Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-07-19
Cleveland and Anarchy.

1.-THE proclamation OF Grover Cleveland
the servant Of the corporations and the tool
OF trusts, In putting Chicago, and practically
the West. under martial law Is the act OF an
autocrat and should be denounced by every
lover Of national liberty Does Grover
Cleveland. thn worshipper Of gold think that
the West Is unable to care for It's dlsorderly
elements, II such there bel II So we wish to
inform him In words that he cannot mis-
understand that We can and will."-[ Monitor
Herald
The action Of Mr. Cleveland towards
the lawless strikers has met the APP
proyal Of ninety-nine ont Of every
hundred Of the American people East
and West, and yet the little insight
fcant sheet edited by the state house
gang at Topeka has the presumption
to intimate that there is anything like
sentiment in this country in favor
Of lawlessness, anarchy and general
ruin.
What has Mr.. Cleveland donep
When o band Of law breakers, headed by
an unknown vagabond just out Of the
Kelley cure, were violating the laws Of
the United States, stopping the United
States mail, destroying the instru-
ments OF state commerce, burn
ing property, taking human life, Mr..
Cleveland simply, as was his duty to
under the laws of the United States,
sent government troops to preserve
order, start the United States mails
and permit the people to carry on
their business OF interstate commerce,
save property from destruction and
prevent the wholesale slaughter Of in
dividuals by the mob.
Mr.. Debs, in one Of his manifestoes,
says that he and the American Rail
way Union were opposed to any
violence, opposed to the destruction
of property, opposed to the taking Of
human life, opposed to the obstruc-
ton OF trains.
OF course, every intelligent man
knows that Mr.. Debs was playing the
hypocrlte when he made these asser-
tions, but it was policy for him to
make them. Still, II there should
have been any sincerity in what
he said why would he have been OPP
posed to the government troopsp Mr..
Cleveland did not order the govern
ment troops to prevent members
Of the American Railway Union from
going to work il they wanted to. He
did not order the troops to prevent
Mr.. Pullman or the managers OF the
railroad company from employing
members of the American Railway
Union II they desired to employ them.
There is not an instance that has been
published anywhere Of an interference
by government soldier Of any per-
son engaged on either side Of the con-
troversy who was not at the time
performing some unlawful act. The
only purpose Of the troops was to
prevent lawlessness and they have
never at any time or under any cir
cumstances attempted to interfere |
with anyone who was not engaged in
some unlawful act Then why object |
to their presenceP
The troops have just as much right
to be in Illinois as they have to be in
Fort Riley; they have just as much
right around the railroad tracks and
around the Pullman shops as they
at Fort Riley, so long as they do not
interfere with anyone who is engaged
In any legitimate business.
The only objection which the Mont
tor-Herald and the State administra-
ton can possibly have to the presence
OF troops would be that some one
might have the opportunity to COM
init some unlawful act. tits only the
villain and the scoundrel who are
afraid OF the policemen 1t is only
the law breaker and the anarchist
who are afraid of the soldier whose
duty it is to see that the laws are not
violated.
Debs and his allies will find they
have entered upon serious under
taking in pitting themselves against
a Government Of 70,00O,0OO people,
nine-tenths Of whom have no sympa-
my with their attempt to rule or
wreck the country. They have done
The cause of organized labor, which
mad an abundance Of popular sympa-
my and support, more harm within
The past ten days than they can undo
n as many years. They will find the
'ane and sober labor organizations
'anged on the side Of law and order
n sheer self defense.
IN thn Dnnu1,a ate uyarn x.t,rhf L.. ,n,, |