The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-09-30
An Object LessOn.
script.


been called out. There is rioting at
Leadville. The railroads running
toward that city had to be patrolled to
keep the trains carrying troops from
being wrecked. Houses were burned,
firemen who tried to subdue the flames
were shot down, miners imprisoned by
strikers on attempting to flee from
burning buildings were fired upon,
and explosions of dynamite killed or
wounded many persons. Altogether
Leadville has been having lively ex-
hibition of the uprising of the masses
against the classes which Mr.. Bryan
has been talking so much about for
some weeks.
AT this distance from the scene of
trouble it is difficult to get at the alb
stract justice of the controversy be-
tween the mine-owners and their en-
ployes. But that question is not press
ing at present. The important thing
is that the miners and the owners can
not agree, and, after period of strained
relations, the former have undertaken
to defend their opinions with gunpow-
der and to force them on others with
dynamite. 1t is said on behalf of the
owners that the sheriff, the governor,
the courts and the newspapers are in
league with the strikers, and that there
is no use under those conditions of their
making any concessions, for they would
only be opening the way to greater de-
mands backed by the same influences.
Accordingly they have refused to treat,
arson and murder have followed, and
the governor, whatever his sympathies,
has been compelled to call out the
troops, and the state of Colorado will
have to pay the cost of it all.
Such an outbreak is greatly to be de-
plored. No part of our common coun-
try can be given over to violence and
disorder without affecting the honor
and good name of the whole nation.
Our glory has been that we were self
governing and law-abiding people, not
a collection of barbarians who settled
their differences by force and burned
down neighbours property in the en-
deavor to collect a debt or obtain a
gratuity. Troubles such as have dis
turbed Leadville are at once a blot on
the country's fame and cause of dis
trust. The question arises If this new
millennium which Mr.. Bryan breaches
is the success it is cracked up to be.
Colorado is full of adherents of his
creed, who look to the time when every
poor person shall have all the money he
wants and all men shall dwell in plenty,
happiness and brotherly love. Out in
Colorado they have been putting that
creed in practice. 1t is true they have
not had free silver, but the silverites
have controlled the state government,
and the principles of the Chicago plat
form have been applied through sew
eral years TO domestic affairs. And yet
we see riot there, and, moreover, see
the authorities calling out troops to re-
strict the right of the people to enforce
their will against corporations and plu-
tocrats in a way that recalls the Chi
cago doings of 1894.
Then, it will be remembered, work
men had trouble with their employers
and riots resulted. In that case the
rioters happened to do more than de.
stroy property-which, in fact, the
state authorities, in contrast to those oil
Colorado, permitted them to do quite
freely. They stopped the mails and
interfered with interstate commerce
Then, when the law officers of the
United States tried to prevent this OBJ
struction of Federal law, they rebellet
and compelled the president to senC
troops against them. That action Of
the government in enforcing Fedora
law was condemned by the convention
which nominated Bryan for president
The plank denOuncing that arbitrary
interference by Federal authorities il
one of the most conspicuous in The
democratic free-silver platform. Tha
platform is said to have the cordial sup
port OF the majority of the voters o
Colorado. In that case they ought Il
rebuke their governor for calling GU
troops. The Leadville rioters are doins
no more than the Chicago rioters did
They are only breaking state law where
the others broke Federal law, and " ar
bitrary interference by state troop
to enforce state laws is as much to bt
,, denounced as "arbitrary interference
by United States troops to enforc,
United States laws. If the people o
/, Colorado like that sort of thing and tn,
,, candidates who preach it, they ought I,
be consistent, and hail the Leadvill
, revolutionists as victims of plutocrati
! oppression. They are having an object
! lesson in warfare of wage-earner
against the trusts-the mining trus
, which favors free silver. They hav
all been enthusiastic for that crusade
and they ought not 10 back out and &c
, squeamsh over "a little preliminar
,, drill.-New York Tribune.