The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-08-16

hePt impending Tor that purpOse~th
peacefullnees wicb consists in bein!
over awed by visible and consta,l
force, rather than in the law>abidin!
disposition of the people-these arr
the things which have been threaten
ing rs and are what we need to es-
cape, not to invite. When the coun
try will no longer hold together by
that disposition and by the respect
and fear felt for the law without a
visible menace, it will not hold to-
gether at all. Tho single fact, is that
a standing army and a visible force,
such as exist in Europe re contrary
to tho essenco Of Democratic govern
nent which is voluntariness and con
sent; we cannot have the "strone
government" talked of and keep tue
kind we already have. Whether
what we now havo is essentially good
and practical; whether it is strong
enough to withstand strains and last:
whether it is on the whole better
than some form of monarchy and is
not undergoing process of change, arc
independent questions with which
this has nothing to do. If We get tho
governm ont talked of it NAV be bot
ter than what we now have, or worse:
the point is, that it will not be the
same as we now have.
TIE MOB AND THE EMPIRE.
The Cincinnati Gazette says, "Be-
hind the mob stalks the erpirel''
Low profound nd philosophical and
historical this sounds! Yet how
shallow in thought, and how ignor-
ant OF philosophy, history and COM
mon experience! What can "lhc
empire" do to prevent labor DLrikes
or mob violence, Or to protect prop
ertyG CAN it garrison every towr
with tho imperial armys That woulc
not d" it. Gan it picket the railroad
1t could not protect them against {
people resolved to destroy thom
Under democracy or an empire, the
peace OF 80 ocie'y, and the safety O.
persons and property, must rest on
the mass Of the people, and on the
influence ofthe class who, by intclIi-
gence, character and property, are
tae natural leaders Of society. When
these influences fail to protect society
no empire or Caesar can do it. Then
industry property and society must
sink back to barbarism. In this
city, and in every other to which
railroad troubles have extended, nine
men out Of ten are on the side of law
and order; in the State together nine
teen out OF twenty. What pusillani
nifty and childishness to talk OF
the stalking Of the empire in this!
With empire, still the common safe
ty would depend OH the people,
When they become incapable the
empire cannot save them.
THE PEOPLE WILL NOT TOLERATE 1T.
The Now York Sun says: Now,
suppose the reliance in this contro-
versy had been upon Federal troops,
as the centralists contend it should
be in such emergencies how large
an army would be needed2 The ro>
cent disturbances, great and small,
occurred in about 100 places, some
of them being very serious. To have
promptly suppressed them would at
certain points, have required large
force. The average number at the
several localities ought to have been
at least thousand soldiers. There's
fore, to have met and mastered this
outbreak would have required about
100000 soldiers; and, soon as we fall
back upon regular troops for Keeping
the peace, "e must station thom
wherever an uproar is Iikoly to occur
Moreover, we must have about as
many more to man forts, guard the
frontiers and restrain tho Indians.