The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1906-05-12
A VALUABLE LESSON

u Si'dl SlTlkc joins MlfCneIl and his
fellow leaders have not only
shown wisc Judgment but commend
able respect for the force OF public
opinion. That public opinion has
never been with the miners i'll this
contest, and to strike at This time i'll
the face OF that fact, means both a
defeated cause and a serious loss OF
public sympathy. The miners will find
themselves much stronger for the fut-
ure, in contcnding Tor their just de-
seSrtS, by their wise refusal to call
strike now. That is lesson number
one. Lesson number two was learn
ed at Mount Carmel and ought to be
emphasized not only in the mining re-
glon but everywhere else as well.
hat lesson was well started when
Governor Pcnnypacker issued his
iorcibc and timely proclamation
wherein he made it plain that this gov
eminent stands ior liberty and law and
will have no tolerance for riot and an
archy. The Governor insists that
every man is entitled to labor and to
get for his labor the highest COM
pensation h" can lawfully secu~n: but
he has no right t. Interfere with an
other man who may want to l1bor
Any body OF wUrFmcn has entire Tree
dom to refuse to work ii dissatisfied
with its conditions The miners are
clearly within their rights when they
choose to strike. But. on the other
hand, ii the operators should deter
mine to go on and mine coal with
other IaborcrS, the whole power of
the Commonwealth will be at hand to
protect them and to protect those who
choose to work for them. That de
cIaration was clear, Just and strong,
and in accordance with the ideas of
personal liberty that prevail in this
Western World Moreover it was
meant, and the shooting at Mount Car
mel proved that it was meant 1t is
hard to have patience with the reck-
less journalism that has Striven to cast
odium on that affray by pcturing the
troops the guardians Oi the peace. as
in league with death and the miners as
their victims. The simple fact is that
the little troop was acting under the
orders al the constituted authorities.
and i'll response to a call from the
Sheriff OF the county: and it is fur
Their TACT that, under the leadership OF
Lieutenant Smith. they seem to have
acted with the most remarkable for
bearancc and Scli-rcStraint. They
gave the mob every opportunity ta re-
cover its senses and dispense. even re
framing from shooting when they (the
trooperS) had themselves been attack
ed and wounded; and finally firing into
the bowling rioters only when no other
recourse was left them. unless respect
Tor and obedience to the law is to be-
come by word and Kissing" And
lllS was lesson NUMBER TWO. 1t mas
nothing to do with the right and
wrong OF the miners controversy. 1t
is question OF law against anarchy, a
question OF maintaining the peace and
orderlineSS OF government. OF making
men OF all nations and opinions under
stand that in our American Common
wealth controversies are not decided
by appeal to mob law and mob me-
thods We recognize, OF course. that
the mob at Mount Carmel was COM
posed largely OF ignorant and hot
headed men and women. trained in the
revolutionary doctrines OF other lands,
and much charity must be felt for
those who hardly know what they do
But what we are now emphasizing is
that every organ, which in any way in
fluences public opinion, should stand
for the majesty OF the law and the or
derlinesS OF society whenever that
law and orderliness are put in jeo-
pardy.