New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-18
JOHN BURNS GIVES OFFENCE.
HIS CoMMENTs'IN DENVER on THE DEBs
INSURRECTION


OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY FROM
MEMBER OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Last evening a meeting was nel1 in THIS
city AZ the Broadway Theatre. which was crowded
u its utmost capl city OF about 3.UV fTesiueH'
Gompcrs. of the American Federation Of Labor
presided. and Jonn Burns. Member of Parliament OF
Great Britain a visiting delegate to the Labor Con
vention. made the speech of the evening In the
course OF his remarks Mr.. Burns expressed sehu-
ments calculated to arouse the resentment OF al
patriotic Americans. His offensive expressions were
follows
First-ue declared that President Cleveland did
wrong in using the Army in july last to put down
the instruction growing out OF the Pullman Strike
Second-He said: Il have been told the United
States has - GO men in the Army. This is 2,sO TOO
many
Thiri-lle declared that the country has departed
from the spirit Of the Constitution as frdmed Dy
George Washington.
Fourth-He declared Chicago - be pocket ed-
ton Of he'll or he. "A pocket edition Of Chicago
making similar dlsparaging remarks in regard 10
New-Y0rk and Denver.
Thee assertions are completely outside of trades
nm oaism and It's av)wcd purposes. and have no re-
l.t.on 20 his mission to this country. Mt Burns
c!m, to the United states the delegate OF the
British Trades Union Congress to the American
Federation OF Labor but he cannot dvest hlnset
Of his character member or the BRUSH f"r'a-
mcnt. AMI - that extent representative OF the
British Government. The gross improperly, there
fore. ot HI, llbelous and absurd comments upon the
United States it, chief Executive and its civil
polly is clearly apparent. Historic memories also
make such an insult % our country peculiarly as
tasteful, when falling from the lips OF Srltsh
statesman especially while enjoying the hospi'a"-
ties and nitterng attentions OF Americans on their
own sell
,s,do from, tho insulting character OF his words
they were both absurd and revolutionary. When
President Cleveland ordered the Army to suppress
tho peb- insurrecton Of July and August last the
commerce OF two-thiris OF the United states had
been suspended for several days under the orders OF
Mr. Dcbs-l commerce Of greater magnitude than
that SUSPENDED by The secession Of the southern
states I'm ISL The transportation OF the mails west
or Chicago had also been arrested and serious APP
prcheasion existed that tho city OF chicago ana
other cities where lnfuriatl mobs were destroying
railroad property and tearing up railroad tracks
might be hurnel Tae Congress % the United states
IN both branches pa scd almost unanimously reso-
;uiion ~ thanks t. ne President for his prompt
and pitriotc action In putting down th~ lhsurrec-
ton ana In the midst of a het;ed political cAmpi'e"
Republican papers ~ the country quite g'h'rh.S
applauied the action taken by the President re
slle~ such action gained the unqualified approoa-
.io ~ the lovai ncop!. % the country, without re-
gard 10 politics. The condemnation whifn NI, n s"
a. unjust as il ls la-llng. both - III" President
ard to Ia" country -, ,,,. 81 tina
Mir rurus's declaration that the Army o. tns
Tinted state ought 10 b. dlshand"l is, hpsulr
ir,nr, EXPRESSION Major General S"hoheid com
handing the Army. has recently de'ia III ms
annual report that 10 surpr,ssing ihe hsuII''uom,
.thn military resources - the Government were
,axoi u,ari, 20 their cNtrrme limit hp" Az
s,l~I thru as Nc. a. nlnertin"nt IL the h''laf'-
non of a Member or the British FarIainciI, 90,
am osu soil that she lttl" Army "i tht hit'"
S,a,,. onehf 40 Doe abolished Whom recent eN-
rcr.rco havo clear proved int u Is narc,F lat
,rouch 20 perform The constitutional OuhSitnh
resting upon the President o. preventing domestic
disorder -, ,..,,., g., la
shall not waste words In ,he attempt 10 l,s -
rroy. Tho. assertion 81 John Burns that "e hdNe
I,,,r,.I rom ,hr PRINCIPLES - our Cons titFuon
rs framed o., George Washington NJ shh'lpN No.
a.. eu.h talk a. arreufuat'l by tho ia't th"t II
feu from ~" hls o. Hrin.h"r VINO Only '"o
,e... aro FIRST landed upon our shoi
Nr RIrns's remarks about 'ti'Atp No. pIh
and Denver. The only American cities he mas
VISITED are ridiculous for serious coNsb' ration
I'm order 10 reach h.s hastily drawn ''hciHslorS
I'm ,.r,rd 10 American city NE. b" went SUM
ming In Afulherry-st \eW-Nork. In the ltalah
luarf.r Of chicago. where. as h" remarked N.
wfh them from Italy. and In n quarter chlcny
inhabited 10y foreigners iu this ciiy Nrt'r before
n our history has The conrrit az N" lfrltShtI OF
his prol.uslty io !cridr The lniird states been
more ciaringlv or extensively displayed
In bringing Tits accusation against Mr.. Hirns,
desire 10 say thar cordially iniorse trsdes-union-
Ism a. d"ancd hy him. and apart from ms so
rialis'ic yieas which hay" 10 relation 20 trades
unlOnism Hut | am constrained to say 'hht IN
hi- offensive words unless recalled MI Johh
Burns Member of The British Parliament mas
furnished ~ he American people the measure OF
his sinfur" as = man statesman and as an
Engli~hman. JOSEPH NiMM'' Jh'
I.nycr. Col Doc H. issi