Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-10
THE PEACE THAT OE5S GIVES.
A Review OF the situation by Western
Newspaper.
Detroit Free press.)

The people or the Uniteu states are
rudely forced 10 realization OF what
Dictator Debs has done by inaugurating
his insurrection against the government
and his war against the productive
agencies Of the nation. 1t was his glib as
surance at the outset that the strike would
be a peaceful one" There would be no
interference with the operation Of trains,
no attempt TO prevent other men taking
the positions abandoned by the strikers.
Violence and breaches Of the law began
within twenty-four hours after Debs's
cheerful assurance OF peaceful revo-
luton They have grown In fagrancy and
extent ever since. Local authorities have
found themselves unable to cope with the
situation, and the powerful aid OF govern
ment intervention has been required. This
peaceful strike has attained the pro-
portions of war upon the entire people.
and the interests on which their very
lives are dependent.
Debs has raised a demon which he can
not exercise. Those controlled by 1t are
seized with the fury Of the unreasoning
mob, and will listen neither to the coun-
sells OF friends nor the dictates OF Justice.
without shadow OF excuse and upon pre-
texts that they will never undertake to
defend in their cooler moments, they are
engaged In rioting and law-breaking in
defiance Of all recognized authority They
have thrown the whole industrial and
commercial systems OF the country into
a confusion which threatens to become
chaos. In their blind frenzy they have
forced an issue with the authorities or the
State and of the General Government,
that can be settled in but one way, il
our free institutions are to be perpetuated.
II is high time to drop the curtain upon
this farce which represents the strikers
as keeping within the pale OF the law and
not resisting those who seek 10 enforce
H. They are In a state OF open and defiant
rebellion. They assume jurisdiction over
the mail system and the traffic OF the en-
tire country. Under the very guns Of the
military they destroy cars, blockade COM
merce, and spit upon the patient repre-
sentatives OF national authority. They
beat and drag away the men who want
to work and are merciless to all who OPP
pose their sway of passion. civil law has
ceased to have a meaning TO them.
and martial law, rigidly, fearlessly, and
impartially enforced, il the imperative
demand of the situation 1t must be
swiftly determined whether We are 10 live
under mob rule or under a government
of the people, such as the fathers founded.
TOO LATE FOR COMPROMISE.
Even the optimist will concede that the
strike troubles have reached "a critical
stage. Life has been taken, the attitude
of the misguided followers of Debs at
Chicago il more defiant than ever. and
he seems more determined than ever TO
make good his threat OF civil war. This,
In face OF the fact that the United States
troops are on the ground, that the police
have been ordered TO do their full duty
or expect removal. that Mayor Hopkins
has called upon Governor Altseld for
more State militia, and that the Governor
has yielded prompt compliance.
In such crisis there can be no COM
promise with Debs. To grant him any
thing better than the privilege OF uncon-
dtional surrender would be to recognize
his authority and to court trouble from
him In the future 1t Is time to find the
limit OF the power which these leaders
can lawfully exercise. Heretofore they
have measured their usefulness by the
amount OF disturbance they could create
Carried away by the kindly popular SYM
pathy which labor has long enjoyed, Debs
has assumed its supreme authority. He is
playing the part OF the migrate and i'm
posing upon those who have stood Loyalty
by labor a burden as oppressive as 1t Is
unjust. Indulgence has been rewarded by
widespread rebellion, shaking the very
foundations OF government Now IL the
time to make absolute the deliverance
from the arrogant tyranny Of such lead
ers as this man Debs. We cannot exist
as a free nation II the order Of walkin4
delegate Is to be superior 20 the process
Of the courts or II the badge OF a labor
organization Is a warrant for defying the
laws. Labor has a noble and worthy
cause. but 1t can never hope to win under
the methods which deny the right of the
people 10 rule
GOVERNOR ALTGELD AND STATE
RIGHTS.
The extraordinary attempt OF Governor
Altgsld. OF Chicago. to masquerade as q
defender Of State rights 10 so fully ex-
posed by the dignihed response Of the
President that 1t Is unnecessary to dis
cuss 1t. President Clevelands reply did
not leave him leg to stand on so far
as his pretense was concerned OF an I'M
warrantable interference on the part Of
the Federal Government There Is no
question whatever as to the duty OF the
Federal Government in the premises to see
the Federal laws enforced, and there has
been nothing In the action Of the Federal
Government thus far with which the most
exacting stickier for local seif-Govern-
ment can possibly find fault II there Ia
and conservative. The people OF the
ncticn II Is th-t II he's been 20 gard"
and conservative. Tho people Of thu