The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-13
PRAISE AND BLAME.
Gov. Altgeld's Recent Action
Considered in Two Ways
Moon of Michigan Thinks He
is the Worst Element.
STATES RIGHTS FAITH.
A North Carolina Member Nat
urally Clings to 1t.

Washington has suffered in spirit over the
great railroad strike, and it cannot be de-
MED that many congressman have felt
panicxy. When the senate met for the first
time after the holiday. it transacted only
little routine business and adjourned over
till Monday. pleading fatigue, but really,
as it would seem, because the cOnscript IA
theirs wero in too much excitement to
transact business and did not want to ex-
press themselves on bills and resolutions
brought forward relating to labor troubles
The house was really doing business for
some days by unanimous consent, as so
many members were absent and SO many
more on special committee work that the
point of no quorum would have compelled
an adjournment. On the day when, so far
as could be Judged from the morning pa
pers matters ia Chicago were reaching a
climax the city was constantly agitated by
fresh rumors, and in the capitol building
nothing else was talked about. The first
was to the effect that Senator Kyle had re-
ceived a telegram that Chicago was on fire
IN i've places and the regulars shooting
down the mob by hundreds The labor
committee was badgeIed almost beyond
endurance, and when Chairman MctSann
received a noon telegram that nothing very
serious had occurred there was most as
tonishing expression Of relief.
Ono side of the Shield.
A few, however, talked with great plain
ness and freedom, and among these Hon
j. w. Moon OF Michigan said.
1T is a sad day for Americans and
bad day for republics, and one of the worst
features in it is that Altgeld performance
1t is simply ridiculous that an American
governor should take such position and
on such 1insy pretenses- He says that the
trouble is that there are no engineers and
dremcn to run the trains Sure enough,
and why nots The mob has dubbed and
hammered every one who tried it till, from
fear OF their lives they are waiting for pro-
lection. As to Mr.. Cleveland, he has taken
nold Of it, and now he must put it through
If it takes every soldier IN the nlted
States. He must call for volunteers from
states where there is no trouble if it is
Have you any idea as to the final re-
sult?''
IL can only give it in boys Fourth Of
July illustration-it depends on just how
the cracker is pointed when it goes off
Apparently we are on the verge OF a revo-
luton, and the future is dark, but surely
the Intelligent American people cannot
have made up their minds to surrender TO
anarchy. Here is the cause Of my greatest
Rricf-thar, after all. we may have to sur
render our boasted position standing
armies and individual liberty and adopt
the system Of older nations. We have
pointed at their standing armies as cruel
and useless burdens, and now it is simply
be rs bad as theirs One fact we must
1uctantly admit-that we must soon de
eide between TWO alternatives. We must
either have some kind of-well, don't
know what name to give it, but I mean
some system by which labor can have
power to decide its own disputes, or we
must have a much stronger central gov
eminent, cruel alternatives, but that's the
way it looks. AS to John F. A1tgeld,
look on him as the worst element in the
81
munist or whatever he calls himself,
cry sioter in Chicago, is encouraged by tho
fnct that Altgeld is governor y
An Opposite Opinion
It IS scarcely necessary to add that there
is a very strong expression of opinion ex-
nctly to the opposite, and among the most
plain spoken that side Is Hon. ;. b.
Alexander OF North Carolina, who says:
In spite Of thickening troubles and dan
gers, am still a firm believer in the re-
served rights of the states, and would
much prefer that Illinois be left to deal
With them in her own way till she con
iesses her inability. Then and then only,
Should there be federal interference. Far
better for to bear the ills we have than
TO call in the federal power, for when cen
tralizatiOn once gets hold it never gives
It up without a struggle Once establish
the rule that there is to be federal pre-
feet in each city and federal troops TO back
him. and we shall have the man on horse
back managing our affairs Our form OF
government was never designed for that
sort of thing. AS to this high talk about
tho courts / think if anything can be
judged by recent events the greatest dan
ger just now is in usurpation by the
courts
AS every hour brought new and star
Ting rumOrs, one of which that the
president had called on New York and
Pennsylvania for volunteer militia, old
members recalled many strange incidents
of the riots of 1877. A southern member
related this senihumorOus or CHASTITY gro
tesQue anecCote. ssThere was one day
when Hayes got badly ratified and asked
some of the southern governors if they
could furnish troops on call Governor
Wade Hampton promptly responded that
he could send him fully equipped negro
regiment at six hours notice. If all the
irony Of history could be concentrated in
one act, it cOu1d scarcely exceed that mani
tested in a regiment of South Carolina
darkies marching to put down a rebellion
in Illinois. - AS a matter of fact, say the
Carolinians there is really fine regiment
of colored militia or well organized com
panies enough to form one at short notice
Looking to Arbitration
Besides the general measures before the
house committees on labor there are no less \
than nine bills and resolutions having
special bearing on the present troubles
One introduced by Senator George pro
vldes that when there has been arbitration
under the act of Oct. 1, 1855, and the cor
pOration shall refuse to accept it. no Unit
ed states court shall issue any Injunction
against the employees and no marshal u
any manner interfere. It also makes it the
duty Of receivers under United States
courts 70 accept such arbitration. Senator