attempt to
override the law for an avowed motive
that is wholly unreasonable and with
out excuse in equity. AS the law
stands, these men might seek to induce
the railway companies to influence the
Pullman Company to accept the terms
imposed by it's employees, if the mem
bers of the Railway Union confined
themselves to quitting work. That
would be a foolish and unfair thing to
do, but it would probably be within
the law. But when by violence and
threats of violence, by destruction of
property and by intimidation, these
men try to compel the railway com
panies to help their plans, they be-
come simply conspirators against law
and order. And the fact that in carry
ing out their conspiracy they infiict
great suffering and loss on multitudes
vi PoiicOois lhloCouG pcIsOHe is d
striking proof of what such anarchy
must result in"
In another column we publish the
proclamation of the President. 1t is
not a declaration of martial law, but it
is the next thing to it, and if that does
not have the desired effect, martial
law will follow, and that is what the
property holding citizens of Chicago
earnestly desire, for they fear that,
without it, their houses will be looted
or burned. The anxiety that prevails
there is inconceivable, and they are
solicitous for declaration of martial
law, that the rioters may be suppressed,
arrested. and punished.