The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-28
LAW MUST BE SUPREME.

In 1894, when the National Guard was
called out to check violence and lawless-
ness. 1t was regarded by many as fortunate
that Democratic Governor was called to
perform that duty. 1t is fortunate, now
that Cleveland has a carnival of Iawless-
ness. that the city has Democratic mayor.
1t Is fortunate in both these instances be-
cause, had those officials been Republicans,
a class of Democratic demagogues would
have seen III the situation an opportunity TO
make political capital, and in public meet
ings and party papers would have de-
nounced the tyrannx of officials who. as
they would have falsely declared, always
take sides with the oppressors of the labor
ing man. In this State. in 1894. Republicans
stood by Governor Matthews loyalty in his
use of the National Guard to protect the
dignity of the State and to enforce it's laws.
In the Cleveland strike the Republican pi ess
in that city and elsewhere has sustained the
Democratic mayor in calling out the Ma
tional Guard to suppress rioters.
The foregoing observations are suggested
by timely article In the Cleveland Plain
Dealer. a Democratic paper which stands
says the Plain Dealer, mot to take sides
with or against the street-railway COM
pany, but to suppress disorder, preserve the
peace, protect life and property and enforce
respect for law" 1t further asserts that
mo striker who keeps strictly within the
limits Of the law in maintaining his cause
will suffer In person or cause from the
M no mil uh Iu
enforcing the supremacy of law" strike
merely involves the right to quit and to in
duce others by argument to do the same.
1t does not involve the right to tear up
tracks, blow up cars, stone cars in which
people riding to and from their en-
ployment, or to assault men who choose to
work. In the Cleveland case the cause of
the present strike is, as the strikers allege,
the failure of the company TO keep it's agree
ment to man four ears with members of
the union often is manned by
nonunion men. If the union men feel that
a strike is the remedy, that is their priv
ilege, but they have no right to interfere
with the men who choose to work. "All
men have certain inalienable rights" &C.
cording to the Declaration of Independence.
Some men assume that the reading is
union men," etc.
1t is not charged that the striking street.
railway employees are responsible for the
tearing up of tracks, the throwing of stones
into loaded cars and the use of dynamite.
Most of them disclaim any participation in
such outrages, but the lawless who are al
ways waiting an opportunity appear as
| the supporters of the strikers. "A set of
scoundrels. Anarchists, murderers," says
| the Plain Dealer, "come forth because they
think the time is ripe for an effective dem
onstration against constituted authority
and for the substitution of the despotism of
an irresponsible mob for individual freedom,
| the rule of terror for the rule of law"
Such demonstrations must be suppressed,
with force if necessary, and those men who
oppose the use of the power necessary to
preserve the peace and to protect life and
property are not good citizens.