The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-17


and we are o certain of what did
happen and Of exactly all that led to
the awful tragedy. The reports in
newspapers make it an act Of
unmitigated barbarity on the part Of
the rich 1t Is probable the sheriff is
to blame for precipitating the conflict.
But other events preceding must be
understood clearly before any one a
arrive at right conclusions. We can
not have in any possible way sympa-
thy with power that is blind and vio-
lence that is lawless that leads to
death. Naturally, constitutionally. SYM
pathetically, educationally we are on
the side of right and justice and mer-
cy-on the side Of the people always
when they are wronged in their rights.
and outraged and oppressed in their
persons. We have been too long a stu
dent of history not to know how hard
and unfeeling and merciless is power
e~ntrenched behind the bulwarks of
money.
Bue. in the matter of the events lead
ing to Hazelton's awful tragedy and
the consequences to follow common
Justice as well as common sense should
make all men careful in arriving at the
facts before making up final judgment.
Order must be restored and a fair,
thorough scrutiny must be mad that
will reveal all the facts upon which to
base important and sane judgment.
1t is a very painful as we'll as sad
business, that labor strike in Pennsyl-
vania, the course Of the miners, the
want of harmony, the zeal of the judge,
the grievances and wrongs Of the Ia
boring people, the ending in ~b1oodshed
in the slaughtering and w%ounding of
SO many men. It is indeed a most de-
plorable, shocking, perhaps diabolical
business. The Philadelphia Record is
right in saying that collisions between
bodies of people, whether citizens or
aliens, and the civil authorities must
ever be anomalous under a free gov
eminent; and the conflict &C Hazelton
is not simply anomalous, it is deplora-
BILE in whatever aspect it may be view
ed, and most of all in the loss of life
which has resulted therefrom. The sit
uation is n which eve should have
arisen in a government of the people
by the people. Having arisen, it's lar
ger lessons are for the moralists and
the teachers of society" We would
not Intentionally help to fan the flame
of discord or to embitter in any mind
the convictions or fears now agitating
it. That a great wrong has been done
is quite plain, and that a great respon-
true. Nothing but a fair, patient ex-
animation, without clamor or passion,
can reveal all that is involved necessa-
ry to render proper judgment. The
Record says:
A one meeting in Hazelton the
shooting has been condemned; at an
other upheld. And so it goes. The ac-
tua1 truth cannot be gotten at until
the whole matter shall have been look
ed into to the bottom with the judicial
eye.
H may Uc lila the SueTlII was Nasty.
1t may be that he was not the man
for the emergency. One thing is GER
tain-shooting SHOULD ever be the last
resort; it is only defensible in cases of
extremity which admit of no other al
tentative"
There are some palliating circum-
stances already suggested by newspa-
pers. One, a very fair one ordinarily.
The Washington Post, says hat we
must know the facts by honest in
quiry," but it adds this:
Meanwhile, we know only hat the
marching crowd, into whose ranks the
law officers fired, was composed al
most wholly of the lowest class of for
eigners-POles, Huns, Slavs-a class
which, as we have reason to believe,
cares nothing for the laws, the GUS
toms, and the institutions Of this coun-
try, and almost as little for human
life. They are the very scum and re-
fuse of Europe, ignorant of our Ian
guage and our form Of government,
aliens in essence as we'll as in fact,
outlaws in theory and practice"
While it thinks appearances are
against the marching crowd, and they
may have been "innoc5~t and on a le-
ultimate errand," is say also that the
action of the sheriff" may have been
perceptible and "unwarranted." It is
very bad and we hope after free and
fair inquiry righteous judgment will
prevail.