New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-23
DTTY and THE RIOTS.

Christian ministers In Brooklyn, declaring me
solemn duty of men regarding the strikes ana
rio,S' do NOT all agree Some declare III the
name of the Lord things opposite ana CON
trodictorv that both cannot he right. For IN
stance one asserts that no other question ought
TO he considered until order has been restored
and the supremacy of law. while another asserts
that good citizens must now rise against law
breaking corporations which have forced men 10
strike by intolerable treatment. When the pull
Dit finds it necessary 10 point out the u"'! "'
rho hour. If is essential that different pupts
should not take opposite sides III great s'rus
gle So with the press and pubic opih'oh' anu
all the moral forces whose tremendous power
has been so recently manifested. If they arg not
united, the power disappears the rouoie III
this case. rs in most others where controversies
between employers and employed rivet pupii'
attention. is that several distinct issues are pre-
scented at once. namely:
The question whether employees have been
so wrongly treated that concerted strike win
all the injury to the public naturally resulting,
was justified.
9. The question whether employing companies
had broken law and violated their oblisauohS
to the public.
3. The question whether riots shall be toler-
ated. or rights Of persons and property protect
ed against all lawless violence.
II may easily happen that the man who non
estly seeks his duty may find himself on me
side Of the strikers as 10 one or more OF these
issues hut against them as 10 others. Then the
question Of highest duty arises. or three Things
which ought to be done, which ought TO he done
first? Is there, then, single Christian minister
or good citizen who will seriously maintain mat
riots must be permitted without check, and un-
limited destruction of personal rights ana prop
ertv until Justice can be done 10 striking EN-
Moves. or until railroad companies can he com
PEELED to observe the law? That Is exactly the
line Of reasoning chosen by Mayor HOPKINS OF
Chicago, and by Governor Alleged, and by all
Anarchists: Away with all law ana order ana
RESTRAINT until what We think wrong can be
"righted" 1t would be black day FOR BROOK
lyn or New-York if any part Of the religious ana
moral forces here should enlist on the side OF
riot and Anarchy.
The first plain duty which comes before all
others in every emergency Ike this Is TO up
hold the civil authorities, to suppress lawless
disorders, to stop all violent interference win
the freedom of labor and all unlawful destruc-
ton Of property, 10 restore the absolute SUI
premacy of law. Unless that is done, there can be
no duty done and that cannot be postponed for
an hour to await the possible accomplishment
Of any other desirable thing. II does not follow
that any reasonable effort to settle difficulties by
compromise or arbitration should cease. Mayor
Scheren is exactly right in urging powerfully
some reasonable settlement OF the labor coDtro-
yersy. even while he firmly suppresses riots by
aid Of the military force
But no effort for compromise, arbitration or
settlement can be permitted TO interrupt or de-
Law the restoration Of order and the supremacy
of law Most Of the rioters and lawbreakerS
are not strikers But II Is also true that the
strikers organization shares responsibility for
lawlessness and the boOdshed If it does not
do all that it can TO uphold the law and the
troops and tc stop every illegal interference
with person or property. The good citizens Of
Brcoklyn are almost universally agreed That the
companics have treated their employees and the
public outra geously, and unite i'll demanding
that their obstinate determination TO run the
roads at less cost in wages than the work Is
worth shall not be accepted as an excuse for
falling 10 perform their public obligations. But
they are also agreed that the first necessity, now
as always is the preservation Of order and com
plcte liberty Of action under the law.