Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-04-25
ran &c IN
GREAT PERIL
Law and Order Bows Before Mob
Violence CIemenCeau Under
Red Flag.

graveSt peril that can II Il de-
mocracy or any form of government.
The law has bowed before the mol
in more than one disturbed district,
with the inevitable result. Rebellion
has begun. and anarchy threatens to
follow swiftly not only at the scenes
of the prevailing riots, but in Paris
itself.
AS Il precursor of the expected May
day violence come adViceS from Monte
limar that the authorities there found
n bomb to which Il burning fuse was
attached on the window sill of the Ii
brary Of e~X-president Loubet's villa,
where he and his family are spending
their Easter vacation. The fuse was
eXtinguished. and the bomb was found
to he of an extremely deadly nature.
Tho ranks of the strikers are being
constantly augmented. and on May
day. the labor day Of France, Il serious
general movement is probable.
Since he retirement of Prime Min
lister Waldeck-Rousseau the country
has not had Il strong government III
its internal administration. virtual
treason has been talked openly in GER
tain quarters for months past. When
NJ. C"lemenceau. who is the real head
of the FalliereS administration came
into power six weeks ago every one
expected Il stern, Dracontc dmlnlstra
ton. He had been known for twenty
years as the lion of French politics.
He had made and remade cabinets at
his pleasure, Scorning to Il k Office
himself. yet he vas the most feared
man in French political life.
His first action, or that of the cabi-
net. was virtually TO suspend the exc
cution Of the separation law. Then
came the Courrieres disaster. The ig-
norant. superstitious population ut first
regarded the calamity as Il visitation
of God to punish France for divorcing
the church and state. and they made
violent demonstrations against the
representatives OF authority. This out
burst exhausted itself and popular
wrath turned against the mine owners.
A strike began. Clemenceau went
to the mines and had all but restored
order when several survivors of the
disaster, brought to light three weeks
after the accident, disclosed the fact
that many more might AVE been
reached if the work had been intelli-
gently conducted. The miners became
convinced that the companies had de-
libcrately sacrificed many lives by
covering certain shafts in order to
smother the fire. This was untrue. but
the idea naturally infatuated the pOpu-
lace. High handed o%utrages were com
of terror. More than 10000 men Joined
in open defiance of the law and its
representatives.
NJ. Clemenceau sent troops to Pas de
Calais. but they were instructed TO be
mild with the cIring miners. The
strikers attacked them. More than 100
soldiers were wounded, yet not Il shot
was fired.
The minister Of the interior went
once more to the disturbed districts.
He told the leaders of the strike that
they really must not act in this violent
way. He even went so far as to init
mate that if things got much worse
the soldiers might be compelled TO use
their weapons.
At the close of his visit there was an
amazing scene. NJ. Clemcnceau walked
in Il friendly way down the street with
Il large company of revolutionists
There was Il red flag in the group and
some sang the Seditious song "Interna
tional."
They met Il column of cavalry and
NJ. ~ClemenceHu'S companions joined ia
loud Kisses and ieers, aud the minister
of the interior listened In Silenre, lie
made no attempt not 10 identify him
self with the insult to authority.
1t is not to be wondered ut that the
movement is spreading like wildfire
among all the indictments in the coun-
try.
Great strikes are now in progress at
Brcst. TOulOn and most of the seaports,
and every preparation has been made
in Paris for II general outbreak Oh May
day or earlier.
The foregoing is merely Il precursor
of the national labor movement TO he
inaugurated May |, when it is expect
ed that the entire pr0letariat Will quit
for II day aud perhaps for Il longer pc
riOd Of time.