The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-28
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 One definition of revolution" given by the lexicons is. "A radical change in social or governmental conditions" So, also. the word revolt" is described as being "an uprising against Government or authority" And so. whether the object is to overthrow an existing Government or to change the form of Government, it is revolution. Then, too, when number of people, under any pretence or under any form of or-
 ganizatlon. undertake to defy and null fly the laws it is revolution in fact. If
 not in name.
 Under these definitions it is fair and just and proper to say that there
 has been and Is now g revolution go- ing on in. the great minerai districts of Alabama. It is useless to discuss the real or alleged causes of the trou- bie, or why 1t began. It is sufacient to note the results. and the facts as they have developed since the revo- lution began. Among the most sig nifcant of these results has been the open defiance of the legal authority of the State. accompanied by assassina- ton. arson and other forms of iawless- ness which tend to destroy peace and order and encourage anarchy and dis order.
 Shall such conditions be tolerated in a State that claims to be an or derIy, law-abiding and law-enforcing member of the great republic? Thoughtful people," says The Kansas City Journal, referring to conditions at Springfield. cannot tolerantly contem- plate for a moment rule by the mob, any more than they can approve of more than temporary rule by the bay onet. Either is confession of the ignominious failure of popular govern ment: that democracy raises up a ankenstein to destroy its creator. It matters little whether the Frank enstein takes the form of a citizen or a soldier. We cannot long tolerate either in the seat of authority. The problem at Springfield is; How shall those who know the names of the men guilty of murder. arson and sedtion be given protection, so that if they aid the cause of justice their homes will not be burned and they them l selves assassinated? That Is an ugly | problem, but 1t is the one which pre- | sents itself in some degree, if not in exact kind whenever there is a con fict between lawlessness and unlaw fulness."
 Conditions around Birmingham have | not only been revolutionary. but there | has been a concerted effort to sub stitute mob rule for the laws of Ala bama. Admitting for the sake of ar gument--for we do not know all the | the miners had reas- 1 enable cause of complaint and dissat- isfaction. and what does that prove? Our civil courts are always crowded with cases brought by men who think they have just grounds for seeking but they do not undertake to obtain 1t by violence. If they did there would be an end of law and or der. and revolution and mob rule would be supreme.
 Could VIC view such a condition of society with any degree of patience? and could such a condition be toler- ated longer than would be required to put 1t down by force if necessary? Yet that is substantially the condition that has for some weeks existed fin the min sral districts of Alabama. It has last sd too long already. It has cost many thousands of dollars in various ways. md It Is bringing discredit on the State. It is a revolt and a revolution,