The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1895-02-02
DIFFICULT OF APPLICATION.

lyn IS another test OF the strength ana
permanency of free institutions.
Equal rights demand that the laborer
shall enjoy the same protection CT law
as the capitalist, and these include GER
tain privileges which may cause dis
cord in existing business or CONNER
cial relations. A government to be
free must be so without discriminating
in favor of any class of cit,zena, and
in the administration of affairs should
show no greater energy in the enforce
ment of Law against the poor than
against the rich. For this reason
strikes are peculiarly hard test on the
justice and permancy of the ideas of
universal freedom which underlie this
form of government. The capitalist
would have unquestioned privilege of
closing down his factory if be so de-
sired, and it would be very arbi
trary for statutary provision to
he passed forcing him to con-
tinue his works at financial loss. If
rights are equal this should be the same
with all classes of persons. When the
wage Garner considers himself un
Justly dealt with in any manner by his
employer he mmits no wrong by re-
fusing to work any longer. This
should be as sacred privilege as that
accorded to the capitalist or corpora
tion director. Anything else than this
leans toward monarcy, and should not
be tolerated or favored in republic.
The employees on the trolley cars had
an absolute right to quit work. and the
managers had the privilege to employ
others to take their places. These
rights are guaranteed by the constitu-
tion, and should have been strictly en-
forced. When the strickers used vio-
lence to force the non-union men to
quit work they were violators of law
and we're subject to punishment.
1t is unquestionably fact that these
strikes have natural tendency to re-
suit in violence, and injury to persons
and property. This can and should
be prevented by the strong arm of the
government, employing the military If
necessary. But there must be careful
judgment exercised that the intervep-
ton of the armed force is not called IN
too quickly or used to carry out selfish
interests. Eternal vigilance is the price
of liberty, and there is but short step
between military repression and mill
tary oppression. Soldiers are governed
by arbitrary rules, and are not accus-
toned to make much discrimination in
reference to the rights of civilians.
The military Is branch of the 60. ern-
ment that is never called upon to exer.
clse its functions except in emergencies,
aid the danger must be imminent be-
fore it should have any right to act
There is growing tendency among
al laborers to combine for mutual ben
FIT and protection, and this will ippel
,trikse. The one last summer of
he American Railway Union, and :he
'ne in Brooklyn now are premo i
;ory of what may happen at any time
Japltal will make all it can, and labor
Will demand the highett possible
wages. This selfish antagonism always
las been and always will be until the
1illenium dawns. In monarchical
overnments arbitrary measures can
e used to create harmony; but this is
ontrary to the spirit and intent of
opular institutions, and to regulate
'atters between these jarrlng classes
most difficult.