The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-27
Not An Army ofPeaoe.

The Coxey army is not an army OF
peace. 1t is peaceable just as long as 1t is
fed and permitted to do as it pleases. 1t
is composed for the most part Of men who
! have no respect for law. 1t has been dem
/ onstrated already by more than one Of
I its branches that It is a law-defying or
| genization, and that it will resort to vio-
| lence to get what it wants whenever it
can do so with safety. Those who are at
the head Of it, Notwithstanding their pro-
| testations to the contrary, are at
heart communists and anarchists.
They know their men have not
the means to purchase food and
transportation. How then did they
expect to reach Washington? They
expected to subsist upon the coun-
try along the line of march, and to take
possession of railroad trains if free trans
portation was not granted them.
Thus far food has been given to the
various branches of the army. Il has
not, however, been given willingly. Those
who have contributed it have done so to
get rid of a disturbing and dangerous
force. They realized that if they didn't
furnish food it would be taken, just as
railroad trains have been taken when
transportation has been refused
The army, therefore, is not to be dealt
with as if it were composed of law-abid-
ing men bent upon securing redress for a
real or fancied grievance, but as menace
TO life and property
When the army first began to assemble
there were very few manifestations of
lawlessness. The army was weak and
therefore conservative. As it has in
creased in strength it has grown more ex-
acting in its demands. 1t has allowed
the real spirit and sentiment that control
it to crop out. In Iowa there has been
violence, and in Montana federal troops
have been called upon 10 protect property.
If the army should continue to increase
it's insolence would become unbearable.
1t would make demands for supplies and
transportation and would support them
by force. .----.-----~-.------
1t is no time for such resolutions as
that introduced unto the Senate by the
Populist Senator Allen. Resolutions of
that sort encourage the formation of
groups of idle, shiftless and vicious men
WuO nave no pdIIlOJlSm ana nOJhlnR TO
lose. They are, therefore, prepared to
disregard the barriers that have been
erected for the protection and welfare
for society and appropriate whatever
property they want.
There does notseem to be any purpose in
the Senate to show the army encourage
ment. The speeches of Senator Vest and
Wolcott, reported in our dispatches this
morning, indicate very clearly that no
concessions will be made to the Coxeyites.
1t is well understood that the men march
ing toward Washington are not influ-
enced by any reasonable or patriotic pur-
pose. They know they can accomplish
nothing by their journey. 1t is evident,
therefore, that their object is not to in
tiuence legislation. The assertion of
Coxey that he intends to present to con-
gress "a petition with boots on-a petit
ton that cannot be pigeonholed" has a
catching sound, but it means nothing.
What Coxey is seeking is notoriety, and
the main idea of his followers is that the
world owes them living. They have no
intention of earning living.