New-York tribune., 1878-05-25
THE NEED F0R TIGILAYCE.

SuDpOse that in June, about the time named
by certain leading Communists, an outbreak
not less serious than that of last Summer
should occur in the chief cities of the North.
What power would exist to restore order
and respect for the laws1 The militia of the
States, it was clearly shown last year. can
rarely be relied upon to suppress such an
msuIrectiOn. The difficulty is not only that
the citizens and wOrkmcn who compose the
militia sympathize too often with the citizens
and wOrkmcn who arc nOtersj but the
persons arraycd against each other are too
often ncghbOrs, personal friends, or brothers
in secret organizations Public safety and the
law demand swift and stern suppression of mob
violence. viii ncighbors, friends and brothers
in secret leagues, if arraycd against each
other, be prompt to use bail instead ot blank
cartridges But" say good citizens, % there
"is no real danger Of an outbreak, and finally
"thcrc is the army" An army too small al
ready to defend frontier posts, and sure to be
much occupied, as usual in the Summer, with
Indian raids. An army, moreover, which Il
caucus of the party having Il majority in the
House has voted to cut down in number and
discourage by reduction of pay. We have only
servatiye citizens rely-that the mobs which
were crazy enough to riot, burn and murder
III 1S77 may prove sane and law-abiding in
1878.
Suppose, also that in June, at the time now
set by leading Democrats for the completion
of Investigation, "a packed partisan committee
reports certain evidence, after a onc-sldcd in
Guiry in which no chance has been given to
meet or expose forged, perjurcd or bribed tes-
timony, and with the evidence Il joint rcsolu-
ton that the President and Nlce-President
were not duly elected, and shall be no longer
recognized As usual, the Democratic majority
will employ the handouts of caucus for un-
willing members, and the gag-law for resist
ing Republicans. If the resolution passes,
what can be done to prevent revolution and
anarchy? 4? The Supreme Court would un-
doubtedly sustain the President in continuing
to exercise the powers of his Office, but
what power is there to enforce obedience
to its decsions7 If cities are disordcred by
riots. and railways blocked by strikes, and
the insignificant ARMY taxed beyond It's strength
TO keep under restraint the savages on the
border and the yet more savage mObs in
crowded cities, what is there to prevent II
forcible overthrow of the rghtful government
of the United States by another mobf Butt
saws the conservative citizen, lmpatiently
turning to his business, or lazlly lOunglng in
bis easy chair, "all this is sensational, and
"there is no possibility that Democratic parti-
"sans will be so mad"
VIII the conservative citizen please to re-
member that he INDUCED in the very same
raj in
cost him and the country so little that he is
disposed to repeat the EXPERIMENT. OF all
dangers in O republic, absolutely the greatest
is the disposition to believe that there Is no
danger. Indifference to public affairs, blind
confidence in the fidelity and good sense of
the majority chronic belief by those who self
isnly neglect all civic duties that others will
neglect none, unwillingness to bear taxes or
other burdens in order to guard against perils
not vet yIslbly prescnt,-these are vices which
self-government fosters in remarkable de-
gree. Yet it is true now rs 1t ever has been
that Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty"
and if this nation has not been destroyed al
ready. it has not been because Of the tardy
efforts of a sleepy conservatism.
We sincerely hope that leaders OF the Com
munistic mob may not attempt another out
break this season. But nothing tends 80
strongly to encourage such attempts as the
obstinate unwillingness of men who call them
selves good citizens to take any precaution
to prevent, or make any preparation to sup
press them. We sincerely hope that the chorus
of public Indignation which has made itself
heard by some of the duIlest Democratic Rep
resentativcs, may suffice 70 prevent those revo-
lutlonary steps which were manifestly
intended by the ringeaders when the