The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-12

lho opponents OF army reduction have
been rubbing their hands with glce over the
preposterous calls for Federal help made
during the late riots by the Governors Of
west Virginia. Maryland, and Pennsylva-
mia. These panic-strickcn cries for aid
are considered to be the greatest Of argu-
mcnts against army rctrcnchmcnt.
Now, those pitcous appeals of the three
Governors were nothing more than the re-
suit of n vicious habit OF State reliance on
Federal Intervention acquired during the
reconstruction period. We must remember,
too, that during the civil war those three
States. like others in the border zone, were,
without being the constant theatre Of war,
exposed to sudden raids, which accustomed
them to look to Washington for relief.
After the war, Congress adopted the pa
rental theory Of government, by which the
southern States were encouraged TO look up
with chidlikc reliance to the central Gov
eminent at Washington for the supply Of
domestic wants and the relief of domestic
troubles. To afford this relief. special lcgis-
lation became the most familiar Of devices.
Laws were made without hesitation that
were only designed for few days opera
ton. All legal barriers erected by law or
custom in former days were thrown down
in an instant, so that n squadron OF Federal
cavalry might ride roughshod to some par
tisan end. If any particular commander did
not suit the political temper OF Congress, it
ordered him away and put another in his
place. II courts interposcd their authority.
Congress abolished the courts Ii local
civil officer turned out TO be Of different
tttM
then, "O1 with his head SO much for
BucKiNGnAMw 1t was thought wise states
manship To make n system OF State recon-
struction, with the understanding that IL
the wrong man should happen to be elected
Governor under it, or the Legislature to bc
chosen should have the wrong party ma
jorty, the whole plan could be recalled and
made over under the magic Operation OF
martial Ia ".
Watching all this tho Southern States.
and some Of the Northern States as we'll
got into the habit Of looking TO Washington
as the fount OF all military help and the
source OF all governmental strength The
free use of the army at the South aided this
vicious habit. The army appeared on the
seen" in every local riot under the plea that
1t might develop into another in-urrection.
Every political or social disturbance wit
Messed the same swift Intervention Of Fed.
cral force. Local hclplcssncss and dcpend-
ence grew out of this custom, and Northern
states argued that they would havcas much
right To- the use # the army a. the southern
States in case of future emergency.
We saw some late fruits of the seed thus
sown during the past month Of July. No
sudden riot Of magnitude had been known
in the middle region States for more than
dozen years; but when, during the present
summer, n labor riot, of a sort not involving
Federal questions at all, broke out, at once
the results OF the old teachings and exam
pies of reconstruction days became manifest
III the cry that went up for help from the
Federal army This is what the impluring
trio, pathetically sung by the Governors,
really teaches. and not that army reduction
is no longer advisable