Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-03-20

owners, carriers, officers, soldiers, or rioters.
Our questions concern an innocent people,
living outside of the two great cities of
Pittsburgh and Aliegheny--a rural popu-
lation OF populous county, whose rela-
tions are only as citizens and taxpayers.
The city of Allegheny, II Is said, preserved
the peace, though unable to control the
strikers" who retained and held posses
sion.of the railroad property and freights.
But her concentrated population and force
only illustrate more forcibly the utter Inn
potence and want Of organized power of q
rural population, scattered over number
less farms, small towns, and wide terri
tory. The city of Pittsburgh, II Il said,
did not It's duty In its organized capacity,
though its best and most leading citizens,
reused by the fearful danger, met In an
unorganized form, created committees Of
safety, raised S5l 900 in money, and arms
for the defense of property and restoration
of the peace. Yet, even this devoted city,
whose officials may not have performed
their whole duty, cannot give law 10 the
innocent people of Allegheny county and
Allegheny city, or deprive them Of that
Just protection which the justice, con-
science, and welfare of this great State
pHt w thtAh ~ lhis VI - tShihiNh Sttt-
zenship.
"This is no debt which the State is asked
10 assume for another. 1t Is damage
q loss sustained by otOners of property
through the trespdss and violence OF law
less men. Throughout the act Of lS4l
all the terms express this: its words are
"property destroyed, {" attacked or threat
ened 10 be attacked" )" obstruction" {" sin
a.. fptn
cd y The tenth section calls IL \ trcspass:
"the same shall to all intents and purposes
be treated as actions Of trespAss brought
by owners of such property !" again,
damages finally fixed and ascertained."
"The county of Allegheny has commit
ted no injury IL has incurred or contract
ed no debt. 1t has not been convicted Of
the trcspass and the damages fxed and as.
certained. Until trial, verdict, and judg-
ment against the county the owners have
but claim, not debt The only suits
brought against the county are yet pend
ing on writ of error, and the yerdicts
amount in all to lcss than 81 900. In no
sense does the county owe debt which
the State Is asked 10 assume. She is asked
10 save litigation, prevent injury 10 inno-
cent Taxpayers, and promote the best in
teresb of the State by primarily and Of her
oien accord compensating the owners OF the
destroyed property. II will thus be her
own voluntary contribution to the public
good, and protect the innocent from harm.
"There is, II Is true, moral principle
lying at the root Of such legislation, but 1t
Is principle which must exist In some
sense, As the basis Of all enlightened and
comprehensive jurispru1ence. 1tisa part,
and probably the vital principle OF all
that code which binds into one great fam
lily all the nations Of the earth which
mitigAtes the horrors OF necessary warfare,
and renders intercourse between the most
distant regions Of the globe practicable
and desirable In n word, IL is nothing
more than the application to affairs Of
government and state Of that maxim Of
divine authority which enjoins "a upon ell
occasions, 10 do unto Others as We would
that they should do unto Us. Being there
fore hrmly planted upon foundations Of
moral right, and Of comprehensive but
perfectly inielligible equity, il par;akcs In
no wise Of the nature Of charity, bcnevo-
lcncc, or improper assumption Of the lis
bilities Of others, but is stamped with the
essential attributes OF political justice.
'In conclusion, we submit that sound
policy, righteousness, and the general vel
fare Of the State, require payment Of these
Losses out OF the common treasury Of the
people." =