, 1877-08-11
Our Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, July 20, 1874
EprroR SraTEsMAS:-In many newspapers
and by many politicians there Is much sand
just now of the necessity for larger regular
army and Of a stronger central government
This pernicious twaddle Is caused by the
feeble and unsuccessful efforts OF the state
governments TO suppress the great rots. The
argument, put in plain language Is TINS
Certain states have failed 10 do their duty,
therefore, the general government should pe
strengthened. 1t would seemrather that the
proper course would be 10 strengthen the
state governments, and to impress upon the
people Of the states the idea that theg must
enforce their local laws. Let tins be once
understood and each state viii make Itself
respected by It's citizens, and riotS like those
now prevailing VIII be impossible.
There have been few instances IN when 1t
has appeared necessary To- employ tedssa
troops 20 enforce state law, and III every one
of them, including the last one, II was the
inethciency ot the state or municipal authorI-
ties which created the apparent necessity
la none of them was there any dls&-ieetIon
toward the general government. But We
shall hear much of an increase OF the army,
of large powers for the federal government,
and OF ''wiping ont state lines.
The wiser and more democratic policy
seems to me TO be TO keep the general gov
ernment strictly within existing constitutions
al limits, ard to give such strength and dignity
to the governments OF the several states that
federal interference viii never be necessary.
Ii the authorities Of the various states are
those that the people look to for protection
to their ordinary interests, no larger fedora.
army and no increase of federal authority
can be necessary, and We keep clear OF a
centr2lism tO-,.sy which may be despotlSm
tomorrow
1t is not possible to give in detail an &C
eonnt of the progress Of disorder AM dcstruc-
ton throughout the country. At this wit
ing it seems almost certain that quiet VIII be
restored throughout the East within 2+ hours.
The lawless elements winch TOOK advantage
of the opportunity offered by the strikes,
are completely under controlled IN Baltimore,
Philadelphia, and Pittsburg, and sober cItI-
zens generally are aroused to the fact that
they have something to DO with the protec-
ton of their properly. This conviction once
reached, and there Is hardly a community III
the Union which cannot protect itself
Latest advices fron the Indian war repre-
sent the hostileS as not subdued indeed,
that they soon expect to have five hundred
warriors in the field More troops are called
for 1t Is evident that the strategy of Gen.
Howard has not accomplished all that he eX-
peeted. To put the case abont as the Cen
erals dispatches do, lie seems to be eternal
ly crossing a river at different points In ?
circular pursuit of chief Joseph, and never
catching more than few Struggling Indians
at time. In studying the comparative en-
durancc OF the two races In the matter of
forling rivers the future historian viii refer
with profit to this campaign of Gen. Howard.
If the Indians should increase their speed q
littlo they would be chasing Gen, Howard,
The National EcprJlcrR IS NOW edited by
a gentleman from Ohio, relative of Mrs.
Hayes who came on with the administration.
1t Is very fairly edited too, though Of course
in always Immediately endorsing what the
administration does It frequently has TO I'M
say on one day what it-said the day before
There has been a report that ex-Secrejary
Robson and ex-gOyera!neIt printer CiGpp
would purchase the concern and change the
paper into an anti-admiEistration Journal,
II is not unlikely that such I change viii
take place, If ex-congsessman Lynch forth
coming administration paper shall prove a
success.
IS thousands viii wish to visit this city
during the next session of Congress -proba-
bly, to be the most important arce l66l-I
give the figures Of The plbhc health for the
past month The dean Of white persons
Eas been at the rate Of - per arEum Of
each l0aJ Of whi-e Population. Those of
coIored people Lcs b-ea % Tie Iale of 20
per annula ont OF easl 1909 Of co.oreI popu-
latioa. DEI,