Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-04-26
TIL TRAMP

NNoAJ1
The Press of Philadelphia, Sun
day, speaks out boldly tn
tramp crusade that is now moving
on toward Washington ostensibly
for the purpose of influencing
national legislation in the interest
Of labor. It justly says:
"A tramp and warrant is not
changed in the eye of the law
because he calls himself a gen
eral' or is part of an ''army."
The Federal Administration at
Washington and its civil authori-
ties owe the country a most seri-
GUS responsibility. For the first
time in our history vaporing
threats are made of ',demonstra-
tons and influencing the Ma
tioaal Legislature by a display,
Of force. Our system Of govern
menth has NO place for such things
and they demand instant, prompt
suppression"
AS the Philadelphia Times, also
says, whether this tramp crusade
upon the national capital shall
become serious or continue to be
farcial may depend much upon
the expressions of public senti-
ment from the leading journals
of the country. While to-day it
has eve4y earmark of the most
farcial attempt of idieness-frst,
by robbing people along their
journey, and next by demanding
government employment and
the indefinite issue of irredeem-
able money to pay for it, it is
possible for it to be made very
much more serious than is gen
orally apprehended if it shall re
ceive the sympathy of partisan
organs and the active or passive
cooperation of the striking
laborers of the country.
With neaaly $50, 900 soft coal
miners on a strike, and with
general disturbance in the labor
circles throughout the country,
it becomes the imperious duty of
every good citizen not to tolerate
the tramp crusade upon Wash
ington. Striking laborers are
naturally inclined to sympathize
with revolutionary movements,
and legitimate laoor's highest
duty to itself at this time is to
draw the line. OF demarcation so
distinctly that none can fail to
understand it, between the work
ingmen who are seeking in
creased wages which they deem
to be just and the oilers who in
sist that the government of the
country must feed and clothe
them.
Ours is a government of the
people, They are the sovereign
power of the land, but our free
government is firmly anchored
in the liberty of law. The legis-
lative policy of the country can
be revised every two years, or at
most every four years, by the
people themselves in a lawful,
peaceful manner, and when their
sovereign power has been dele
gated to the law-making power
of the country they can always
be heard by the right of petition
! Any attempt to influence legisla-
ton by other methods than de-
corous expressions of public
sentiment must be regarded as
revolutionary: and neither the
President, the Senate, nor the
House at Washington can give
any form of recognition to the
crusaders who are now moving
on the national capital.
There T a few freaks in both
branches Of Congress who will
welcome them; there are other
mean partisans who will be
ready to encourage them to what
ever extent they can without
publicly espousing their cause,
but every honest, patriotic pub
lie official should stand abreast
with Hawley, who SO ably voiced
the convictions of every good cit
izen in his speech against the ten
dency to anarchy. The present
tramp crusade must be brought
to grief. tits against the whole
genius and policy of our govern
ment. 1t should be done without
needless coercive measures, but
what degree OF coereive halls be
necessary to maintain law and
order and to protect private and
public property should be en-
ployed without hesitation.
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