The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1875-05-06
Opinions OF the Press.

trrom the Pittsburs Commercially
We note that several Republican
newspapers have ventured, in aquiet
roII % way, % apologize for uov
Hartranfts action in sending troops
into Luzerne county to preserve the
peace. His action, a. We look at it,
needs no special justification. He
did what he had to do, and no more;
and any otherman in his place would
have been compelled to do the the
same. 1t is mis- duty, as the chief
officer in the State. to see that tho
,,~s are enforced The main reli-
orce for this enforcement is upon
the local authorities, who are bound
10 nae all the means within their
reach to preserve the peace and Sc
cnre the safety gf tue community
Whep they have exhausted all tn9!r
resources in this direction, aud are
still unable to put down lawlessness
aui violence, anl When they anna!
TO the Governor for bis aid, dec!ar.
irg their inability to enforce the
laws, the Governor has no alternative
but to respond to the call made upon
him. He has no force Of civil officers
10 help in such emergencies; he can
not, u. tho sheriff can. call out the
yDsSs cpD6'diUs he cannot summon
conetyblcs 10 his aid, nor appoint
special policemen for the occasion
his sole weapon Of enforcement is
the military. The State maintains
u military system, at Il large annual
.1pense, for the sole purpose OF de,
Tending the State from invasion and
preserving tue peace within its lin
it,. The Governor, az sy oTiciC
commandor-in- chief Of this force, il
comnellel, consequently, to rely up
On il - support tho civil authoiit!
and M nintain the supremacy OF th'
laws. whenever the civil authorit,
YnI the ! qgal administration OF th'
law finds .tself unable to suppress
yi,'e,,,e an prevent outrage.
a.nor .Yartranft, en- every oc
casion WI. an troops have been calle'
for to sup, ress local disturbances
either anticip. ted or actual, has les
o-rt.ly refusen 10 sespond tothe cal
until The pecessi, - for military bel
has been demon. ua%d' lie la
!nif rmly insisted lat the mayor
, 1 cities and the sheri. Is OF connhe
:. al first use all their 1, 'c y force u
ny, venting outbreaks, or n oul'ili
thsc, down. aud exhaust th, 70 7ghi
,,cir iyil powers Of defense, be',o
collipg cor military help. lie h, iu'
and rfrb. ly, that resort to milita "
fore. in ues Of peace, is the la
,.,,r, Of a |, aud that it should be
u,ed only nj. Ner all other means hav'
basn tried "a l fail he is AZ muci
oyei'.e 10 the use Of troops as an,
ono in the State can possibly be-
In this I.nzern O case, the Sheriii
WHO il a De- locrat, as well as u yer,
Intelligent an,, etiic'ent officer, insis'
.I the troops sh> >ruld be sent as b
likewise now insis!'s '~, tney sha
rsiaain. He waJnotihed nat lie Inp'
firs, use all the powers g!veH nun .
law. end that troops coui.i pe sou
only wiien all other means ha ; pee
tricl..He answered that he "a
t,isa1be posse eomi,a'us, and faileo
eni that the peace could not be pre-
seryed without military aid III
responsibility, there ore, rests upo'
him and pot upon the Goyernol
The latter has done simply what tn
law requires Of him, sftsr using a
precautions TO make sure taAt sue
= courss could not be avoided.