The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-07-27
Friday, July az, 1877.
The Proper use Of TrOops.

The strikes have had an incidental re-
suit which is not for the present joyous but
grievous, but which ought to be turned to
good account If a w9ll-regulated militia
is, as the Constitution assures us it is, nee
essary to the security of free state, the
very free state of West Virginia cannot be
considered sesure. The Old Dominion was
never found in such a condition OF helpless
imbeciIity as this division of it. 1t seems |
as if fifty rioters might have ravaged the |
whole state, and no power been found in |
the state able to put them down. Mary
land and Pennsylvania are in better case |
One regiment of the Maryland militia be-
haved well, though another behaved badly.
But the disposition which several states
have shown to run at once to the Federal
Government for troops TO put down little
local Instructions, which a state with a
militia 10 proper condition would put down
without troubling any of its neighbors,
is not creditable nor cheering. 1t must be
a satisfaction for New Workers to reflect
that Governor Robinson is not in the least
likely to ask the President for troops, and
that if all the strikers in Maryland, West
Virginia and Pennsylvania were added to
the little strike on the Erie road New York
would be perfectly capable of taking care of
the malefactors without calling on strang-
ors to join the posse.
The loss Of state pride is even more
noteworthy in the events of the last few
days than the incompetency of the militia
of several states for the only duty which
devolves upon militia in time of peace.
The feeling which makes a Governor will
ling to call for troops on slight provoca-
ton is legacy partly of the war, but
much more of our domestic history since
the war. During the war the military de-
partments of all the states were compelled
to hold intimate relations with the War
Office at Washington, and traditions then
established still hold good 1t is desirable
that they should be broken up, and the
states taught to rely upon their own re.
sources for suppressing instructions until
those instructions have got far beyond the
proportions of the present railroad strikes,
Butw what has chiefly brought about this
present attitude of the states is the course
pursued by General Grant during his
Presidency. He always lent a friendly
politician who was the real or sham Gov
ernor Of state as many troops as he want
ed with no more hesitation than If the Gov
ernor had asked light for his cigar. The
last Congress took measurers to stop such
an employment of the troops: but it is to
the good sense Of President Hayes that we
owe it, in part at least, that troops can now
be used for legitimate purposes without
stirring up worse strife than that they are
called in TO suppress. 1t is reported. anC
it is probable enough, that the inhabitant
of the villages along the line OF Baltimore
and Ohio sympathize with the strik
ers They are accordingly prepared t
1 - IL. Il
are attempting to put down the strike
IL there had been even a suspicion tina
Mr.. Hayes used troops for his own puIpos
es OF for his friends with the same indis
crimiuate protusion which his predeces
sor did, the troops would have been alread.
odious 10 the eyes of the people. 1t woult
have been considered that they were no
the national police but the personal body
guard of the President, whom he used q
IA tool to carry out his designs; to help hi
friends and punish his enemies. Such
suspicion would have been perfectly reas
enable as against General Grant who neve
made any scruple or concealment Of usin
the troops 10 precisely this way. Ii Nj
Hayes had given the slightest color to sue
suspicion against himself, putting dow
the riots would have been a much mol
serious matter. The troops in the fir
place would not have been avaiabl
They would have been IN some SOuthel
State, lending their moral support to Go
ernOr This and intimidating the friends
Governor That. When they were &
where they we're needed their presen
would have had no more effect Thu
belonged to their numbers, which are,
course, almost contemplate. Going amol
hostile and suspicious population, tn
would have been entirely shorn of q
moral weight which national soldie
ought 10 carry, and they would ha
had far more trouble than they have hi
or are likely to have in sCppressing lit
riot Their presence would ha
been regarded as an additional insu
which could put the people of Maryla
and West Virginia in the same hatel
class with the people of Louisiana a
South Carolina; and mob which a shel
reading the Riot act ought to have be
able to dispense, body of troops habit
ally used to override the law might ha
found troublesome to deal with.
This charge in opinion, we repeat, is d
TO the adoption of sound Democratic p
icy by the present Administration. Ho'
ever discreditable the necessity for emplC
ing troops may be to the Northern Stat
10 which they are now employed. no ca
can be made against theAdministration
it. So long as the troops are confined
suppressing a riot of railroad men in W.
Virginia or to keeping Mexican hor'
thieves iu order on the Rio Grande, the
will be no difficulty in getting a suitat
army appropriation, and there will be
uniounded jealousy Of the army.
World