Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-08-15

odds, and partly an effect OF the mora
authority which belongs to tho consti
tutcd public force OF great natior
stretching from Maine to Mexico. Lo
cal anarchy lost heart and quailed be
fore the sign and symbol of nationa
power. 1t is not surprising that il
their excitement good citizens shoult
hastily inter from this that we canno
have too large Federal army or TOT
much Federal interference in the con
Germs OF the people. 1t is curious t
find this latter idea developing itsel
for the benefit of the North so sooI
after it has been exploded by expert
ence at the South. But to adopt i
blindly would be to adopt the notior
of Mr.. Jay Gould that the whole sys
TEN OF the American Government is ,
failure, for the fundamental idea of oul
Union is that every Commonwealth
shall in ordinary times be able to en-
force its own laws, and that the Fed
eral Government shall only be called
upon to assume that task on occasions
OF great urgency. The very concep
ton of State involves the attributes
of power to guard the rights Of per
sons and property. If such guardian
ship be made primarily the business o.
the nation, the Federal Government
will become substantially an empire
and the invaluable element of Home
Rule will be gradually but inevitably
eliminated from the American system
The experience Of modern France, il
seems 10 us, ought to make people
think twice before they come to the con
clusion that peace and the security o.
property can be absolutely secured by
centralization Of this sort. We are not
in hurry, therefore, to see in oul
present calamities any argument fol
Capitalization, or 10 hear in the shouts
and cries Of the mob which have dis
graced us the knell of State and mu
nicipal selfgovernment. We intcrprc
the lesson differently.
1t seems to us clear that the TEN
porary success Of this abominable in
surrectionary movement has been due
not to the weakness of the Genera
Government, but to the weakness o
the States and municipalities. 1t il
well that the General Government
should be strengthened, and there car
be no doubt that it will be. But th,
immediate duty of good citizens i
at their own doors, for the imbecility
Of our local governments is at the roo
of the present disorder. 1t was pri
marily their duty to deal with th,
rioters, and had they been generally
in a condition for prompt and vigorou
action no general disturbance coul,
have occurred. II West Virginia ha,
been able TO assert her authority a
the beginning OF the unlawful inter
ference with the running of trains !
probably would have gone no further
Had the Mayor of every municipalit,
which has been threatened with dii
order thrown himself into the iron
with oil the organized force Of the Il
cality and called upon the citizens {
the place to support him, we do nc
believe there is single town /
the country in which rioters coul
have maintained control for twenty
four hours. Had the sherifIs of ever
county disturbed by disorderly striker
and the scoundrels who followed i
their wake called upon thecommunit
to aid him in enforcing the law an
led the way in the task, no railroa
trains need have been delayed--n
property destroyed. If our civilizi
tion is not failure, tho idle, the vicioul
thelawless in every town and city mus
be in a small minority, and in q minol
ity easily controlled by the well.to-d d
intelligent and law.abiding element
If only the latter arc led by men an
not by dcmagogues or fguro.heads. |
most OF the cases where riot was in
minent in old and well.governed mi
inequalities II was suppressed wher
il ragged unchecked the calamity ma
in most cases be traced TO the veal
ness Of the local authorities. tn
gathering of the mob in Baltimor
was due TO blunder in ringing Ii
tocsin. The wild saturnalia at Pitt
burgh was but the second act
the drama Of intimidation, the fir
act Of which took place som
months ago when a clamorous crow
Of unemployed laborers overawed Il
frightened authorities of that town wit
q demand for work. In contrast wit
this fatal incapacity IL is wholesome
hear Of such action as that taken b
the Sheriff Of Phillipsburg, lit
town in New Jersey opposite Eastc
in Pennsylvania. When the strike
undertook there to stop train !
came down with the ncighbors an
sworo that he would SEQ the ira
through his dominions at all hazards
and he did. A like spirit was displa,
cd by Mr.. George Richards, the May,
of Dover in the same State, who a
pcarcd at the depot at the hour set &
the starting Of the first train and d
clarcd that the train should start ar
the law be enforced IL II cost the II
I