The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-24
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTIVE WORTH
POUND OF CURE.

On last Thursday Coxey said at Hag
erstown. Maryland. that there would be
hundreds of thousands of his tramps at
Washington by May LIST. He went to
New York on Saturday and said there
"thorsll be from 10000 to 10000 men
landed in Washington by May LIST. lie
added that he and his crowd we're going
to stay at Washington until Congress
passes his two bills, enc of which pro-
vfdes for an unlimited issue OF fiat
grecnback money AID the other OF which
provides that the Government shall pay
il out to all the unemployed for working
would resort 10 violence I'm case Congress
refused to comply with these demands, he
replied:
'Wen. 1t is hard to tell what people
will do. forbearance ceases TO be n
virtue after while Under certain cir
cumstances there is not much difference
between a human being and an animal.
Understand. / am not expressing any
threats. We are on mission Of peace
and carry no firearms Set the money
question right and there Will be no trou-
BILE"
Here. then we have the leader Of this
revolutionary movement declaring that
he expects to have something approach
ing half million Of idle, disconnected, rest
less men at Washington on the first Of
May demanding that Congress shall enact
two statute laws which would simply
mean the ruin and destruction of all
property and every business interest in
the country, and intimating very dis
tinctly that they will resort to violence
If their request is denied.
We see. In addition, movements of
vagabonds actually being organized at
various points in the country with a
view to send men to Washington to CO.
operate in the move. Human experience
teaches that when a thing OF this sort
gets an actual start, it will accumulate
reinforcements for short time at most
unexpected rates. If a body of $1,000
idlers assemble together in Washington
there will be turbulence and disorder to
u certainty, and it is impossible to fore
tell the havoc they may work before they
are mastered.
Under these circumstances we have not
the slightest hesitation In saying that Ii
is the duty of the Government to take
the necessary precautions beforehand to
make any attempted assembly Of this
SORT incapable of producing any serious
disturbance. Forewarned is forearmed.
If they attempt any sort of outbreak or
breach Of the peace they should be dis
persed at once as all other disorderly
mobs are. This may be a matter OF i'm
portance, and 1t should be treated as
such promptly and beforehand. Gen
erar' Kelly. addressing his body OF
tramps at Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Sat
urday. said
my comrades, we may have trouble
before we reach Washington. Some of
us may never return. 1t may be you or
it may be me, and I have no doubt 1t
will be some of us" Here he paused for
a moment. The 1000 men who surround
ed him became still as death. Then he
continued: "All revolutions have received
a baptism Of blood. and ! don't expect
this one Will be an exception TO the rule"
Then, turning to a number OF citizens
who had come out 70 bid him adieu, he
said: Friends. you who have been so
generous both by word and deed, fare
we'll"
AS the little general retired the soldiers
sent up cheer after cheer until the de-
monstration became almost hystsrical In
its enthusiasm.