The San Francisco call., 1895-07-16
WHERE VICTORY RESTS.

The fear expressed by some officers of the
National Guard that the laboring men of
California are preparing for some sort of
upheaval on the 1st of September, and that
it is the duty of the military authorities to
be prepared for the occasion, has come as
great surprise to the people. Apparently
the main reason for this apprehension was
the refusal Of the labor organizations to
parade on the Fourth of July, and the rea-
son given by them that it would be a
mockery to celebrate liberty which they
do not enjoy.
There is danger that the attitude of the
National Guard will be construed as chal-
lenge. That would be exceedingly, unfor-
tunate. If the National Guard is not ready
at all times to assist in keeping the peace
when its interference is necessary, but
must make special preparation for such a
contingency, its lack is not confined to
that particular, and for it TO assume an at
titude of preparation for such an emer-
gency will possibly only increase the like
lihood of its happening.
However sore and discouraged the work
ingmen may feel the fact remains that the
men of capital and energy in California
are now organizing and pressing forward
with an energy they never displayed be-
fore to bring prosperity to the State. They
are building a railroad which alone will
give employment to thousands, besides
stimulating development and insuring
prosperity throughout its whole extent.
They are organizing themselves into asso-
Citations for the promotion of home indus
tries and already have accomplished re-
suits that have vital bearing on the well
fare of the laborfng classes. Throughout
the length and breadth of the State a
movement OF progress and development is
afoot Rich men on all sides are opening
their Golfers and investing their money in
hundreds of new enterprises, which will
depend upon the cooperation of laboring
men for their success, and which will in
sure the prosperity of those who support
them.
The hard times which have prevailed all
over the world ito less extent in Califor-
MIA than anywhere else) are steadily relax
ing, and already some leading employers
of labor are voluntarily advancing the
wages of their employees.
In country which is governed by the
votes of the majority and where no rule of
exclusion or aristocrtey-nothing but the
absence of American citizenship, which
can be acquired by all-imits the power of
men to institute q government of their
making, organized, perhaps violent, oppo
sition to the law or to the government
which directs its execution must be ac-
cepted as a confession either that the op-
posing forces are too numerically weak to
protect their rights in the elections, or
that, if they are in the majority, organized
rebellion is more congenial than co-opera-
tive politics. 1t is matter of common
knowledge that the workingmen of Amer
lea are largely in the majority and that
with wise and calm cooperation they
could direct the Government to suit them
selves. Any admission of the corrupting
power of money to seduce men from any
standard of virtue must be construed as a
proclamation that purchasable votes are
as dangerous when cast against the aggres-
sion of capital as when cast in the interest
of monopolies. This is said in view of the
assertions that the money of the rich buys
votes and corrupts public officers. Part of
the work of labor unions is to correct these
evils. The extent to which they can
correct these evils measures one of the
most benefcent purposes of their existence.
In this country, that which may be ac-
complishcd by violence or milder coercion
can be accomplished better by peaceful CO.
operation, and the results would be i'm
measurably better. Cooperation is con-
structive, violence destructive. It would
be very difficult to convince US that the
workingmcn of California do not under
stand these great principles or that they
are contemplating any act which would
tend to impede or overturn the work which
is now going on to help the State and
them. For these reasons we regret the
agitation which has been started by pro-
posed measures of preparation against
trouble.