Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-11
Enduring Professional Disturbers

| The Boston Transcript deals with
the situation at Lawrence in its usual
clear and logical manner, but it seems
to us the writer omitted an important
suggestion in this plain issue between
law and lawlessness. How long are
law-abidng communities supposed to
endure the tyranny of anarchists and
professional trouble-m makers, without
| taking hand in enforcing the laws
of our country, and closing the blatant
mouths of those who profane every
thing holy and decent; who teach
nothing but hatred and strife, and
whose sole purpose in life is to live off
| the sufferings of others?
The Transcript says:
American communities are pro-
verbally patient. They will endure
many assaults upon their peace and
order without serious protest. Yet
limit is usually reached. and that
seems to have been the case with the
citizens of Lawrence as distinguished
from the fortuitous and polyglot popu
| latiori who have undertaken to say
/ how the affairs of a city should be
conducted and the laws of state ap-
piled or misapplied. When the l. W.
w. paraders a week ago proclaimed
their defiance of God and constituted
authority, they served notice that
they had thrown off all the restraints
that are acknowledged by orderly and
civilized society. They had broken
from the moorings where alone there
is safety for individuals in the mass
or for organized institutions. That
was a legitimate opening for the
churches to take hand. Religion as
well as law had been violated, and
both Catholics and Protestants recog-
nized it as their duty to make
patriotism the great lesson of the Sab
bath day. Religion and patriotism
are closely allied. A mans highest
responsibilities are to God, his coun-
try and his family, and these funda-
mental truths were pressed home as
probably they never were before in
that city.
Renouncing these obligations, or at
least two of them, as the paraders of
the previous Sunday did, there was no
regulating or governing principle re-
naming. There was nothing left but
the impulse of the natural man which
under such conditions rapidly de-
generates to the level of the brute.
Clearer light was thrown upon what
that meant in the threats of the
speakers at Faneuil Hall square yes
terday, that if any harm came to
their leaders the city of Lawrence
would be laid in ashes and the stones
of Salem Jail would be taken down
one by one. 1t was we'll that per-
mission for such manifesto in
Faneuil Hall was withheld. 1t would
have been the worst dissertation of the
Cradle of Liberty in its history had
it been converted into a cradle of IL
cense from which were breathed
threatenings and slaughter against the
laws of the state and the people of the
Commonwealth.
No harm will come to the men
named or others in their ranks unless
it may be what they have invited. and
after due process of law. A judicial
recall by the violent methods So
definitely proposed would mean the
precipitation of anarchy on the part
of those attempting it. Massachu-
sets in 1912 is not France in 1893.
and actual revolutionary proceedings
of the kind threatened would have
short shrift The men who are in
| flaming the minds and misguiding the
| activities of their ignorant and inn
passioned followers, are the latters'
worst enemies and are leading them
IN, 70, ,ni s,f
laws is to be maintained, and we are
| confident that it will be, it is simply
| impossible that such methods can
| succeed. It has ceased to be con-
| test between labor and capital, be-
cause legitimate labor organizations
have no sympathy with the move
ment The issue is now squarely one
between law and lawlessness.
This issue has just gained fresh
prominence in New York city. by the
| murder of Zelig, who was to have
| been a leading witness in the trial of
Lieutenant Becker, which begins to-
| day, though the problem there is diff
| ferent from the one in this section.
| 1t is not a conflict of authority with
| furious ignorance, but with cold, cal
culating and well trained depravity.
The death of Zelig is distinct loss to
| the prosecution. Coming, at this OPP
perfume time for those awaiting trial.
| it will be difficult for the public to
accept the murderer's story that it
was an act of private vengeance. The
coincidence is too striking. The first
murder has made others desirable by
those whose own liberty or lives are
l Of sta Int mi oil thaf ha /
lowed the precipitation of this great
scandal we have firm hope that JUS
tiee will yet triumph and that our
greatest city will be relieved of the
, reproach that now hangs over it.