Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-22
Coxey's Army.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The title of this article is a topic of uni
yersal interest at present, but its import
ance is viewed in different lights by differ
ent minds, as is perfectly natural. But,
whatever the outcome may be, whether it
results in bringing vast army of 100000
desperate men into the city, made SO by
lack of employment and its consequent des-
titution, or in miserable fiasco, neverthe-
less, to the writer. the movement is omi-
nous, and threatens imminent danger to
the peace of the nation; il marks epoch
in our history; what will be the outcome?
Every cause must have an effect; contra
wise, every effect must have a preceding
cause. What is the primary cause of this
conception and what will be its effect?
We have so long boosted of our freedom,
of magnificent resources, of our I'M
paralleled prosperity, in fact, the great
American eagle has become so accustomed
to spread his wings and scream, and this
performance has been received with such
unbounded enthusiasm and applause; our
statesmen and orators have So Wed with
each other in sounding the praises of our
glorious institutions, that we have become
partially blinded in self-laudations, until
the very foundations of our great ia brio
are endangered by an army of "tramps'' n
hundred thousand strong, that threa tens to
move upon the capital of the nation and
overawe Congress by a grand but peaceful
petition of distress, into legiSlating for the
b%htttt III the tOlhnS--1O, mol lO1l1ng, Dut
idle-millions who are at this moment face
to face with restitution, and almost within
the realms of grim despair And why?
Simply because they are out Of labor and,
therefore. without the power to keep the
gaunt wolf of hunger, nakedness and dis
tress from the door.
And who are these men that are threaten
ing this invasion? If they reach the city,
it will be found that the body will not be
made up of what is termed the scum of
Europe. but Will be largely composed of
American citizens, many of whom barred
their breasts to the storms of war in de-
Tense of their country when blood flowed
In torrents: many of their immediate de-
scendants, children of men who fought in
the national army in every battle from
Bull Run to Appomattox; men whom every
candidate for office from Maine to Cali
fornia, will take by the hand this fall and
solicit their votes; for, although a northern
man. | must admit, all others must that
the cloud is altogether in the north-the
southern skies are clear, and no mutterings
are heard in that direction.
People may laugh at, ridicule and pooh,
poohn' the movement, but mark these
words: 1t portends danSer-the greatest
that our nation has ever yet encountered
OF course. it may be held in check, it may
be put down by the strong, stern arm of
military power, but one thing should not be
lest sight of: much as we may deprecate
the whole matter, yet nearly every man
connected with the movement will prove to
be genuine citizen, with the power to
WELD the all potential ballot, and no mat
ter what the outcome, unless the great
predominant cause is removed. the effects
are liable to be tremendous. DANGER