The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-08-17
The Value Of Experience.


1t is an old saying that experience is
the best teacher; but the trouble is, the
tuition sometimes comes too high. Mr..
Debs has learned the truth of the adage
and acknowledges the impressive force
of the lesson. He says, 81 will never
again engage in strike" "Strikes are
repugnant to society, and it is useless
to inaugurate them" ave will turn
our attention to the ballot box and vote
out of office those men who think that
labor is wrong and capital always
right"
What pity it is that this man did
not comprehend the fact of the useless
ness of the strike before he ordered it!
Then it might never have occurred.
Think many how millions of dollars
would have been saved to the wage
Garner! how mach suffering and misery
would have been spared! how much
property would have escaped destruc-
ton, and how many lives would have
been saved if Debs had only learned
the lesson before that the strike has
taught him.
A short time ago he was very conf
dent that he had it in his power to par
alive all the industries in the country,
and proclaimed that he would do it un-
less all his demands were conceded;
and now, after causing untold loss, SUI
fering and death, he has learned that
his efforts were of necessity utterly
futile because, as he himself says, 1.-THE
organized elements of society are OPP
posed to strikes"
And Mr.. Debs finds that 1.-The strike
has served one good purpose; it has
taught the masses how they are to
proceed TO right their wrongs-through
the ballot box" Exactly; and what IA
pity it is that Mr. Debs did not discover
this fact sooner. Every one was telling
him the same thing. The history of the
country tells it, and tells of no other
way 1t is the method of settling mat
tiers in this country which is the very
genius of our form of government One
who runs may read that appeal in this
country is to the ballot box, and not to
boycotts and force of arms. This was
known as well before the strike as now,
and can scarcely be accounted one of
the valuable lessons OF the struggle, eX-
cept as it seems to have made funda-
mental truth comprehensive to such
benighted men as Debs.
1t is possible that the result of the
strike (Which word is used to cover a
series of strikes extending through the
spring and summer) may have taught
the people a wholesome respect for law.
And respect for law is a lesson that
should be inculcated in this country
perpetually. Mr.. Debs has struck the
right note at last-the appeal to the
ballot box That is the American way.
1t is to be hoped that the mass of
strikers who blindly followed the be-
hest of Debs will also profit greatly by
their dear bought experience. They
have already suffered much in the loss
of earnings and money and will con-
tinue to suffer for weeks or months to
come from the want of opportunity to
again earn a livelihood. These men are
helpless and many will be in dispair;
but Debs the leader, the man who led
them into the slough and there left
them to struggle as best they may, suf-
fers no loss. He has suddenly sprang
into prominence. From having been
an obscure individual few weeks ago,
he now boasts of the career of prosper
ity that opens before him. He says he
has offers to lecture 200 nights at $500
per night-S40, 900. But how about his
poor dupes who are in want of bread
to put into their mouths?