The representative., 1901-11-28
REPUBLIC IN JEOPARDY.
Serious Results Promised II lf1nds
Strike in France.

FarlS, NOV. 21.-lhe question OF a
general strike of the French miners is
again causing anxiety. The miners
three demands-shorter hours, more
pay and pensions-would, if granted,
involve an annual expense to the state
Of 10000, 600 francs. It is evident the
leaders of the miners take no real in
terest in complete settlement The
mems demands, if granted, would m
evitably cause the ruin of the majority
of mine proprietors and shareholders.
If the general strike takes place it
will prove a question OF life or death to
the republic. The importation OF for
eign coal would result in violence on
the part of the miners. What would
be the conduct OF the soldiers, SO long
the object of the incitations of the Re-
accionaries and socialists, is asked. Can
the government count on the troops?
Exchange.
In France there seems to be already
serious state of affairs. 1t seems that
in that country the captains of industry
are afraid to trust an appeal to the
soldiery. When strike assumes large
proportions they fear that soldiers
called out to shoot miners into subjec-
ton would turn about and shoot down
few of the rich mine owners, the ex-
p1oiters and oppressors of labor.
The French have acted similarly be-
fore. The French peasantry are pref
ty sensible people. They know their
rights and dare protect them. When
the workers in France feel that they are
being oppressed by few tyrants, be
those tyrants industrial, political or re-
ligious, it is time for the tyrants to
seek other shores. The French believe
in liberty and justice, and to get it, do
not hesitate to chop off few heads of
oppressors who become too conspicu-
Gus. Many things occur in this coun-
try that could never occur in France.
The French revolution showed the met
al of the French common people. Grow
er Cleveland sent United States troops
to shoot A. R. u strikers in Chicago.
In France, such action OF ruler would
have precipitated revolution, and
Grover Cleveland, with the heads Of the
great railroad corporations behind him,
would have been the first victim of
violence.
In times of trouble like the memoir
able events at Homestead, Hazleton,
Chicago, Cour D'Alene and the Idaho
bull pen, the great capitalists and their
tools best keep we'll out of reach OF
the French working people:
The French climate does not agree
with such men as Rockefeller, Morgan,
Hill, Hartman, Carnegie, Vanderbilt,
Gould and others Of their class. France
is not safe dwelling place for the gov
ernmental tools of these men, such as
Grover Cleveland, John Sherman, Dan
VOORHEES,, John G. Carlisle, Congress
man Loud and Our present third assist
ant postmaster general, Mr.. Madden.
Clevelandism, Carlisleism or Mad
denism would not go in France. There
would be trouble, and if the troops
WIZ NdAC0 OuI W tohS q AAoAO, SuSy
would be found on the side of the COM
mon people.
Revolution in France means better
conditions for the masses, less class
privileges and more equality. 1t was
Eugene Debs who said that Until
people could be educated up to a point
where they would vote right it could
not be expected they would know
enough to shoot right"
The attitude of the French soldiery
toward capital and labor is indicative
Of high degree Of intelligence. We do
not believe the French soldiery could
be used by French capitalists and
French trusts like the American SOL
diers to pull chestnuts out OF the Philip
pine fire. There is rapidly increasing
number of people in this country who
are anxiously waiting to see American
czarism in all its forms run up against
a snag. It is coming. Brace up.
E. A. T.