Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-06-19

American cities ruffian population VINO,
though they are small In number. COM
pared with the good population, would
again and again make rough and stormy
times II, back OF our mayors and common
councils and police, tn re- were not In the
armories and arsenals some keen steel
which. if b. ought into play, would make
quick work with moD.cracv. There are
in every great community unprincipleI
men who like II row on a large scale, and
they heat them .lves with sour mash and
old rye, and other decoctions, enriched
with blue vitriol, potash, turpentine, sugar
oflead, sulphuric acid. logwood, strychnine,
niRht-shad ana other precious ingredients,
and take down whole glass with re-
sounding "Ah" of satisfaction When
they get that stun in them, .nl the blue
vitriol collides with the potash, and the
turpcntin with the sulphuric acid, the
victims are ready for anything but order
and decency and good government. Again
and again. in our American cities has the
necessity OF home guards been dem onstra-
ted.
You r.member how. when the soldiers
were VII away to the war in lS6t64, what
CONGREGATIONS wero kind!ed In the streets
of Now York, and what negroes were
hung. Some OF you remember the great
riots in Philadelphia at fires, somtimes
kindled just for the opportunity Of uproar
and despoliation. In l ~ q hiss at Q thea'e
y ould have resulted in New York City
demolished had it not been for the citizen
soldiery Because OF an insult which the
American actor, Edwin Forrest had
received in England from the friends OF
Mr.. Macready, the English actor, when the
latter appeared in New York, in Macbeth,
the distinguished Englishman was Kissed
~nohh nod tho al 81 thA rtt,, hs,vy vep
been placardel with the ann runcement:
''Shall Americans or English rule in this
cityV Streets were hl. ed with q crowd,
insane with passion. The riot act was
read. but it only evoked louder yells and
heavier vO.leys OF stones, and the whole
city was threatened with violence and
assassination. But the Seventh Regiment,
under General Duryea, marched through
Broadway, proceeded by mounted troops,
and at the command: Sire, guards!
FIRE." the mob scattered, and New York
was saved. What would have become of
Chicago two or three years ago, when the
police lay dead in the streets. had
not the sharp command of military
officers been given. Do not charge
such scenes upon American institutions.
They are as old as the Ephesian mob that
howled for two hours in Paul's time about
stood last January. They were witnessed
in 1875 in London, when the weavers parad-
ed the streets and entered the buildings
to destroy the machinery o. those who, be-
cause OF their new inventions, could under
sell the rest They were Witnessed in 1881
at the trial Of Lord George Gordon, when
there was religious riot. Again, in 17l9
when the rabbIe cried, "Down with the
Presbyteriansl Down with tho meeting
houses!' There always have been, and
always will be- in great communities, a
class OF people that cannot govern them.
selves and which ordinary means cannot
govern and there are exigencies which
nothing but the sword can meet. Aye, the
militia are tho very last regiments that it
will be safe to disband.
Arbitrament will take the place OF war
between nation and nation, and national
armies will disband as q consequence, and
the time will come-God hasten it!-when
there will be no need OF an American army
or navy, or Russian army or navy. But
some time after that, cities will have to
keep their armories, and arsenals, and
welLdrilled militia, because until the mil.
lennial day there will be populations with
whom arbitrament will be a. impossible as
treaty with cavern OF hyenas or q Jungle
OF snakes. These men who rob stores and
give garroter's hug and prowl about the
wharves at midnight, and rattle the dice in
gambling-he.ls, and 80 armed with pistol
or dirk, will refrain from disturb ince Of
the public peace just in proportion as they
realize that the militia Of city, instsad Of
being al awkward squad, and in danger Of
shooting each other by mistake, or losing
their own life by looking down into the
gun barrel to ses II it is loaded, or gettiny
The ramroi fast in their bootleg, are prompt
as the sunrise, keen As the north wind,
potent as thunderbolt and accurate, and
regular, and disciplined, in their move
ments as the plan etary system. Well done,
then, say to Legislatures, and governors,
and mayors, and VII officials VINO decide
upon larger srmories and better places for
drill and more generous equipment for the
militia. The sooner the sword can safely
60 back to the scabbAri to stay there, the
better; but until the hilt clangs against the
case in that final Judgment, let the sword
be kept free from rust; sharp all along the
edge, and its poin: like needle, and the
handle polished, not only by the ch4mois
OF the reglmental servant, but by the hand
OF brave and patriotic officers, always ready
to do their full duty. SUCH swords ara not
bathed in impetuosity. or bathed in cruelty,
or bathed in oppression. or bAthed in out
rage, but bathed in heaven.
Before / speak OF the doom OF the sword,
lot me also say that it has developed the
grapdest natures that tho world ever saw.
1t has developed courage-that sublime
energy OF the soul which denes the uni
verse whom 1t feels itself To Do in the right
1t has developed self. sacr. flee which 70.
pudiates the idea that our life 10 worth
moro than anything else when for prin-
ciple it throws that life away, as much rs
to say, 1t is not necessary that I live, but
it 10 necessary that righteousness triumph.
There are tens Of thousands among the
Northern and Southern veterans OF our
civil war, who are ninety. tive per cent
larger aud ,uightier in soul. than they
would have been, had they not during the
four years OF National agony, turned their
back on home, and fortune, and vt the front
sacrificed all for . principle. 1t was the
sword which on the Northern side devsl.
oped Grant, u McCisllAa, q Hooker, q
Hancock, Sherman, . Sheridan, and Ad.
mirAls k'arragut and Porter aud on tho
Southern side Lea, Jsckssa, . Hin, y
Gordon and the JoanstoaA Albert SYDNEY