The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-09-05
The OlIlll1,l

IT #s-5: 1~~ !
: : = !. = 1910
defenseless red man, and with brutal
heels stamped on-his face as If he were
rattlesnake.S When he no longer
breathed they stabbed the inert body a
hundred times and shot its2full of bull
let's. They fought for "a chance to
kick it, they lost all semblance Of men.
Wolves lighting over the flesh of their
own kind could not have. been more
heartlessly malevolent,% more appalling
in their demoniac frenzy.
And then above the clamor Of their
GREATNESS cursing and cries of hate a
strong clear voice made itself heard, a
vibrant manly voice:
''Stop in the name o. Christi" and
through the crowd a tall young man
in the garb of Catholic priest forced
his way. His big broad face was set
with resolution and his white brow
cleaned in the midst Of the tumbling
mass of bronzed, weather beaten bor-
der-men with a singular paleness.
"stand back! Are you fends of hell?
Where is your shame? A thousand to
one! Is this your American chivalry?
Oh, you devils!'
He stood astride the fallen man like
a lion over the body of his mate. His
body quivered with the sense Of his
horror and his splendid wrath.
Goods curse on ye-if you touch this
man again." The crowd was silent
now, and he went on, and his voice cut
like a saber: IT have seen the beasts
Of the African jungles at war, and I
know the habits of the serpents Of
Nicaragua know your American
bears and wolves-but I have never
seen any malevolency to equal this
Every word he spoke could be heard
by the mob, every man who listened
looked aside, helpless under the edge
of the young priests scorn. you are
the brave boys Of which we read" he
said, turning to the cowboys. ''You are
the Knights of the plains" Then his
righteous wrath famed forth again.
knights of the plains! Mother OF
God! The graveyard jackals would
turn to lambs in ye're presence. Brave
men We are to rope and drag defense
less man-and you!''-he turned to the
Sinking sheriff-''you are Of my church
II know you. The malediction OF
Heaven hangs over you for this days
! work. Take up the body Of this man
He is dead, but his blood will yet make
this town stencil in the nostrils Of
the world. You cannot do these things
today. and not be accursed of all Chris
tan peoples"
With a contemptuous wave of his
hand he dismissed the mob, "Go home;
| Go back to your wives and children and
boast Of your great. deed. Leave the
body of the dead with me. His soul is
with his Maker
| The crowd skunk away, leaving the
sheriff, the priest, and a doctor who
had volunteered his services to examine
the mass of bloody flesh that had once
been a tall and power I commando Ter q
men. N ~ 1ss9: . =s, : .Ssi
mai said octol
in a. tone Of awe. Il 81 ifesi IS not extinct!
~"Save< hirnz-for. the love Of Christi
exclaimed the priest :as he: dropped OF
his knees beside the torn and tran1plee
red man.. ''It would be ablessed mir
acle of Christ if he withstood' such pun
ishnent. It is impossible!'
,"His heart is beating I think j
grows stronger" repeated the doctor
as he fell to work with deft energy.
what is this?" asked the priest a.
he picked up a bloody and crumblet
paper, he opened it and read aloud
II am Hakonuse. Long I hated tn
white man. But now am changed.
want to be friends with the whit
man." AS he finished, he prayed sill
emily with sort of GREATNESS intensit,
while the tears ran down his cheeks:
Lord Jesus grant me humblenes
and patience with these people. LIE
injustice"
Then looking at the poor bruises
| body of Hakonuse, he said:
20, God! the pity Of it! The .patho
Of it! His heart was good toward al
men. I do not know when or wher
this was given but it breaks my, heart!
They took Hakonuse up; the prizes
received him at his house, and care
for him, and he lived, but 50 battered
so misshapen that his OWL wife did no
know him.
The cloud of his hate and despai
never lifted. He spoke no word to an
white man save the good priest and /
me, and when he died neither of u
knew of it.
What did I do about it? Nothing
What could I do-except tell the story
|
STORY ON GREELEY,
A new story of Horace Greeley is tol
in a recent biography by w. A. Linz
: The great editor, as every one knows
!. was generous and kind-hearted to