Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-26

The reports from the west of acts of
violence committed by Industrial armies
on their way to join the original Coxey
army. now nearing this city. emphasize the
fear expressed concerning the general
movement that however peaceable the orig
inators Of the march TO Washington" may
have intended their enterprise 10 be, the
many lawless men who would join 1t
would be beyond control. When a mob
claiming to be a part OF the Industrial
army commits a robbery and then resists
to the extreme Of bloodshed the constituted
authorities of the land. a threatening sig
niicance is given to the march upon Wash
ington of all the other regiments of the
army" with the hint Of what will happen
when the lawless elements included in their
ranks get beyond the control Of their &C.
centric leaders. Coxey's immediate force
assumes the character of the advance
guard. marching under a flag Of peace. OF
an army that robs and kills and defies
the law. Many fine words have been
spoken about liberty and the rights Of citi-
zens. There is no good American who could,
without protest, see the humblest member
OF Coxey's army deprived of any real right
When liberty is carried to the point where
II involves a menace against the peace and
lives Of others II becomes license. The
rights of citizenship are well defined. and
are limited by the rights Of others. the
great mass of the American people. who
are not engaged In marches ION to WASH
ington." have rights. and one Of them is
the peaceable enjoyment Of their homes
and property without molestation or fear
Of molestation. When bodies of men, some
of them already guilty OF acts Of rapine and
violence. and containing lawless elements.
are moving toward Washington avowedly
for the purpose Of compelling legislation by
O show of force. do not the conditions exist
which constitute an invasion, or a threat
ened invasion OF the rights of others. and
which would justify measures that would
remove the threatened danger?
In the discussion OF the Coxey movement,
the Coxey army has been put in the atti-
tude so to speak, OF "a chip on the shoulder"
A great many well-meaning people while
disclaiming any sympathy with the Coxey
financial theories have declared their pur-
pose to rise In indignant protest il the
Coxey army was met at the gates of the
capital by any show of force or authority.
So, in this view, the Coxey movement has
become a sort of challenge to the constitut-
ed authorities on the part OF those who
claim to be jealous of the rights of the
American people. That the officials charged
with the execution of the law, and with the
protection Of the rights Of citizens general
ly. as well as those of Coxey's army, realize
that the task before them is one OF embar-
rassment is evident, but 1t is believed that,
from the President down. they will meet
what they believe to be their duty, firmly,
and il there is occasion for prompt and de-
cisive action, will take that action fearless
H. ,x.1 xrv{%I al,
to the rights OF threatening and violent
mobs.
The appeal made by the District Commits
sioners to the good sense of the leaders of
the oncoming armies" seems to have had
no effect further than to emphasize the
lunacy OF the leaders. by calling out a
declaration OF their intent to test the law
That the Commissioners are justified in
preparing for the execution of the laws
which they say are adequate for every
emergency, cannot now, in view Of the hap
penings Of the last two days, be question
ed. 1t Is the part Of good citizens generally
TO give their support to the officials. in
whatever measures may have to be taken
to make secure lives and property. The
men with Coxey are admittedly without
means Of support If they do not become
beggars IN the streets. individually, they
have already assumed that attitude COL
lectively, as those claiming to represent
them In Washington have issued their ap-
peal to citizens to contribute to the sup
port OF the army while here. They are
coming to be a charge upon the community,
and seemingly in such numbers as to in
spire terror. No humane person would favor
a rigorous enforcement of the law against
q man simply because lie is poor or hungry;
nor would the thinking people Of the coun-
try oppose any movement that promised
by lawful methods to ameliorate the con-
dition OF the poor or give work to the un-
unemployed.
So far as the Coxey movement can be
taken as an evidence of the distress of the
unemployed 1t has attracted the sympathy
OF all men, but the leaders of the move
ment must not mistake this sympathy for
an approval by the American people Of
mob methods. The American workingmen
are too intelligent as a class to take part
In such a demonstration or to give 1t any
substantial aid. They know that the peo-
pie can take the government in their own
hands. by lawful methods, whenever they
choose to so take ii. AS to the Coxey army
whenever 1t is apparent to them that the
army has violated law or invaded the
rights Of others. it may be safely asserted
that the workingmen will be found arrayed
solidly on the side of law and order.