The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-24
IT II NOT DEMOCRACY.

TT ISN NOT DEMOCRACY.
on Monday last we printed n bill in
eouitv which had been presented to the
Judge Of the Circuit Court of Wise coun-
tv. Virginia. by a coal mining company
praying the court to enjoin and restrain
certain striking miners from coming
ZION their property to interfere with the
other miners who remained at work not
withstanding the strike and to enJoin
those strikers from interfering with the
company's property or operations in any
way.
The judge Of the Circuit Court refused
TO grant the injunction upon the ground
| that the subject matter was not within
| the jurisdiction Of a court OF Equity. Our
statutes provides that when the judge of
| a Circuit Court refuses TO grant an in
| junction. the bill may be taken TO one
OF the judges Of the Court of Appeals.
and this appellate judge may If he
thinks it proper grant the Injunction
prayed for. When the judge Of Wise
county refused the injunction, the bill
was presented TO Judge John A. Buchan-
| an, one on the judges Of the Supreme
| court of Appeals Of Virginia. Seeing that
| the case was one involving what is now
so flippantly talked of as government
| by Injunction" Judge Buchanan called
his four brethren OF the Court Of APP
peals into conference upon the question
whether the Injunction should be granted,
and all OF the judges, except Judge
! Cardwell. concurred in thinking hat the
| Injunction should be granted. An order
was accordingly made in behalf or four
of the judges awarding the injunction as
prayed for.
Now here is a court, the equal IN dig
nifty and ability OF any in this country,
which. after deliberately considering the
subject. decides by a vote Of four TO one
that strikers are not to be permitted TO
20 upon the property of a concern in or
der TO interfere with workmen who wish
TO go on with employment that satisfies
them and that they are not to be per-
mitted to modest or interfere with their
old employer because he will not conduct
his business as they choose to dictate
rather than as he wishes.
This may be government by injunc-
ton" it is true. but who is it that is
governing by Injunction" 1t is a Demo-
cratic Court Of Appeals. composed Of as
pure and unadWterated Democrats as
have ever been reared upon the soil of
Virginia and elected 20 their positions in
the court by a Democratic Virginia Leg
stature. 1t is true the Legislature that
elected them to their place was one sent
TO the Capital by the Democratic voters
OF Virginia before the new version Of
Democracy put out by the Chicago Con-
vention had seen the light But it was
Legislature which at at the time it elect
ed the court would have considered any
man a fool who raised any question as to
it's Democracy.
Here then is a Democratic court, en-
titled TO claim the very highest of
Democratic lineage. that deliberately ana
solemnly declares to the world that there
must be government by Injunction"
when lawIess and irresponsible men seek
10 deprive law abiding citizens of their
rights of person and property. Heaven
be praised that Democracy has at last
been exonerated. A responsible Demo-
cratic authority has at last declared TO
the world that libel was fastened upon
Democracy when it was proclaimed that
Democracy not only tolerated but en-
couragod a mob in beating and wounding
inonensive citizen engaged i'm their usual
avocations. and in burning and destroy
ing tie property OF people who would not
conduct their business according to the
dictates of that mob.
The free coinage of silver. by requiring
every man TO receive a coin worth only
hfty cents. when he was entitled 10 one
worth one hundred cents, would have
paralyzed existing business and have I'M
dermined much in prospect The calam-
ity it would have brought upon the coun-
try is too awful 70 contemplate. Yet IT
is possible the nation might have recov-
cred from that calamity sooner than from
the one involved In the Chicago pronun-
ciamento against government by injunc-
ton" That went TO the root Of all social
order. That was proclamation to the
world that lawless men should 10 longer
be under the restraints Of law. but that
the rule OF life should be that
''He may take who has the power, and
he may keep who can"
Pesiilence. civil war a blight upon all
cereals and food animals would be mere
tribes compared with that. May a mer-