The record-union., 1894-04-11
THE FEAR OF ASSAULT.

That this masslng and tramplng OF
restless unemployed men, men honestly
out of work with a vast number mingled
in who are averse to WORK and are ripe
for any means to live upon society, is un-
pleasant and is distressing symptom is
not to be denied.
But that il is O serious menace to the
stability Of the Republic, as is asserted,
is belief not warranted. At the highest
estimate made by the Harvard inquirers
and by Bradstreet's agencies all the un-
employed in the Union from September
to January last were about $4,000. This
figure includes all classes and kinds,
workers and willful non-w workers, vag-
rants and the unfortunate. The statistics
were taken in cities and towns. If we
allow $4,000 more for unemployed in
rural sections we have $4,000 in popu-
lation of 65, 100000 of people.
At all times there is, as there always
has been, q percentage of able bodied
men without means unemployed. So
that it is fair to conclude that the really
unemployed now do not exceed the
normal figure by more than 100000.
This is sufficiently large number to
be regretable and to call for serious con-
sideration.
But while it is true that there is bitter
complaint against the aggregation OF
wealth, the monopolization of industries.
and the Introduction of labor-saving de-
vices, as also against the ineffectiveness
and the neglect of demanded legislation,
1t does not follow that the wage-earners
of the nation are going to fall upon and
pull down the fabric of the Republic, as a
means TO the betterment of the condition
of the few.
That anarchistic and radical socialistic
leaders are taking all possible advantage
of the present movement is altogether
likely. They seldom neglect an oppor-
tunity to advance their own causes. But
the National heart is not yet rebellious;
the American people are not yet prepared,
nor will they be, to pull about their ears
the pillars which support the form of
Government under which the United
States has reached the proud position
now occupied by this union of SOW
ereign States. Nor will they submit to
any displacement of officers of law by
other means of revolution than provided
for by the ballot system.
The masses of the 65.000,000 fully un-
derstand that they are in possession OF
lawful weapony that can work any
change of policy they desire. without any
''coup d d'etat," or any assault by violence
upon the seat of Government.
The American people are loyal to the
Federal system; so loyal, that, before
they will submit to any assault upon ii
by horde, seven-tenths of which is for
eign- born. they will call a halt that Will
make the alien public enemy, and the
foreign-born agitator think twice before
attempting to destroy the Government, or
change its administrative officers, by other
than the lawfully provided methods.
It is only the fool who closes his eyes to
danger; but it is the foolish also who find
in the rustling of every bush the coming
of foe. 1t may be that demagogues and
enemies of free government may inhame
men distressed by want, so as to bring
them up to acts of violence. But when
that time comes there will be rally Of
the people that will appal them, and that
will crush out any attempted revolution
by force in way that will be effective fol
another century.
We have faith in the people that they
win not sit idly by and permit their heri-
tsge to be snatched from them or its pur-
pose thwarted. They are quiescent, it is
true, under political outrages; they dc
often fail, until an emergency arises. to
assert themselves as they should in
political activities; yet there come periods
when they seize corruption in high
places anu tQEOtI16 IT, Wneu tnSy IeIOrEl
governmental policies and methods by
the sway of the ballot, without a jar OF
jostle of the machinery of government
So, too. if the assault comes, that some
assume is near at hand, we apprehend
that the shock of arms will be neither
long nor severe-indeed, we do not be.
lieve it will happen at all.
==There will be in all probability
changes in the next decade of beneficial
character related to the distribution o.
products and the opportunities TO amass
and related to conditions out of which
arises the friction between capital anG
labor in this day. But whatever adjust.
ments are made will not necessarily bt
effected through violence, and certainly
not by the destruction of the fabric of re.
publican institutions.
A STRIKE and lockout are threatened
at Chicago. not that the wages are to(