Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-06-25
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Senator Conkling is entitled to the
thanks of his adversarics for an unex-
pected exhibition of candor.
At the Republican caucus called to
determine the course TO bo pursued in
reference to the Army bill, he spoke
as follows:
"Ths Republican party does not want the
President 10 use the Army as police force to
patrolthe localities where eect ons are being held
TO iniimidate voters aud make Il appear that this
Is bayouet-ridden country II does not assert
that he has this right but II does assert that be
has the right 10 quel riots at the polls and pre-
vent free election from being destroyed by rifle
clubs and other organizations, and it proposes to
do all It can to keep him secure In the exercise
of IT,"
The Inconsistency of the arguments
used by the President is preserved in
this extract from the speech of the
New York Senator
While totally disclaiming any inten.
ton on the part of the Republicans to
use the army as police force at the
polls he contends for the possession Of
a right by the President, which could
not be exercised without using the
Army as a police force.
The Inconsistency is inevitable from
the very nature of the claim set up, fol
under our system of government moth
ing is clearer than that merely local
disturbances Of the peace are to be
suppressed by the local authorities.
IT this were not SO there would bt
no sense in the provision of the Con
stitution which authorizes the inter
vention of Federal authority on appli
cation by the State when the resistanc,
to the latter is too strong to be over
come by the ordinary methods.
The implication is clear that the
State shall first exhaust its power I,
repress disorder. Ifa community wer,
to rely upon the national authority t
preserve its members and its property
from the consequences of a purely loca
disturbance there would be no necessity
for mourning the expense of polic'
force.
Senator Conkling is perfectly wei
aware of the force of these considera
tions, and therefore he pleads that i
is not the will Of his party that tn
Army should be used to do the dnt,
usually devoved upon policemen Blu
his plea is disingenious and ridiculou
when he declares, in the very mex
breath, that the President, as Com
mander.in-Chief of the military force
of the National Government has th,
right "to quell riots at the polls"
Pray what are riots at the polls bu
such breaches of the peace as rende
the institution of local police regula
tions necessary And in State lik
, New York, with its thoroughly equip
ped National Guard, ofwhat use is tina
guard if not to meet precisely sucl
emergencies when their proportion
surpass the control of the Sheriff or tn
Board of Police
Mr.. Conkling knows as well as an,
other intelligent man that the doctrn
he sets up is refuted alike by the Law
i and the reason of the case, and that b
: advocates it simply because he consid
; ers the power arrogated by the Pres
dent necessary to secure the success {
the Republican party at the polls. II
5 sinks the statesman and the patriot i
t the partisan, and consents to be dii
: sembler for purpose that honest me
t in all parties must despise. We than
f him, nevertheless, for so frankly rovea
r ing the utter unscrupulousness of tn
r Republican programme, and for present
: ing it with such sharp and intelligibl
=. outline that no sophistry can save
d? from popular condemnation. Ne
}. York Star.