Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-07-24
From the Providence journal.
L. =. Troops Sent to West Virginia,

| From the Providence journal.
L. =. Troops Sent to West Virginia.
The strike on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, assuming the proportions and
character that it has, is reminder in a
very emphatic way that people who are
in responsible positions should possess at
least ordinary ability, and exercise Il de-
cen, judgment and honesty. Daring the
last session OF Congress, the democrats.
for partizan purposes, en leavored TO
cripple, did actually cripple, and intended
To seriously impair the eili 'iency of The
army of the United States. These men
looked and cared only to consider one
phase of an exceedingly important ques-
tion. They either did not know what
were. or did not care for, the interests OF
the nation. They repudiated the claims of
men who had devoted themselves 10
the service O the county, they
isked immense loss through the in-
adequacy of the army to cone with the
Indians, an they would have left the
States without the protection which the
Constitution specifically affords and COM
mands the President to render. West Nir-
ginia has democratic Governor He is
unable to maintain the peace in his State !;
be calls upon the general government
tor aid; it is given because the plans
and purposes of the democratic members
of Congress were not carried ont as COM
pletely AS the intent was manifested.
The theory OF a Standing army in gov
ernment like ours, and under the condi-
tions of the present day, is SO simple and
so patent that it can only be misunder
stood or ignored by the most ignorant or
the most passionately prejudiced We
need not, as we have never had, any such
force in amount or cost as is kept up by
the principal European nations. We have
no purposes of invasion; we have no fear
of being invaded. But unfortunately We
have a chronic quarrel with the aborig-
ines, or certain tribes of them; it is nee
(essary now and then to give military sup
port to the civil service reform in aid of
the revenue; domestic violence" may in
the future as it mas in the past require the
intervention, the military intervention of
the national government. Plainly then,
a small but well-disciplined army is. as it
is consiitulionally provided for part of
the government TO be instituted, cared
for and properly treated. To make it
the sport of whim of prejudice, or of
party purpose or spite, is to uullify so far
the Constitution, to display an imbecility
or hate unworthy of politicians, not to say
statesmen.
troops TO West Virginia has been as tech
nically correct as it was deliberate. The
first thought in the light of the news from
the riotous country. is that the United
States troops sent are numerically weak.
1t may turn out that this weakness will
lead to a conflict which stronger force
would have prevented. If it should prove
that the mob does not yield at once to the
governmental authority, of course ii must
be made to yield. There can be no dis
cussion of the question of wages now nor
can the alleged sympathy of the citizens
with the rioters be permitted to influence
the action of the President. The case for
interference was made out; the attempt
to deal with the mob has been made ;
there is only one course to be pursued 4;
the peace oil tho disturbed district must
be restored and maintained. And herein
we see how much better it is to adhere to
principle. In a moment of excitement. and
for temporary party gain, the democrats
in Congress would have put it out of the
! power of the President to care for the
safety of life and property in democrat
ic State, and at the call of a democratic
Governor.