The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-08-04
From the n. Y. Evening Post.


From the n. Y. Evening Post.
The time demands strong governm ent.
Whatever may be the proper distribution and
| limitation OF powers, somewhere there must
be power, which in an emergency may be eX-
crcised with promptness, decision, energy,
and overwhelming force There has been Il
good deal of loose talk about the functions of
government in this country. Rightly under
stood the axiom that that government Is the
hest which governs the least embodies sound
theory. That is to say, the government should
concern itself about as few things as possible.
1t should leave the management OF private
business to private persons II should avoid
partnership in private business, even the part
nerShlp OF Il silent partner who contributes
nothing but money to the firm. 1t should
not appropriate public money to any but thel
Legitimate, public purposes of government.
Where itdoes govern, however, the best govern
ment instead Of governing Il little, governs al
great deal. It's administration is thorough, stern
and uncompromisng. Restrict its functions,
if you please, to the bare work Of keeping the
public peace; but within that narrow jurisdic-
ton its power must be irresistible. 1t must
keep the peace at all hazards 1t must put
| down disorder the moment it shows its head.
! II must crush riot and instruction Instantly
and remorselessly. There is danger that amid
IDuI lltlIllIllbil> anu
this foundation principle of civilized society
may be forgotten or underyaued. The doc
trine is universally accepted, for instance, that
under the federal Constitution the enforce
mcnt of local laws for the local keeping Of the
peace, belongs to the state government, but
that in cases where the state government is
i unable to do this work it may call upon the
government of the United States for help
This is proper constitutional discrimination :;
but let it be remembered that the strong pow
cr must reside somewhere and that it must be
Iquickly responsive to the cXigency. The peace
must be kept. The state must not delay tOI
use its authority. If unequal to the occasion,
it must not delay to call upon the federal ad-
ministration; and the administration must not
delay TO act The deplorable events of the
last few days will not be wholly unproductivc
of good if they remind the country that consti-
tutional government does not mean weak gov.
lerment; that while the general government
and local governments have their constitutions
al Jurisdictions, and must not be allowed to
Iencroach upon each other, poWcr-swltt SOW
ereign and completes conceded to them, and
they are expected to exert it etiectually.
1t is not worth while to blink the truth that
in four states Of the Union the power to keep
, the peace has not been .etlectually eXerted
.. The way in which the authorities of West
Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New
, York have set about enforcing the laws is
!, scarcely creditable. The Governor of West
Virginia proved to be helpless at the very be
, ginning; and the only satisfactory thing in
the case perhaps is his frank confession Of fee
bleness. The Governor Of Maryland seems to
D have been little better off, and he might well
D have initiated the eagerncsS Of his Nirginian
0 brother in appealing to the President. At all
@ events valuable time was lost by his futile eff
: fort to manage the affair himself 1t is diff
fcut to characterize the doings at Pittsburgh
n as other than stupid. Probably a body OF
n troops never before was so bungingly handled
" as were the unfortunate miltiamen from Phil
y adelphia. fit had been intended to put them
y at the mercy of the mob more direct steps
# scarcely could have been taken than to shu,
y them up in round-house, without support
= and cut Oft from any relisying force. Tho
tprevious mfsmanagement the hasty order tC
fire or firing without ORDERS may have beer
the result of atemporary blundcr and sudder
is loosing of their heads by officers or men; bu
O. the other proceeding looks like stupiC
i afOrethought and maturely idiotic plan. A
2. Horncilsville nothing was done which would
o impress the mob with the power of state t.
n make itself respected and its determination tC
q do so and while we can well see that the mil
4. tia of the immediate neighborhOod might no
i be the best fitted for the work which was to be
t. done, owing to possible sympathy with the ri
If otcrs or individual subsection to their intlu
If ence, the fact that it was found necessary tC
lie send to the southern end OF the state for the
X Twenty-thid regiment suggests singular lack
e. of organization and preparation in that larg,
,t part of the state which lies between Brooklyn
4, and IIornellsvilc ProclamatiOns may bt
j. very well, but they would be worse than use
1t less if there were no executive force TO max,
T. them good.
$ With the heartiest will, the federal admins
a tration has been pushed for means to coope
H. rae with the state governments 10 keep tn,
h peace We have seen that. in strict conform
ar ty with the Constitution, the federal admins
N traton may be called upon to send troops into
e. Il state, and that il may Ike its constitutions
c, duty to do 50. To leave it without the powc
is 10 do so, to make the government weak whel
N and where. it ought to be strong, is worse than
IS Il blunder Of craftsmanship; il j. Il pOlitica
c, crime. One thing may now be taken 70
b. gpanted thc army of the United States mus
" never again be left without adequate support