New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-08
THE CRISIS IN COLORADO.


1t is not improbable that the men who MUIR
dered dozen Colorado miners by blowing up
the railroad station at which they were wait
ing for a train TO take them home after
nights work have set in motion moral forces
which will not subside until the supremacy Of
law has been completely restored. The imme-'
date results rather than the character OF that
hideous act produced the intense feeling Whlch
is finding determined expression throughout
region that has been given over to turbulence
and boodshed for almost year. The violent
element has not shrunk from employing any
weapon which came TO hand. and dynamite
itself has been resorted TO more than once De-
fore But the sight of so many citizens slaugh-
tered AT one stroke solely because they thought
this was a free country and that man had
right to work on terms that suited him. and bes
cause il was easy TO get at them, has seemingly
done more 10 draw the line between those VINO
want to override the law and those who want
the law upheld than all the turbulent and riot-
Gus proceedings of the last ten months. There
are fears OF q fresh outbreak at any moment
and it is possible that violence will spread fur
Their before it is checked, but there are already
evidences that spirit is rising which will not
much longer tolerate the conditions with which
the constituted authorities have been resolutely
but Intellectually contending since last August
The outrage at Independence on Monday
morning was conceived and committed in hos
tility 10 the non-union miners. for they were
inevitably its only victims. or course, 1t VIII
be urged that the union had nothing to do with
it, but that il was the work Of virtual outlaws,
and we are sincerely glad 10 find some support
for that view in the prompt denunciauon or the
dynamterS by the leaders OF the local commit
tee of the union, who offer their assistance III
hunting down the guilty men. As n prOclama-
Is
translated into action it will be entirely salts
factory so far as the particular crime 10 which
it relates is concerned. But it cannot cause
what is past to be forgotten, nor be at once
accepted as a guarantee for the future. 1t has
been within the power Of the union from the
first to make the Governors arduous campaign
against lawlessness successful; but, instead OF
supporting it has defed and resisted him. Inc
vicious and reckless men whom the union uls-
avows and declares it cannot control could not
have kept the State in turmoil Whlch Inc
whole military force has scarcely been aDle 10
ouell at intervals. without the open sympathy
and actual co-operation OF the rank and file OF
the union.
If Is not certain that opponents Of the union,
acting in combination, have not here and there
employed impr0per methods OF selfprotectlon'
and il NAV be true that Governor Peabody has
stretched his constitutional authority, though
the decision Just rendered by the supreme Court
of Colorado seems 10 sustain him completely.
But the incontestable fact remains that the
striking miners have been engaged for year,
not in resisting individual and occasional acts
Of aggression on their assumed rights, but IN
deliberately fomenting and sustaining forml-
dable assault on the foundations OF the whole
social fabric We do not believe for moment
that a majority of the people of Colorado are
indisposed to restore the reign of law, nor Is
It necessary as yet to conclude that they are
incompetent TO do so. But II federal assistance
should prove Indispensable 1t would Doubtless
be furnished to whatever extent the clrcum-
stances might demand. State OF the Aherl-
can Union cannot be left indefinitely at the
mercy Of insurrectionsts.