New-York tribune., 1897-08-23
~ INnICTMENT OF LAW.

IN y
1h. leaders of the striking coal-miners have
{, far to an admirable degree restrained 'he'i
founNors from all violence but The effort has
lefr Them no reserve power TO restrain their own
,o,o,,s IN fine hour of disappointment. If we
NAV Judge from the call they nave just p".
for,h |, < oar-splitiing with the shrill cry or
unreasoning rage. Coming from men WHO nave
hi,her,o maosurably kept their temper under
irwin" circumstances, and so manager 10 eni'S'
The svmpathics of the public in their strife for
better wages. il can hardly fail to have an I'M
,,r,,ra,c Influence on all people who wish the
miners we'll but who have no intention oi en-
,,urac.nc or countenancing any appeal from
constituted government 10 the higher law oi
d~nrdcriy agitation
Thr cal for "A conference To support Inc >lrIhe
!. issued 10 all who condemn government by
"niuncton and the Use OF force l" coeloe '"'
.,,uplo and deprive them of their rights as
"Amcrican citizens. and 1t states 'ia' the S''lhc
.h,s .onr hcyond struggle for living wages
and that n crisis IL the a1airs oi 'hc Na'l'i
-. arrived in which all patriotic people must
determine whether they VIII accept ana "un-
"scu, 10 I've under the rule on an oiGai'"! vi
"wcalth or whether The institutions OF Tree gov
"orr;ncut thc rights of free speech ana peace
..l Il. puhlc lS%"mblagc are To he preSeN'u
u ,.ncnnc.d that the judiciary has assumed
".hr ndefeusble claims of the operators. ana
.'ihr struggle is between III" iyrahhlcai courts
..,nd the whole people. Doubtless TINS appear
Will sir the enthusiasm of certain enemies "i
orprcsson who do not in the least KNOW WHAT
thcv talk about and the Outcry against tnlphc-
tom> may find favor with some conservative
persons who nave been misled by the IN ne
accounts of the substance Of Judge Jackson
Injunction which weIe sent from West VIZ
gina A. il afterward appeared rae acluai
order WAS entirely different from The reported
order which VAS criticised. II j. easy 10 talk
ahnl,l ,hr rights of free speech and peaccable
,.,ruibia.c But il j. thing 10 exercise
thc~r rights where has a right 10 and
another 10 indulge them where one has no right
t. Fee speech is moi IA right where il lakes
the form of threats. abuse and disturbance of
onArs IN their lawful occupation, bul n wrong
punishable hy law. Public assemhlage j. not II
rish. when 70 takes the form of lre>paS> Oh an
other naus private property. hut wrong pun
ishahlc by law. No coal operator has right
10 ,fa al hy the cabin window of his poorest
disscr anl rcp"a, the Declaration OF lndcpen-
deuc, "a Loud voice at midnight 10 the dis
tnriance of the miners rest. and any courI
w0ulG .njoin him from such frec speech II he
attempted - exercise H. millionaire cannot
hold public meetings in a poor mans garden
agains, The owners VIII any more than a coal
striker can hold a public meeting at the mouth
AZ an enemy mine. If free speech and assem-
blagc were not thus restricted by all civilized
government. there would be no such thing a,
personal or property rights. Such laws are the
projection of weakness against force.
How Ear lhe Use of the power OF injunction
is wise in labor disputes is open TO discussion
II seeks Ia prevent disorder instead of leavin:
excciiiy. authorities TO put II down. 1t am
a. prevention rather than cure. But. wise o.
unwise the lnjunclons SO far issued concernln:
the coal strike appear 10 do nothing but forbi'
and warn against unlawful deeds. If The srik
ers object to respecting njunctcns II is not be