The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-24
REvoLUTION, ALTGELD WILL BE
the LEADER.


continually declare that they will keep
their cause before the American people
until 1900, when they will carry the coun-
try. If the Republican party. soon TO
come into control Of the Government.
perseveres In the course it now seems to
have resolved upon, we feel no sort OF
certainty that free silyerites are 10 be
thought too sanguine. There is profound
discomfort IN the minds and hearts OF q
vast body Of the American people: that
discomfort rests upon sold and SUD
stantlal grievance; the grievance is the
state and condition Of our laws relative
to finance: and the Republican party
seems bent upon dlsregarding the real
cause Of complaint and addressing all It's
remedial legislation TO an increase Of
tariff changes. which win only increase
Instead Of allaying the popular discon-
tent. IT IS. however, with the utmost
alarm that we concede 10 the silyerites
great probability in their claim.
In a recent discussion with a very emil
nent advocate of the free coinage Of sill
YER in which he exultingy pointed out to
us the probabilities that his party would
carry the country In 1900. we conceded
| TO him all that we have here Slated, but
we said 10 him, you ought 10 perceive
that you and men like you will not be
the leaders II your party does carry the
country. You Will be put into the place
OF the Girondists in the French
| Revolution. They were the real pro-
moters Of the revolution. and 10 was
through their efforts that the rebellion
against the existing Government was
| brought into life. But revolutions where
once started, never stop half way. They
20 on until the force at their back has
| exhausted itself. The Cirondists wished
TO prune the Government OF its unhealthy
| excressences, and then 10 stop. But they
had aroused the spirit that required
| Robespieres and Marats for leaders; these
looked with contempt upon the Baillys
and Vernigauds who could start reyo-
luton and then Become appalled, at its
progress; they cut Off their heads, they
| took possession themselves OF the move
ment. and they rushed J.. along IN
career Of madness and blood. until safety
Itself forced halt IN the carnival OF
crime, bloodshed, and general disorder
This" we said to him. will be,what Will
happen to you. You viii want TO stop
when you have secured free silver. But
you will have unclaimed tile demons Of
disorder; Altgeld and not you viii be
its leader; he will do you as tho Sans
culottes' did the Girondists. and YOU VIII
see scenes here that viii challenge COM
parison with those in France q hundred
years back"
The speech which Atgeld made In New
York city during the recent Presidential
contest was one OF the ablest ever made
upon the hastings Of the country. il
proved him TO be born leader OF de-
structive revolutions, and it proved that
beside him the Bryans and the Black
burns and the Vests and the Tellers, are
as toy soldiers compared with Picketts
immortal veterans. The insidious and the
dangerous point in that speech was the
! consummate art with which he warped
our Constitution. 50 as TO show that
the objects he had in view were authorized
and supported Ia the most cherished OF
our institutions Altgeld carec nothing
about silver. What he wanted TO see the
American people endorse was his plank
in the platform that denounced Govern
ment by injunction" If he could once see
that proposition endorsed by the Ameri-
can people. then he saw his way clear TO
overthrowing all the restraints OF law.
and bringing all property within the reach
OF the mob. His argument was briefly
| this. The cornerstone OF our institutions.
said Re, is (as 1t really 81 that no man shall
| be subjected to a deprivation Of life. lib
erty, or property, unless he shall have
first been tried by jury Of the viclnage.
| But. said he, the rich men have made
tools Of the Federal courts. \ Federal
| Judge. sitting one hundred miles away
from the point where there is q disturb
| ance. grants an injunction, forbidding
moor men to assert a grievance that they
| have against an oppressive corporation.
| Upon sham pretexts. these poor men are
arrested and carried one hundred miles
| from their homes and friends to answer
thu charge Of a contempt Of court. in vio-
| Iating this injunction, and there, where
| they can get no witnesses, and all un-
friended. they are denied trial by jury
upon the charges against them, and SEM
fenced to long imprisonment by the very
| Judge who claims that his dignity has
| been offended. Such proceedings, Altgeld
argued. are a denial OF the citizens
| foundation right OF trial by jury for
all alleged defences. There can be no
doubt that the plea was powerful one
and all the more powerful. because II
! apparently was founded upon the most
| cherished OF al our institutions. There
| is a complete answer 10 IL, but Altgeld
| artrully ignored that answer entirely. and
| he knew very well that the ignorant
| masses whom he expected TO affect would
never hear OF that answer. The answer
| IS this: While II Is true that our instl-
tutlons in their original state. and when
| our ancestors were semi rbarOus. Sc
| cured TO every citizen a jury trial upon all
| charges. yet as civilization and enlighten-
| ment advanced Il was found absolutely