The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-05
TEE ARMY IN ELECTIONS.
A Plain Reply to senator cOnkIinr.

Prom me Jtica Obssrrer.
Mr.. Conkling's rhetorical but inaccurate
nllusion to the elections Of 1868 and Of 1870 in
the State of New York has been SO widely cir
culated that II is well to neutralize the fasehood
with the fact; We have already shown that in
1868 the whole election machinery OF the me-
that through their Police Commission every
publican tesslature they named ali the he cam an
vassers. inspectors. and other election officials.
and that no frauds were possible unless tho
Republican managers conspired to give the
Democrats n majority which was not their due.
We have further shown that the Demo ratio
vote was larger proportionately, as compared
with tho Republican vote in 1870. than II was in
1868. II remains to consider, more In detail.
r % n1sIers,on ,s w psop,o ~. OUT
Gen. Grant in affordinR them protection in 1870.
That was tho year in which Grantism was ar
cesses and outrages OF the ADMINISTRATION had
begun to attract the attention OF the people. and
the first faint murlnurings were. heard, out Of
which the emphatic protest of the Liberals
finally grew There was time during that
canvass when, Mr.. Conkling and his followers
well as New York showed an inclination to
pronounce against the further reign OF radical
Ism. 1t was In this juncture that nm application
for troops was made to Grant not by our SOW
ereign State, nor by any person authorized to
speak in her great name. but by a crew Of ire
sponsible partisans. with the notorious John |.
Davenport at their head. Their main purpose
was mercenary; their subordinate object po-
chance to "0 line their purses and promote
their preierment simultaneously. II they could
| brighten of enough voters from tho polls IN
and Of the state to the minority, they were
| confident that they would win distinction. with
| this purpose they applied for tho use OF tho
army. In answer to their request the notorious
| Belknap. acting under Grants orders. immedi-
ssn. t uhdeT GSte q 0 2is 10 'en
In view Of the apprehension that there may be pos
sibe opposition made TO The United states laws ia con
Nov ! 1870 the Pre- sden directs that you nstraet Brig
I" hold he troops IL hat Vicinity in readiness Tor service
SSns s to RrS s1S Of 's 9s s Se
laws The ensnesr troops Ard all others IN she hsfPGr
Command Ss~ I'A You sp viii Instruct Cen MeqSS 70
fully beforehand with The United states Marshal and the
United states District Attorney TO concert with them
nroper measures and TO promptly respond 20 any csl
week Of the election ordering them in such and
to such points In the city the Marshal may signify
Under these instructions. Mc-Dowell pre-
| pared to invade the city. He gathered together
| several thousand troops. aud through Robe;
sons c9operaton two guneoats we're stationed y 4,
in the herbor. one In the East River and the
| other In the North River
| The Constitution says: " The United States
| shall guarantee to every state in this Union n
republican form Of government. and shall pro-
| tect each Of them against invasion; and on ap-
| plication OF the Legislature or OF the Executive
| when the Legislature cannot be convenedD
against domestic violence" Beyond this there
Is no authority in the organic law for the inva-
| sion OF State by Federal troops. The statute
which Congress lately repealed. empowering
tho President 70 employ tr9oRs TO preserve the
Ct the polls anI Thcn mayes sMsp wa 70
the only color OF authority under which Gram
proceeded. But the peace at the polls was NO
the city. II then became the duty Of the State u
protect its people against this assault uion thei
Holman met this duty promptly and braveiy
He not only protested against the appearance
Of Federal troops ut the polling places. but h'
Seventh. Twenty-second Seventy ilrst. and per
haps one ortwo other regiments OF the Nationaa
Guard we're ordered to their armories. and di
rected TO hold themselves in readiness for an!
| call which might be made upon them. AT tn
last moment that is to say on ne a,tbernES Sq
eral authorities that New York was not q goo,
field on which to practise the, policy Of mill
tary interference. 1t was evident that II tn
Federal troops appeared at the polls the
would be met by the state troops; But the
Sre nUs ia WSoesnme purpose TboS
Of McDowell's men who had not returned to tn
forts in the harbor werc hidden in some atti
| In the city during the day. and collision wa
avoided Davenport was on hand. however
with two thousand deputy marshals arme
with navy revolvers furnished by the Govern
ment and Instructed to ignore the laws Of tn
State and the city. These superyceable official
were apparently selected with a view to pro
voking strife. They embraced the worst an
most notorious characters in the metropolis
Scores of them were discharged convicts. dis
ercise arbitrary and intOerable power. Tn
, wisdom discretion. and law-abiding characte
OF New York were abund dainty vindicated on thu
day. No blood was she'd but the laws OF IN
, State were enforced in spite of this audS
cious attempt to overthrow them. In his .nel
annual message TO the Legislature Gov. Hof
|, man. after rcciting the facts herein set fortl
I said: To depend for the peace and order
| the localities ON the Federal army. is not sci
government; 10 substitute the regular soldi,
| with his musket as n peace officer, In place
the constable with his writ is not TO preserve q
surrender elections TO the control Of the Pres
dent, supported by armed forces, Is 10 surrend'
. | liberty and To abandon a republic" Coy. Gear
, OF Pennsylvania, albeit pronounced Republ
can, was hardly less severe IN his condemnatio
| 1871: " The employmento OF troops Of the Unite
, | States AT elections, without the consent Of Il
local and State Governments has recently r
e sdn eohs'dsraee "Iq 1de ana reprehg
stances. iu my opinion. it is unsafe and N
| tagonistic to the principles that should go
y ern our republican institutions. At the la
D | October election. United States troops were 81
toned in Philadelphia for the ayowed purpo'
OF enforcing the election laws, This was dol
l. | without the consent, or even the knowledge.
, the civil authorities OF either the city or Z
part 81 the citizens, and. as far ms can be asce
z tanned. without existing necessity"
y We have told the true story Of ls70-the YET
which Mr. Conkling so tondly cites as illustr
tive of the excellence of Federal methods
elections. The fact that the Democratic mao
J. liy in the state rs well as in the city Of NJ
York was proporti Onately larger that year thf
. at the previous Presidential election. max
:. fair the deduction that the people did not Id
4 those methods then. But Mr.. Conkling n
5 sumes that they have since learned To ADM
q thom. He declares that when Grant comes l
a next year tho people Of New York Will remeu
4 Der what Grant did in 1870.
Mr.. Conkling is right; the people will remer
. ber They Will remember the gunbOnts. not 90
: the harbur of Madrid" but in the harder Of NJ
4 York. They will remember at whose commnl
h convicted ielOns were clothed with powers u
0 known to our laws. They will remember Dave
port and his deputies with their navy revolver
: and Mcdowell. banled in his effort 20 place q
= METROPOLIS under military despotism. But tn
Will be false to their traditions false to the fHi
OF the fathers. false 10 the State and the dignity
/ their citizenship. If. remembering these thinl
they fail 10 rise up in condemnation OF the mi
3 under whom these outrag"s were perpetratt
- and OF the system which made them possible.
- Correspondence that Explains Itself
i H. Gep. EhHbuaip Baler
% DrA ErNrRAT, Aftar aaoing whit txvO 10,