New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-11
Law WILL REMAIN SUPREME.

There has never been q shadow Of doubt In
the minds Of sober and intelligent citizens that
the instruction under Debs would end in n
triumph OF law. That result may be deferred
for little while. but 1t is inevitable. To think
otherwise would be TO despair Of the Republic.
The issue Is between civilization and Anarchy.
The uprising at the West will not be tolerated
for the simple reason that it cannot be tolerated
without surrender of all that Is worth pre-
serving The American people are not yet ready
TO betray themselves. This organized lawlcss-
ness Is an open defiance Of the Nations right
to exist. and its triumph would involve the ruin
Of those by whom and in whose name ii Is per
petrated az completely as 1t would involve the
ruin Of every other fraction Of the population
1t has from the first been an imperative duty
that there should be no trihing with it in any
quarter Hesitation and apparent impotence on
the part of those in authority at such time
only lead great masses Of men, and especially
ignorant foreigners who have been admitted TO
the privilege Of American citizenship, to believe
that law means license and liberty means Anar-
chy. No Government In the world would or
should tolerate such an assault upon the very
foundations of honor and well-beng. II there
is any country in the world which ought 10 be
spared from the necessity of defending itself
against the disloyalty Of It's own citizens. that
country is the United States; but II there IS any
Government which more than others Is bound
by the conditions of its existence 10 maintain
its supremacy invioate. that Government Is
ours.
1t is obvious from the occurrences OF tho last
forty-eight hours thar this mad assault on free
institutions is doomed 10 speedy failure. The
people have been heard from. not only at the
National Capital IN countless messages of ap-
prevail and offers OF organized assistance but
all over the continent. Before such gathering
tide of purpose and force the instruction Of an
ignorant and criminal minority cannot long
stand It's ground. The railroads restored traffic
yesterday at many points, organizations OF their
employees returned 10 their service Of the public
or resolved not 10 obey the orders OF an IRE
sponsible and mpudent dictator. and mobs that
had frightened the tlmorous into belief that
they were irresistible were not visible In the
ncighborhood OF the armed forces Of Govern
ment The collapse Of Drbs and his movement
may be retarded by the enrolment on his side
Of other labor organizations, which are ap-
parenily about 10 be betrayed once more by
their leaders bur temporary Increase Of in
convenience and loss. though millions may be-
affected. will not long postpone the victory Of
law over license.
Indeed the combination Of tho allied unions at
Chicago and the Knights Of Labor in support
Of rank injustice may hasten the end by multi
plylng indefinitely the number Of those who are
dependent upon their daily earnings for their
daily bread Sovereign IL understood 10 have
been busy engaged yesterday In The prcpara
ton Of an order commanding all the Knights of
Labor In the country 10 stop work to-day. He
found time, however. TO announce that one mill
ION men would obey his SUMMONS. Suppose they
should The million would soon be the most
wretchcd victims Of his senSclcss and wicked
act Either they would quietly siarye while
million others took their places or they would
resort TO violence and be crushed. This country
contains an overwhelming majority Of able
bodied men VINO intend to preserve IT Intact for
themselves and their postcrity. The theory that
members OF labor organizations can subvert the
Government by committing suicide Is simply
fantastic. II IS possible and proper to pity those
who are persuaded 10 adopt such theory and
attempt TO put 1t in practice, but the vain and
selfish leaders by whom they are dclmled and
betrayed are deserving only OF contempt and
condemnation