The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1877-04-21
me Amy IN POLITICS.

NeHiy i've years since ~ any admin
istration had proposed TO use the army
Of the United States, in determining an
election in any Of the states, that ad~
miuistration would have been i'm
pcached and turned out at once, and in
danger Of justice at the hands of an in
dignant people. would have been always
before the eyes Of him who suggested
the moustrous thought To-day We in
common with a republican administers
ton, contemplate the picture, and ex.
cept here and there among the more
thoughtful of the people one hardly
hears murmur or complaint, that all
the southern states have since the war
experienced military interference in
their local governments and elections
But recently one Of the two remaining
has been smsncipated, and one yet
sroans under the yoke and regulates
her own domestic affairs. not in her
own way. but as she is permitted to do
by the soldiers of the nation. Men
are not discussing the great outrage in
the abstract They are not complain
ing that the whole spirit and genius OF
the constitution is being violated daily
while this military occupation Of Louis
ianH is continued, for they ask "will
Hates call or the troopsT Twenty.
five years since, if such an outrage had
occurred the people would have risen
n their might and in three DAYS there
would have been no United States
army.
1t is not the wish nor desire of either
the rank or file Of the army to be thus
employed Hardly any officer, of rank
or character, can be induced to head
an expedition to the south against, not
enemies, but friends, who do not pro
pose to fght anybody, but are only en-,
gagged la exercising the sacred right of
selfgove-nment in their own ptoper
spheres. All this use Of the army in
the south for bipartisan purposes has been
very distSsteful TO the educated and
intelligent officers, who hold rank in
the army, but even the private soldiers
often throw down their guns in disgust
when called into action at the bebest
OF the charaeterless vagabonds, whose
etfrontery has foisted them into posi-
ton over a heightened, proud and long.
suffering people.
But aside from all this this idea OF
military interference in the domestic
affairs of the states. is dangerous prin-
ciple in and of itself, and opens up pos
sibiIities, before which the patriotic
may well stand aghast Military gov
ernments are, and have always been.
the quintessenoe Of tyranny. The prin-
eiple is foreign to every hope and pur-
pose Of the founders Of the government.
and heretofore every step in the direc-
ton of employing it. has been met by the
hostility Of united and indignant
people. That it is not so met to day. is
sinister circumstance, and indicates a
retrogression from the old principles
and policies of republicanism, most dan.
gerous and unsatisfactory.
We trust that when the troops have
been withdrawn from Louisiana, as
they viii surely be in few DAYS, that
We have seen the last of them as mere
partizan political forces Mr., Hayes
found this condition when he came into
power, and is perhaps, excusable that
up to this time he has continued it.
but If he would escape the odium of an
endorsement of the principle he must
get rid of them in Louisiana, and that
right speedily. The chances for win
ming distinction in life come so seldom
ly as rule, that we think Mr.. HAYES
will not neglect the present opportuni,
ty Of accomplishing it by doing a crate
full deed of consideration on the plainly
marked path of simple duty. Let us
hear the last of the army as securing
and defending republican political adj
vantage in the south.