New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-07
DEBS md ANARCHY.

This is not n question between organized LABOR
and consolidated capital that is now making
such disturbance at Chicago and on the Phchc
Coast and at various points on the great INES
of railroad in the West. If IL ever was that.
which is very doubtful, IL has long since passed
out of that phase. II is now question OF vast
Iv higher consequence. for the Issue as now
made I'M is between Law and Anarchy. There
IS no avoiding il. If Law is enforced and order
restored at Chicago and other points where
during the last few days lawlessness has pre-
vailed and riot reigncd, Mr.. Debss mission Is
at an end he ceases 10 be the most Important
factor in the business If the country ana the
life Of the people and the strike In lis most
mischevous and dangerous features IS over
With the enforcement Of law Debs steps down
from the altitude of Supreme Arbitcr OF the des-
TIMES of sixty-fve millions of people ana De-
comes a private citizen. A private ci'iZ'h' II
full Justice IS done. in the uniform OF the STATE
in penal institution If, aS DebS demands ana
the blatherskte Popust Governors apparent!
desire the Law continues 10 be disoDeycd WIN
immunity and the Debs following continue 10
work their own sweet will unhindered, the coun-
try. so far as government of any sort Is con
ccrncd is nj sea. without chart or compass. we
then have Anarchy plain ana simple
In the existing condition Of affairs II IS an
open question whether in some parts OF the
country we actually have any responsible gov
eminent now. That Is, any government eAcepl
the government Of Debs. For instance. IN Norm
Dakota the telegraph reports that on Ihursdhy
the Governor of the State mcckly requested the
Railway Union Lodge 10 permit trains 10 run
for tho TRANSFORMATION of tie militia from the
encampment which was atout breaking up.
,rho, in itself was an interesting and somewhat
significant circumstance More significant still
WAS the fact that the request was refused ana
tbe Governor referred 10 Ih.bs AT Chicago Ana
finally having wired IL.bS for permission 10 Use
the railroad, and received 40 answer the "oV-
ernor found himself powcrlcsS, and AT last ac-
counts the militia were waiting the pleasure OF
Debs 10 get 10 their homes. Could any dcspot-
ism reach further or be more absolute IMAM 'hlS:
In Chicago a party Of workmen engaged In re-
pairing tracks were set upon by mob OF sir1K-
ers: but upon producing permit from Deus
were allowed 10 - on with their work Nhat
kind OF government Is II in Chicago that cannot
protect men peacefully engaged In lawful LABOR
from the attacks Of riotous strikers unless ,hey
are fortified with permit from D"DS: WHAT
more power could Dcbs have II h" were IN
stalled and recognized as Dictator Of Chicagol
But he isn't the recognized anything. lie II
simply the embodiment Of Anarchy; the High
Priest of Chaos.
He SAYS he is not responsible for the riots ana
disorders which his proclsnatlons have pro
vokcd: that he Is simply ".srying ont the dirrc-
lions Of the Railway Union. That Is the mcrcst
suhtrrfnpe The Railway Union has no exist
cnce In law. and no responsibility as an organ
jzation. Its members are frld responsible for
.I,. m a.
which ne shields himself behind the orders Of n
body unknown 10 the law and utterly rrcSpon'
sihle Is q cowardlv evasion. The law cannot
reach the Railway Onion 20 punish il for the
crimes committed in lis name, but 1t can and
will reach Debs. by whose orders the authority
Of courts has been contcInn"d and the power Of
| the Government dched II would be very
strange indeed. If this mischcvous dcmagogue
! who has given the word AT which the business
of large portion % the country has been
! brought 10 a halt hundreds Of thousands Of in
nocent men, women and children subjected 20
! Inconvenience misery and distress, ana scenes
| Of violence. riot and bloodshfd on an enormous
scale inauguratcd- strange, indeed, II he should
avoid responsibility and escape punishment
upon the plea that he personally had committed
! no overt act OF lawlessncss. This man stands
for Anarchy in the most dangerous form In
which It has yet presented itself. He is AT war,
not with corporations or with capital, but with
the United States Government and all govern
ment. The processes Of law are slow, and seem
sometimes tresome and Intellectual. 1hwlesS
ness usually has the advantage at the start be-
cause II IS unhampercd by rule or precedent, and
can strike ont wildly. regardless Of consequences
But punishment, If not swift, Is sure. The peo
pie Of this country arc not ready to surrender
TO violence TO throw up their hands TO Debs
and his Railway Union when they call halt to
everything until they are placated and their
demands are complied with. This country Is
going 10 be worth living in for some time yet
1t wouldn't be If Debs and his Railway Union
were to have their way In browbcating the Gov
eminent and bringing the whole country to its