The record-union., 1894-07-19


9. Thev claim that the community of
Sacramento must have openly indorsed
these unlawful acts OF the strikers, or else
been afraid to afford moral and active
support to the proper local officers, else
there could not have resulted such u
paralysis of action on the part of the civil
authorities. 4 stream does not rise above
its source and officials elected by the
people cannot be expected to be better
than the community they represent. Sac
raInento has been branded therefore by
the State newspapers as a community,
either OF lawless and disloyal agitators,
or else OF shop-keeping towards fearful
to utter a protest against disorder. ruin
and treason, lest it should affect for few
days their counter sales.
ARE THESE CHARGES TRUE?
These, citizens of Sacramento. are the
charges publicly promulgated against
you and your fair city. and it is because
the Citizens Protective Association saw
in the inception of the trouble this inevi-
table criticism that it organized and has
dared to say that which all good citizens
believe and to do that which all good citi-
zens approve. Under these conditions it
can afford to be assailed, but Sacramento
City cannot afford to permit any small
minority of citizens or officials to longer
assume 10 represent the city and injure
her fair name abroad by loudly declaring,
without denial, that the sentiments and
acts of the Citizens Protective Associa-
tion-all for the perpetnity of law, order
and government-are not representative
of the feelings of this community
And now that. as was inevitable, injury
and death have followed z disobedience
of the Presidents proclamation and de-
fiance of the military authorities sent
here to carry out its intent, the Board of
Trustees of the city OF Sacramento, elected
by the citizens thereof. insists upon fur
nishing further evidence Of the truths of
these newspaper charges against this
of them absolutely
unfair so far as the heart of the public is
concerned-by presenting resolutions re-
citing that the Marshal and Colonel Gra-
ham have ''shot down in cold blood un-
armed, peaceable and law-abiding citi-
zens,' and formally denouncing, in other
duly adopted, 'the tyranny
and brutality of soldiers who have
and assaulted unoifending per-
sons upon our streets,' and denying that
the Citizens Protective Association in
any way represents the sentiment of this
TRUSTEES AS REPRESENTATIVES,.
Such action by the Trustees aside from
the fact that the recitals are apparently
untrue and certainly made without any
investigation. and that the reputation of
the city is being injured by the stand
taken) is practically melting the persons
guilty of lawless acts in the past to open
rebellion in the future against the forces
OF the u nited States.
That the Executive Committee of the
Citizens Protective Association, despite
the Trustees denial, does properly repre-
sent the sentiments OF the loyal citizens OF
Sacramento City in upholding Colonel
q raham and Marshal Baldwin, and that
the Trustees represent only themselves
and very small element OF the strikers
and their sympathizers, is sufficiently
proved by the TACT that the sentiments of
the resolutions passed by the Trustees
were on Friday of last week embodied in
the form of protest to Governor Mark
ham and Marshal Baldwin, and carried
around the city by committee of the
A. r.. u. for signatures, but the signers
were so few that the attempt was given
up in disgust, and the protest never pre-
sented.
PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION WORK.
The Citizens Protective Association
makes no apology for its existence, and
what it has accomplished quietly, and
without the public even knowing ii, fur
nishes ample Justification of its acts.
From the day of its organization, when it
led the communities of the coast by de-
claring for law and order and in opposi-
ton 10 the principle which, without
grievance and III defiance OF all lawful
authority, municipal, State and Federal,
would paralyZe the industries of nation
to punish one man, with whom the par
ties SO acting had no connection, to the
present time, the Citizens Protective AS
sociation has acted solely for the interests
of Sacramento; and the mem bers of its
Executive Committee. TO a man, have
temporarily their private bus
mess and been constantly in session and
on duty.
That the public may understand what
this Executive Committee, to which was
intrusted the carrying out of the policy
of the association, has done, the author
lied statement of some of its work is
made. 1t embraces many things which
paid officials should have done and did
not do, and contains nothing which COM
petent and fearless officials could not have
done.
The Executive Committee early de-
c1ded that any immediate attempt at
mediation between the Southern Pacific
Company aud its employees would be
fruitless, and devoted its attention to pre-
venting, ii possible, a local conflict which
would result in bloodshed and destruc-
ton of property. 1t established friendly
relations " ith the Mediation Committee
of the American Railway Union, whose
in the strike it frankly con-
demned, and with the officials of The
Southern Pacific Company. whose orig
inal stand in the trouble was deemed fair
and proper, whatever may have been it's
shortcomings in other respects. With
both parties to the controversy many and
lengthy interviews were had for informa-
ton, and whenever anything seemed to
offer opportunity for the kindly offices of
a third party. In all this intercourse
neither party has had any reason to ac-
cuse the committee of anything in the
way of bad faith, and nothing has been
given out save with the consent of the
parties interested. The confidence re-
posed in the committee by both sides
made it of value in preventing a conflict
between the strikers and the State militia
by tacit acquiescence in its suggestion
that the decision of the conflict in Chicago
be awaited here without aggressive action
on either side.
W hen it became evident that United
States troops would be sent here an at
tempt was made by the committee to in
duce the strikers not TO take up arms
against the Government, and thus bring
destruction upon themselves and injury
to the city. Mr.. Knox asserted his own
willingness to abide by the laws, but de-
clined to answer for the strikers them
selves.
Learning that the strikers assumed the
right to oppose the Federal troops be-
cause OF advice they claimed To have re-
ceived from their counsel, A. L. Hart,
opportunity was found by the committee
to acquaint General Hart with the grave
responsibility of his position, and to adj
wise him that if blood was shed in Sacra-
mento it would be because he failed to
advise his clients of what he knew 10 be
the fact that opposition to the Government
was treason, and would be punished as