The weekly clarion., 1877-09-12
The CIamOr for an Increase of the
Arny-A ConIrasG.

The signs thicken that when Congress
meetsin October the first proposition made
will be for large increase of the stand
ing army to hold railroad, mining and
other laborers, and their sympathizers in
terror of violating the law, and Of renew
ing the scenes of disorder which lately con-
vuIsed one-half Of the Union and dis
turbed the commerce, more or less, Of all
the States. Mr.. Thomas a. Scott, Pres
ident of the Pennsylvania Central, has
written lengthy article for popular
monthly magazine discussing the ques-
ton Of the recent railroad strikes, and
the terrible consequences which followed,
and stating the proper steps TO be taken
for preventing their recurrence. Strange
enough, he does not propose to remove
the causes of the differences between the
companies and their operatives, and
while he dwells at great length upon the
destruction of life and property, the idea
does not seem to have occurred to him
that any part of the blame attaches to
the corporations themselves The pre-
vention Of their recurrence is the main
point Of his argument, and it is stated in
these words:
What is needed. therefore, would clearly
seem 10 be that proper forces should be so
disposed at prominent points-large cities
and other great business centres, in many
OF which the goVernm has arsenals, Gus
tom houses, mints, navy yards, and other
property of its own to prOtecJ-that their
movements can be com bined rapidly and
they may be directed against points OF dan
ger, so as to be able to act effectively and
with decision before violence can become
triumphant.
Mr.. Scott apprehends that with the ap-
proach of winter, and the loss of outdoor
employment which severe weather even in
the most prosperous times entails, the cOun-
try will have To deal not only with the de-
serving among the unemployed. who can
be reached and helped through local organ
izatiOns, but with vast numbers OF idle,
dangerous and in many cases desperate
men, no have been allowed uufOrtunately Y
to catch glimpse of their possible power
for mischief. Such men, unless confronted
by Il thorough organization in the cities.
states and other communities, backed by
the power of the Federal Government, etc.
If these prophecies should prove true
a terrible time is in store for the country;
and particularly for those sections of it
which are liable to be drawn into the vor-
tex that the railroad magnate so viviGly
depicts The sum Of his argument is
that the government must keep up
a large standing army to protect the en-
dangered interests, and that they ought
to be guarded by a Gordon of bayonets,
permeating large sections of the country.
State and municipal authorities are to be
ignored, and the Federal Government is
to abandon its constitutional functions
and perform police service in their
places. A centralized despotism is to be
substituted for government of opinion
and consent. The military control of
the Southern States for years has estab-
lished the precedent of the unconstitution-
al use of the United States army and the
y p.ractice is to be kept up. The only CON
ISOLATION ;gith the people of the South is
that the troubles which are creating all
this agitation have produces! diversion
from them, and they will necessarily be
let alone to manage their own affairs for
themselves while the army is suppressing
domestic violence" in the Northern
States where it exists. We will promise
that the contrast between the good order
and observance of law in the former
section, with the violence and rebellion
against constituted authority in the lat
ter, will put a great many people to the
blush.