The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-20
THE MfLITARY Nv ELECTIONS.
Grants False Proclamation and his Danger
Gus Design.

From me Herdh.
The Presidents proclamation. made Tor
no true cause, misstating the clear and well I'M
dcrstood facts in almost every paragraph or
dering the dispersion OF an insurrection which
does not exist, on pleas which are notoriousiy
without foundation, and threatening to send TO
the State not only the regular army but the
militia OF the States. Is surely too grave and
dangerous an abuse Of power to pass unnotced
by Northern voters. The clause Of the Consti-
tuition. under which the President snel.ers him
self and Gov. Chamberlain, evidently sup
poses the Governor Of State to have at
tempted to put down disorders before he is
entitled to call for Federal help. N SUD-
poses the emergency to be 80 serious that
he would call the Legislature together
for consultation before he appeals to wash
ington, II possible; and for this Mr. Chamber
lain has had abundance OF time. IL supposes at
least actual and notorious Illegal combinations
too powerful for him to put down; but there Is
not the least proof of any combination what
ever, except one Of the respectable people OF
the State to defeat Gov. Chamberlain at the
polls There can be no plea even OF resistance
on the part of the rife clubs, which are for the
most part, " not entirely. legal aud chartered
organizations. Their members have submitted
quietly to arrest,wherover they have been called
be that the President of the United states has
been led to abet Gov. Cham herlain In an attempt
to create a riot In South Carolina for the pur-
pose OF coerctng the people to reBlect him.
1t Is impossible to believe that 80 serious and
dangerous misuse OF power for partisan pur-
poses will 90 unnotlced by the voters OF the
Northern States. Such acts, unless they are
promptly condemned by the people, become
presidents; and II the people OF the United
States should by their neglect allow such pre-
cedent as this to become established II would
hang as a menace over every election and would
surely soon be misused In a manner to create
general civil disoord. No one pretends TO doubt
that the people o. South Carolina have for many
years suffered from public robbery aud grave
malad ministration at the hands OF men who
used the ignorant negro vote to mlintain them
selves In power. At last, there, as In Arkansas
and In Alabama even the negroes, or at least
| the more intelligent part OF them, have
| become weary of misrule: at the same time,
a. in those other States, the Republican
party has become divided, and one faction
arrays itself against the party candidate. By
this split the Democrats reasonably hope tt
profit and to carry the State. They are using thel
utmost efforts to do so, and they deserve the
| sympathy OF every opponent OF bad gov ,rnment
! In the North. But in this emergency, when
natural causes give the friends OF honesty a
chance. the Federal power IA Invoked, AMI sue
cessfully, to step IN to save Gov, Chamberlain
from defeat which he deserves and which the
public good demands. Surely that Is not free Of
constitutional government. What would the
people Of New York have said II. when Tweed
and his Ring were about to be overturned, thes
had been able to summon Federal troops and
Federal marshals to help them. and had pro
cured Presidential proclamation ordering IN
opponents Of the Ring to dispenser