The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-05-05
UNDER ARREST.
The Leaders Of the Commonweal-,
era Captured In Washington.
Coxay Attempts to Speak from the Capt.
toll steps Bu, In Escorted from tho
Grounds - Browne Resists
and 10 Locked Up.
SOME EXCITING SCENES.


the streets Of Washington to the capt.
tol building on Tuesday, arriving there
about p. m. Coxey managed to elude
the police and mounting the capitol
steps started to address the tremendous
crowd which had assembled, but was
stopped by police officers and led on
the grounds, when he was allowed
tx 60
In the meantime Carl Browne, Coxeys
lieutenant. clambered into the grounds
at the south front of the building and
made rush for the steps. He was fol-
lowed by large crowd. Police ota-
GERS attacked the invaders and were
forced to use 5heir clubs before being
able to clear the grounds. Browne was
placed under arrest, after being severely
dubbed for resisting, and, together
with Christopher Columbus Jones, lead
e1 of the Philadelphia contingent, was
taken to the police station where the
two were locked up on charges OF dis
orderly conduct. They were held IN
ball of $500, which they could not fur
nish, and were placed in cells. Later
bail was ten }ered in Brownies behalf.
and he was released. Jones was left
t. languish in his CELL
Coxey Talks.
Later in the day Gen. Coxey said he
believed the fact that the common peo-
pie Of the United States represented by
his followers had been denied the right
peaceably to assemble and state their
grievances would be heralded through
out che land and would result in bring
ing many thousands of the unemployed
to this city He still advised peace and
declared that he believed his two bills
would be passed by congress inside OF
two or three weeks
Rights of the People.
The follow ing is the address which
Cen Coxey was prevented from dellv-
ering from the steps of the capitol.
After leaving the capitol grounds he
gave the address to the press for public
cation:
THE constitution of the United States guar
antees 10 all citizens the right TO peacefully
apces, and furthermore declares that the
right OF free speech shall not be
abridged. We stand here to-day to test
these guarantees Of our constitution We
chose this place OF assemblage because
1t is the property OF the people, and If
1t be true that the right OF the people to peace
fully assemble upon their own premises and
with their petitions has been abridged by the
passage Of laws in direct violation OF the const IT,
tuition, we were here to draw tbs eyes Of the Gu
tire ne ton to this shameful fact Here rather
than at any spot upon the continent ts lifting
that we should come TO mourn over our
dead liberties and by our protest arouse the
hal S01vkA
the constitution and respect our liberty Upon
these steps where We stand has been spread
carpet for the royal feet Of q foreign princess.
the: cost of whose lavish enter taImenJ was
taken from the public treasury without the
consent or the approval OF the people Up these
steps the lobbyists OF trusts and corpora lions
nave passed uncnsllenged on their way to com
mittee-rooms to which we, the representatives
81 the tolling wealth producers, have been de-
MED.
Their Demands.
I'VE stand here to-day in behalf OF millions
OF toilers whose petitions have been buried IN
coInmit,ee-rooms, whose prayers have been un-
responded to, and whose opportunities for hon
est renunerattve labor have been taken from
them by unjust legislation which protects
oilers, SPECTATORS and gamblers. We come 10
remind congress- here assembled, q the
declarations Of a United States senator that
for u quar- ter Of a century the rich have been
growing richer, the poor poorer and that by
the close OF the present century the middle
class viii have disappeared rs the struggle for
existence becomes 1ierce and relentless We
stand here to remind congress Of its
promise OF returning prosperity should
the sherman act be repealed. We
stand here to declare By our march
OF ever 5ol miles through difficulties
and distress q MARCH unstained by even the
slightest act which would bring the blush OF
IN MI
speak louder than words We are here to Pc
t.,ion for legislation which will furnish employ
ment for every man able and willing to work;
Tor legislation which will bring prosperity and
emancipate our beloved country from financial
bondage to the descendants OF king George
'.ln the Name Of Justice"
. 1--WE have come 10 tie only source which is
competent to aid the people In their day OF dire
distress We are here to tell our representa-
tiyes who bold their seats by grace OF our bal
lots that the struggle for existence has become
far too fierce and .relen tless. We come and
throw up our defenseiess hands and say: Helpi
or we and loved ones must perish.
We are engaged In q bitter and cruel war with
the enemies OF all nanklnd-R war with hun
ger, Indebtedness and despair; and we ask
congress &c heed OF: petitions and issue: for the
nation 9 good sufficient volume OF the same
sind of money which carried the country
through one awful WAX and saved the life OF the
nation
"In.he name Of justice, through whose impair
tiel administration only the present civiliZa-
ton can be maintained and perpetuated by the
powers OF the constitution OF our country, up
on which the liberties 81 our people must de-
pend, aud in the name OF the 'coumonweal OF
Christ whose represen tattves We are, we en-
ter most solemn and earnest protest against
this unnecessary and cruel act OF usurpation
and tyranny, and thus enforce subjuGa Eon OF
the rights and privileges Of American citizen
ship.
Violate No Laws.
I'VE have assembled here in violation OF NO
just laws to enjoy the privileges Of every Amer
Jean citizen. We are now under the shadow OF
the capitol Of this great nation and in the pres
ence Of our national legislators are refused
that dearly bought privilege, and BY the
force Of arbitrary powers prevented from car
rying out the desire OF our hearts, which is
plainly granted under the great magma eharta
OF our national libertiea We have come hero
through toll snd weary marches through
storms and tempests over mountains and enid
the trials of poverty and distress to lay our
grievances at the doors Of our national
legislators and ask them, In the name OF
Him whose banners We bear, in the name Of
Him who pleaded for the poor and the
oppressed, that they should heed the voice Of
despair and distress that Is now coming up
from every section OF our country. that they
should consider the oond itions OF the starving
unemployed Of our Ian6 an d enact such laws as