The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-04-11
Downfall 4 Military Doshina.lon.


the national finances, nor tariffs, or
even taxes. They all sank into insight
ficance compared to the one absorbing
topic of relieving the Southern States
from domination by the military power
of the government. Political liberty
cannot prosper under the shadow Of the
bayonet. Intimidation by the army is
fatel to Republican government. For
twelve years the United States army
had been used to aid the Radical party
in elections and to nullify the will of
the people. As soon as Gen. Grant
was elected President, he removed Gems.
Hancock, Gillian and other military
commanders who had recognized the
right of the Southern people to the
privileges Of the writ Of habeas corpus
trial by jury, freedom Of speech and Of
the press and other essentials of free
government, and put in their places to
rule over the people such creatures as
Sheridan and Ames. This military in
reference was maintained in violation
of the Constitution which permits the
employment of troops in the affairs Of
the States only in case Of domestic
violence" or Invasion" at the call Of the
Legislature or Governor if the former
cannot be convened. Though no such
contingency existed in Mississippi and
the other Southern States, they were
constantly occupied by the army notori-
ously for the purpose of overawing the
people and keeping the p'undering car
pet-bag establishments in power. Moth
jng else delayed the prompt correction by
the people themselves Of the abuses OF
which they complained
Opposition to military rule in time Of
peace sprIrg from the very fountain
source of free government. In the
" grand old Republic of Rome the gen
." eral who commanded the armies was
:" not admitted within the limits Of the
" capitol. 4 Roman Senate would not
&" let the shadow of military power fall
" upon the pavements Of their city"
Our English ancestors passed an act in
1875, directing that no troops should
come within two miles of any place, ex
cepta garrisoned town, during an election.
In I741, the military having been in
voked to queIl an alleged riot in West
Minister election, the House of Commons
% resolved that the presence of a regular
" body of armed soldiers at an election
Z" of mem bers to serve III Parliament, is
L" high infringement of the liberty Of
;" the subject; a manifest violation of
% the freedom of elections; and an open
&" violation OF the laws and constitution
& of the Kingdom" OF the twenty
seven grievances recited in the Declare
ton of Independence made by our fore
fathers, three relate to the unlawful use
of tie army for interfering with the lib
critics of the people. L was the doctrine
for which they fought and conquered
and which they incorporated in the Con
of the United States, that the
should be kept in subordnation
to the civil power. This doctrine is not
obsolete. 1t is as natural to the Anglo
Saxon as the air he breathes. In time
of war he is as true soldier as ever car
RED musket; but he will not tolerate
such an instrument in elections. Upon
this question the issue was Joined by the
two parties. The Republicans had dis
played their policy by despotic treat
ment of the South and they con
Quoted the canvass by appeals to the
war spirit and to the sectional prejudice
with which it was allied. They endeay
ored to show the necessity of military
domination in the South by false accusa-
tons of lawlessness against the white
population. The Democratic party took
up the gage of battle upon this issue,
and went into the contest pledged to put
a stop to military rule and to re-estab-
fish the sovereignty of the States in the
regulation of their domestic affairs. On
this issue the victory Was won at the
polls, and whatever the Republican Ad-
ministration has done, or may do, in
disseminating the use of the sword in the
affairs of the reconstructed States is an
involuntary surrender to the principles
upon which the Democratic party tri-
umphed- 1t is simply making virtue
of necessity and clothing its usurpation of
the Presidency in the garb of its Demo
cratic adversary that it "may seem a
saint while most it plays the devil" Its
manifestations of this kind are born OF
fear, not reverence. While we are graf
flied at this homage to Democratic prin
ciples, we do not fail to see that it fur
nishes the strongest motive for adhering
to the Democratic organization whose
cause is more safe in its own keeping
than in that of any other party.
The POLITICAL Situation ia al Nut
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