The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-07-06
This paper is Democratic IN principles
md is Independent IN its uie,os on all local
questions.
The Arch Anarchist, Debs.

tAdu tudb CAS peOplo gov hiAiiy V
their heads this saying of the anar-
chist, Debs;-
THE first shot fired at the moi by
the regular troops will be the signal
for q civil war;
1t Is we'll that every keep this
before his mind as the pivotal idea in
the whole strike situation. So long as
Debs and his dupes are allowed to
hold the country in condition of
paralysis, he will be ~graciously
pleased to remain peaceful; but the
moment his viii is resisted-then
bloodi
Well, If we are to have war, this is a
good time for it. The question
whether the United States is to be
ruled by regularly constituted
government or by labor union may
as we'll be settled now as ut any other
time. Better now, indeed, and get
done with it. We will never have the
question more clearly defined, we
will never have the issues freer from
side issues or complications. Here we
have a labor unto IA big one, but
all the same, in principle ar ordinary,
commonplace labor union undertak-
ing to dictate how corporations char
cred by the States and the Federal
Government for great public purposes
shall conduct their business. 1t
orders the c~oniscation of a vast
amount of private property; it de-
crees that a vastly greater quantity
shall go to ruin because It's will is to
be substituted for the natural laws of
trade. 1t DEGREES that the whole
commerce of the country shall stand
still. 1t threatens that tomorrow or
next day all industry shall do like
wise il its orders are not obeyed to the
letter.
Here again we say, if the union
ized'' labor interests OF this country
or n part of it-want, by way of
experiment, to try what anarchy is
ike, they may as well do so now as
any other time. If it impends over
the country that at some time banded
labor will throw down its tools and
fold its arms until all other elements
of citizenship go down on their knees,
why we think this is a good time.
The revolt can do the minimum harm
now, because the labor unions are not
over 1ourishing and industries are at
a low ebb anyway.
If a universal strike be tried, how
ever, the strikers must expect to live
neither on the charity nor the plumber
of the peaceful and law abiding part
oil the community. Let them taste
the sweets of sullen idleness to their
hearts content. And if they try and
prey upon other citizens. why Uncle
Sam has thirty thousand troops and
we should think fifty thousand
more that could be relied upon could
be called out by the States.
But it will never come to this. This
talk of calling outkhe labor unions is
only the talk of the anarchist, Debs.
There may be a few hot heads in that
centre of everything dangerous.
Chicago; but if the labor vote of the
country were polled, we still have
confidence that seventy-five per cent
of it would vote to stop the strike at
once, and perhaps to drown Debs for
instigating 1T.
Some other remarks of Debs' are
worth more than a passing observa-
ton. Here is one:-
A recession ON our part would mean the absolute
enthrallment of the Amefieah5w orkingman and his
complete and utter degradation for all time to
come.
How much better off will ,condign
defeat leave the workingman?
The fact is this strike is very bad
fer the cause of union labor. 1t will
throw it back ten years 1t has
raised up an army of foes tosunionism
among people who have heretofore
been Indifferent or even friendly.
How clearly. too, Debs sees the con-
sequences of defeat to his side. But
where are employers going to be left
if this strike should be xen2 Cannot
Dahs see that the situation is impos-
sible.
But again, Debs says in one OF
those grotssque kilograms which the
World prints every day over his sig
ture:-
There Ia bur one well defined estimate of the
~situstion. and that is, we hold the railroads cannot
get men sufficient TO run their trains. On that
proposition we win or lose. We shall not interfere
with any man who wants to work. We have not
done 50, and shall not.
Then, who are uncoupling engines.
crossing switches, dsrailing cars,
overturning signal towers, disabling
locomotives, and pulling out of the
cabs, men willing to u the trains?
Does Debs think he a do the ostrich
act with the American public, prating
peace and obedience to law while the
mobs he has let loose are in armed
rebellion?
, But, indeed, Debs seems given to
lodging. WAh some premonition, it
ould seem of the consequences OF
acts, he tries to shift the blame
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