The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-10
SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1900.
DEMOCRACY AND RIOT.

The terrible situation that has been ex-
listing in St. Louis is a. challenge TO all
thoughtful men to consider again the
fundamental grounds of Democracy Such
a condition could not exist for a day in
Russia without bringing down on the
heads of the rioters the armed
hand of the autocratic powers
that be. In France similar state
OF affairs in any one of the large cities
would be seized by the Anarchists, Com
.nunists and all other dissatisfied elements
as an occasion for building barbados in
the streets and killing more or less cen
darmes and perhaps making another die
tator But in England or America, which
are incom1arably the freest countries, We
see a condition of affairs existing for
month or more, like that at St Louis,
which has stopped the street cars for
nearly month and resulted in the death
of four persons. and the wornding Of
about forty others. Now why is this?
Freedom does not mean license. nor does
the right to refuse to work include the
right to compel others to stop working
also, and yet we see both OF these false
deductions being actively pursued in St
Louis by the strikers without proper him
drance from the authorities. Such a sit
uation shows at once the strength and
weakness of Democracy, for it shows
clearly that the ways OF peace and law
can only be kept when the people, the
Democracy. wish TO keep them. OF what
Use are policemen when they fear the
rioters and fire their pistols into the air?
What safeguards are furnished by mayors
OF governors whose fear of offending a
large body of rioters makes them stand
quietly by. while the very foundations of
society are being undermined And yet
sach uncnec6ed outburst of passion ohd
Vindictiye hatred do not mean that Demo-
cracy IS failure, nor that our system
of government by the people is going TO
break down. But it does show criminal
weakness on the part of the Executive
and unbounded folly on the part of the
leaders of the strike who countenance
such methods. In yesterdays Times we
had occasion TO refer to a letter from a
correspondent which pointed out that the
ed from the operation of the recent Trust
Law. II is t.'ue that Congress did do this,
and II is no less true that the demands of
the strikers in St. Louis would. If granted.
create a trust which would surpass any
that has yet been seen, a trust controlling
alike the employers and employees. Yet
We would not for any consideration see
Congress try TO prevent The laborer from
combining by statutory laws. This method
Of solution has been long since tried and
exploded. II is as fallacious as laws
against gold exports or against high
prices Tor bread. The laborer knows his
freedom, and he VIII use it. Time and
experience alone will teach him how far
to so. but while he is making his expert
ments he should not be allowed to murder,
wound and destroy property. The capital
list has The same right 10 combiae as the
laborer. and If history teaches anything
1t shows that sooner or later all attempts
to deprive the capitalist OF this right Will
be abandoned Bit the capitalist has no
right TO rob the community by extortion-
ate prices. based on monopolies The
capitalist has no right 10 protective
tariffs or railroad discrimination in his
favor that enable him TO pillage the pub
lie and curse the small competitor, but the
way to prevent these wrongs is 10 take
away all special privileges. 10 enforce the
Democratic dicGiae of equal rights and
not try deprisias both the individual and
the public of the right Of combination.
Trusts and labor unions are both lesiti-
mate outgrowT,hs of present and past So
cIal conditions. Neither are In themselves
necessarily harmful. though both may be.
and have been, perverted For the evils,
OF both the solution hes in the hands OF
The people by compelling both striker and
snonopoiist TO respect The natural and CON
stitutional rights OF Others.
POLITICS AND STOCKS.
There appeared most significant article