The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-08-08
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.
W WASHINGTON, !
July so. 1871

ment. This pernicious twaddle is
caused by the feeble and unsuccess
full efforts of the State Governments
to suppress the great riots. The
argument, put in plain language, is
this: Certain States lave failed to
do their duty, therefore the general
government should be strengthened
1t would seem rather that the proper
course would be to strengthen the
State Governments, and to impress
upon the people of the States the idea
that they must enforce their own
local laws. Let this be once under
stood and each State will make itse f
respected by its citizens, and riots
like those now prevailing will be
impossible.
There have been few instances in
which it has appeared necessary to
employ Federal troops to enforce
State law, and in every one of them,
including the last one, it was the in
efficiency Of the State or municipal
authorities which created the appa-
rent necessity. In none fthem was
there any disaffection toward the
General Government. But we shall
hear much of an increase of the army,
of large powers for the Federal Gov
eminent, and Of "wiping out State
lines"
The wiser and more democratic
policy seems to me to be to keep the
general government strictly within
existing constitutional limits, and to
give such strength and dignity to the
Governments of the several States
that Federal interference will never
be necessary. If the authorities of
their various States are those that
the people look to for protection to
their ordinary interests, no larger
Federal army and no increase of
Federal authority can be necessary,
and we keep clear of centralism
to-day which may be a despotism
tomorrow.
1t is not possible to give in detail
an account of the progress of disor-
der and destruction throughout the
country. AT this writing it seems
almost certain that quiet will be re-
stored throughout the East within
"a hours. The lawess elements
which took advantage Of the oppor-
tunity offered by the strikers, are
completely under control in Balti-
more, Philadelphia and Pittsburg,
and sober citizens generally are
aroused to the fact that they have
something to do with the protection
of their property. This conviction
once reached, and there is hardly n
community in the Union which can
not protect itself
Latest adylces from the Indian war
represent the hostilcs as not subdued,
indeed, that they soon expect to have
five hundred warriors in the field.
More troops are called for. 1t is ev-
ident that the strategy Of General
Howard has not accomplished all
that he expected. To put the case
about as the Generals dispatches
do, he seems to be eternally crossing
a river at different points in a circu-
lar pursuit of Chief Joseph, and new
er catching more than a few strag-
CLING Indians at time. In studying
the comparative, endurance of the
two races in the matter of fordinn
rivers the future historian will refer
with profit to this campaign of Gene
raj Howard. If the Indians should
increase their speed a little they
would be chasing General Howard
The National Republican is now
edited by a gentleman from Ohio,
relative of Mrs. Hayes, who came on
with the Administration 1t is very
fairly edited, too, though of course
in always Immediately endorsing
what the Administrator does it fire.
quently has to unsay on one day
what it said the day before. There
has been a report that ExSecretary
Robson and Elk Government Printer
Clapp would purchase the concern
and change the paper into an anti
administration journal. 1t is not
unlikely that such change will take
place, if Ex-Congressman Lynch's
forthcoming administration paper
shall prove a success.
As thousands will wish to visit
this city during the next session of
Congress-probably to be the most
important since 1871 give the fig
ures of the public health for the past
month. The deaths of white persons
have been at the rate of 20 Der annum