The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-07-28

uneasness. Thus, with an army even
Insufficient to keep the Indians in sub
lection, or to patrol the Mexican from,
tier, when Communism threatens the
very foundations Of social order, Il few
squads OF regulars, hurrying to the
points most imminentlv threatened. is
all the protection the Government can
offer The spectacle is humiliating
one, and for which the Democratic ma
lority in Congress is solely responsible.
The extended and complcate,! troubles,
which have grown out of the strikes of
railroad workmen, establishes the fact,
beyond the possibility of argument or
discussion, that the Federal authority
can alone be relied upon for the pre-
servatlon Of order in any great emer-
gency growing out of our interstate
railroad or other commercial or indus
trial interests. Commenting upon this
subject, leading New York daily very
pertinent remarks that the most ar
dent worshiper Of State rights must
confess that the spectacle presented
during the last few days is not likely
to give the world a favorable estimate
OF the way in which States discharge
their first and highest duties. They
are clothed with powers which, rightly
used, are presumed to be sufficient for
the maintenance of order within their
respective borders Their local mill
tarv organizations are supposed to be
admirably adapted for all probable do
nestle emergencies, and furnish the
favorlte Democratic pretext for a cru
SADIE against Il standing army. Under
the first serious trial they have en-
dured, apart from the civil war, they
have ANONYMOUSLY broken down
West Virginia, where the mischief be-
gan, is literally destitute of citizen SOL
diers. 1t had not the means of sup
pressing a disturbance which a few
score OF resoute and disciplined men
would have qucl!ed in half day
Maryland could not protect the trains
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
whose chief officer appealed to the
President for succor Pennsylvania
has its crack regiments, and points
with childish pride to their parades.
How little they are to be depended
upon the early events at Pittsburg, fol-
lowed by the cry of Gov. Hartranft for
Federal help, sufficiently prove. The
" sunshine soldier" lost his head in
the presence of a mob, and aggravated
the disorder he should have put down
The subsequent blunders at Harrisburg
and Reading further exemplify the same
painful story. In Ohio things have been
no better. And in New York they fur
nish little excuse for boasting. The
main reliance every where is upon the
Federal Government, which the Demo
cratic party in all these States has
striven to cripple in military sense.
The only authority which stands be-
tween property and its communist enc
mies-between society and the anarchy
with which it is menaced-is that very
authority which men like the President
of the Pennsylvania railroad and Demo-
cratic politicians Of all grades would
fain have rendered powerless Feeble
it is, confessedly; if their will We're law,
it would not have had a company at its
command to stem the rising tide of revo-
luton
just as the Democratic theory in the
matter Of State rights was incompati-
bic with the integrity of the Union, so
the Democratic policy in regard to the
military power of the Federal Govern
ment would make it incapable of per
forming its most urgent duties. 1t
needs above all things an increase of
the regular army, as the force upon
which the country must depend in such
conflict as that now in progress
The days are over in which this roun-
try could rejoice in its freedom from the
elements Of social strife which have
long ahounded in old countries. The
passing trouble will come to an end, of
course. Whatever the results of the
strikes, as between the railroad com.
panies and their workmen, the suprem-
acy Of law will be quickly re-established.