Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-08
A PROCLAMATION.
By the Governor:
STATE OF ALABAMA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,


 The constitution and laws of Alabama enjoin upon the governor the duty to maintain it's auth oriiy and jurisdiction" and ito take care that the laws be faith fully executed, '' to the end that all men may be secure in ''the enjoyment of life, liberty and property and the pursuit of happiness.' When these are threatened, it is a duty of those in authority not only to use the physical force of the government in defence of the law, but to bring to It's support by timely appeals to the people the sustaining moral power of outspoken pub lie opinion, and to forewarn the evil dis posed that passion and excitement may not break the bout ds of law, or harm result to tbe public veal.
 Impressed with these convictions, I, Thomas G. Jones, governor of the state Of Alabama, do issue this proclamation an- nouncng to the people that a formidable effort is being made 10 despoil them of their rights and liberties in the use of their highways, and 1 do earnestly invoke the aid of all law abiding citi2 ms, and appeal with special confidence 10 the vast body of the manly and self respecting men who are employed in conducting our railroads to aid in bringing to naught this conspiracy agains st the peace and welfare of our whole people before it begets violence and crime ana suffering in our mldst.
 There is no dispute between these rail- roads and their employees, and the only ground of justification urged for the effort
 
 state is the false and wicked plea that sui fering and injury may be rightly inflicted upon the people of the entire state as means of compelling a manufacturer i'll a distant state to settle local dispute with his fac' tory hands. The statement of the propo- sition shows it's utter injustice and disre- gard of the spirit of our laws and institu- lions. Less kind than the savage, who, seeking revenge upon any enemy, confines his reprisals to those who are closely iden- tiaH xx,jf ia n movement seek to make our own citizens who work upon oar railroads the instru- ments of iajury and wrong to those who are bone of lneIr bones and flesh Of their flesh, in order to influence quarrel with which the people of Alabama have no con- nection and no voice or power tn settle. Fortunately many of those who work upon railroads have spoken out in condem- nation oi this foolish and heartiess propo- sition, but it is not to be denied that there are many who are minded to support this conspiracy against the peace and welfare of the state, and 1t behooves those in authority to point out to those who may enter upon 1t the evil conse- uuences to which it will lead, and the use- less suffering and loss it will occasion. The movement is sure 10 result ln law lessness, and it is idle for it's authors to disavow intention to violate the law of the | land, or to attempt to escape the rule of | reason and law to which mankind every where adheres; that every one intends and | is answerable tor the consequences which | ordinarily and naturally result from his acts. With the present number of unem- | ployed, aud popular irritation at move- | ment which infiicts so much useless harm, 1 c4asing to work upon the part of employees i would result in change of employees and not a blockade, unless there b3 resort to vi- olence and bloodshed. The blockade with . | out awlessness is not possible, and to be effective involves crime as an element Of T.atn n whn to 6i- | feet the "tylng up'' of roads be deceived | as to the pathway he is invited to pursue,
 or blind himself to the fact that success a i only be attained by recklessly trampling g l down the rights and liberties of all other classes of his
 fellow men. The legal right of freeman l to labor or to refrain from labor at his own | pleasure is essential of the dignity and welfare of labor, and is not questioned; but l the moral right to refrain from labor de- 1 pends upon the surrounding conditions | and the motive with which it is exercised | Surely no right-thinking man who loves | his neghbor believes that 1t is right or | proper to cease to labor for the sole purpose | of inflicting injury upon the innocent Tn 1 order to spite an enemy, or to involve one's l friends in cor troversies with which they | have neither connection, influence or in
 terest. The highways of the state are es-, | sential to it's prosperity and welfare, and l their free and unobstructed use IS vital to | the we'll being and self-respect of the citi-
 zen. To blockade the states highways is
 a we'll known and recognized act of war,
 but has never yet been deemed the right
 even of an enemy, much less loyal cltl-
 zen in time of peace. The railroads arc
 but public highways, and those who own
 and those who operate them are trustees te
 keep them open for the public good | They have become the great arteries of ouI prosperity, are essential to our very exis-
 tence and enter into the daily life of tht
 citizen and influence his welfare and des-
 tiny in innumerable ways. Any class O.
 men who can set astride of these grea
 highways and arbitrarily determine when
 the master of the citizen and the citizen in
 turn then becomes their slave. They car
 practically die ate what he shall eat ant