The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-07-04
INDEPENDENCE DAY.

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Today is the natal day of American
independence, but in the present condi-
ton OF the country. and after the last
three years Of our history, the old fash
toned celebration Of the day would seem
like a mockery. Instead OF luttering
flags, the stirring notes Of martial mu-
sic, the booming of cannon and the elo-
quent recital of the daring deeds OF
10, the heroism Of Bunker Hill and the
sublime sacrifices ana sufferings Of Val
ley Forge. thoughtful and patriotic citi-
ems will be apt to spend the day In
prayer ana meditation. The following
from the pen Of one Of the country's
greatest editors shows some of the dan
gers to be dreaded as the legitimate out
come Of the present labor troubles:
How many times have we the citi-
zens of the great republic, to learn the
lesson that It Is disorder that causes
despotism; and that we must have Order
or we become Anarchists and Nihilists.
Consider that the widespread ana
senseless riots, the burning of bridges,
The explosion Of mines, the capture OF
men whose crime is willingness to
work, and treating them as the red
Indians treated white captlves taken at
Braddock's defeat--the vicious manifes-
tations of the Ignorance and brutality
OF the races that have suffered most in
character from governments that repose
on bayonets only--and how clear It be-
comes that these are the only things
that corrode the vitais of republics, pro-
woke gangrene and provide for death.
III the sheriffs are powerless; II deputy
sherifrs sworn to preserve order are to
be regarded as m%ercenaries who be-
come obnoxious as Plnkertons; and II
the militia are to be called out contin-
ually and stoned and insulted, driven
about dlsheartened by cowardly or In
capable management; the mobs regard
ed as the sovereign people, mines trium-
phantly destroyed, bridges festlvely
burned, railroads ruined loosely or
grimly, as are the humors Of the des-
peradoes-trains taken as a matter of
course. Migrants applauded for vagran-
cy, tramps and fools given ovations,
blackmail and beggary celebrated as the
public functions Of loafers-what Is the
next thing In order?
History an5wer the question In few
words and with many illustrations. The
standing army is called for. Now, the
standing army does not mean govern
ment by the people and for the people.
It does not mean liberty, in the glorious
American sense. 1t means order in the
monarchlal sense.
what Is the word that has stood be-
hind the empires and the kingdoms In
France since the revolution to Justify
the return to royalty. The word is
order. and for the sake Of order, heaven
ond earth's hrst law OF civilization and
progress, freedom is first limited and
then suppressed. and the military chief
tain, with the sword and gun. and the
behind the plume or under It,
Is the sinister vision OF ages OF exper-
Ience.
We must have order without the
standing army In this country. or with
i. OF course. the people have only to
this, to have the full sense of the
Of Il, to appear strong-hand-
I'd and mighty to stay and TO save. We
have only to behold the abyss IN a clear
light 10 avert II. TO overcome 1t. to re-
an that has been shattered. 10
restrain and to restore.