The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-14
The Sober Second Thought.

In another column are given a num-
Der of extracts showing the trend of
opinion in the representative news
paper press concerning the deplorable
tragedy at Lattimer. The collection
has been made from our exchanges i'm
partially and every shade of judgment
is accorded a hearing. 1t will be noticed
that while certain journals here and
there jump heartily to the conclusion
that law should not be enforced in
Tower Luzerne if in its enforcement
blood must be shed, the prepOnder-
ance of opinion stands bravely for law
and order and is not driven by SYM
pathy for the fallen rioters into offer
ing any encouragement to the kind of
lawlessness which precipitated the
stern penalty of death,
And this, after ALL is the real nub of
the problem: Is lawlessness to be con-
demned or upheld? Those who are so
ready to censure the sheriff and his
deputies forget that every word of such
rebuke acts at this inopportune time
as an incentive to continued turbu-
lence. The sheriff. we must assume,
until it is otherwise proved, did his duty
as he saw it. If he erred or if his sub
ordinates erred. it was not more than
others might have done under similar
circumstances, and the courts in calm
ness and dellberation, will pass on this
point after the excitement of the mo-
ment shall have subsided. Even though
we accept the hypothesis that their
course involved a misconception of
duty, 1t does not do away with the
prior fact that IL there had not been
on the part of the strikers themselves
a prolonged sacrifice of the rights of
the community and a persistent def
ance of the laws of the commonwealth
there would not have been the occasion
for an error of judgment on the part
: of the officers of the law. Consequently
o. in any view the strikers are primarily
to blame and the consequences which
all now deplore were primarily of their
own manufacture.
And this brings us to another point
concerning which public opinion ap-
pears somewhat inclined to get twisted
the law as to the highways. "That
the public highways can be used for
almost any purpose is," says the Phila-
delphia Ledger in an editorial precisely
covering this point, zone Of the popu-
lar misconceptions of the day. The
public have the right to travel over the
highways freely and without obstruc-
tion or molestation at all times. A
tumultuous assembly which blocks the
way and prevents its free use by trav-
ellers in pursuit of their lawful call
ings is an unlawful assembly and
should be dispersed by the strong arm.
1t is true that free assembly is one of
the primary rights of citizens; but it
is a right, like all other fundamental
rights, which must be regulated by
law. The use of the public highways
by large, riotous bodies of men pass
ing from point to point to prevent
workmen by force from continuing
their lawful employments cannot be
permitted in a country which assumes
to protect its citizens in earning their
livelihood. 1t is not the legitimate
function Of government to furnish in
dustrial opportunities TO all, but it is
its fundamental function to see to it
that men may go to their daily toll,
engage in it and return from it at all
times without forcible molestation or
hindrance."
In a situation such as has been forced
upon the public attention by the oc-
currences at Lattimer 1t is becoming
to good citizens to weigh the facts care
fully before giving voice to their opin-
ions, and to remember that supreme
above the right Of any striker in this
land is the right Of the community to
peace, law enforcement and respect fol-
public order. There can be no worse
enemy of the American people than he
who would seize upon a time of ex-
element to fan the fires OF disorder
and give momentum to the forces
which make for social destruction.