Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-04
NOT MEALY M0UTHED
Is Ex-senator Wallace, When Dis
cussing the Homestead Troubles.
HE HITS OUT FROM THE SHOULDER,
Dealing Out the Law and Standing by Its
Guns to the Last
JUSTICES DEMANDS ABOVE ALL ELSE
rsprc1., TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.


Chautauqua Assembly this afternoon, and
ex-United States Senator Wallace delighted
a great gathering of people with an elo-
quent talk on the condition of affairs at
Homestead, the punishment of Private
Iams, the remedies that must be applied to
labor troubles and the regard in which the
law should be held. q
Senator Wallace remained at the park
only an hour He came direct from New
York to make his speech, and Immediately
after delivering 1t ne hurried to train and
returned to the metropolis. The Senator is
looking remarkably well, and he seems to
be growing younger every day. Two bands
and several Grand Army posts met the Sem
ator at the train and escorted him to the
grove On account of his being in hurry
to get away Senator Wallace was allowed
to make the address He was introduced
to the gathering by Rev. Mr.. Weaver. The
Senator said:
Life Is Not a Theory.
Life is not q theory. At every point of con-
tact between our dearest interests and the
world we learn that it is full of practical
realities. In Western Pennsylvania this sad
lesson is taught us severely. Our lives, our
liberties and our property are the sacred
things that demand the protecting 8g1s OF
peace and safety, but recent events tell us
OF force of violence and of bloodshed. That
government is best that is least ielt, but
when its strong arm is raised to shield US in
our daily lives. we are sharply taught that
do not bow to King or Kaiser, to Gar or
Sultan: no autocratlc rule commands and
coerces our wills.
Our sovereign is law. We bow before its
@rIN Sr,1 &c mi q
boast its absolute supremacy. 1t is our own
rule, and men can respect and obey it. be-
cause they recognize the power they have
themselves created. The people rule Our
Government should rest upon their intelli-
gence. Each voter is part OF the eXecu-
tive power. He makes law by his opinion.
crystallized in the ballot. He executes and
enforces law by his ballot, for his subord1-
mates in office, whether that subordinate be
President, Governor or constable. He aids
in creating the instrumentality that can
condemn his property and demand his life
as a sacrifice for violated law.
Our theory teaches men to think of their
own government, and to learn to make con-
stitutions and laws for themselves, and it
compels purity and economy because the
eye of the master is on the servant hourly.
Tyranny of Democracy
But Government of the people, II it be-
comes tyranny is infinitely worse than the
government of one man, just as the govern.
ment of 10000 tyrants is worse than that OF a
single tyrant And that it will quickly be-
come a tyranny, il the law be not obeyed,
and is not enforced with Judgment and de-
cision, we are now learning.
The tribunals of our own creation can
alone deprive us of our property; they alone
dare infllct punishment, and that cannot be
cruel and unusual, and they only can de-
mard our lives as sacrifice for murder
done.
The right of every man to labor for whom
and at what wage he pleases is as potent as
the other right to organize. to
quit work and by peaceful means to elevate
sion and force are at enmity with the spirit
of the law and whether they be used upon
the one side or the other are to be treated as
enemies of the people.
Men accustomed to another system than
ours-the Latin, the Pole or the Hun. even
educated men-do not grasp the elementary
ideas of our Saxon freedom. Our local self
government, our grand jury system, our
absolute legal control are enigmas and
sealed books to them. Their system seizes
the person, then plocures the authority;
ours, inf1exibly demands lawful authority
before home or person be invaded.
Our system is simple and plain one. We
have vested the power and dignity of the
State in its chief head. A few terse sentences
executive power shall be vested in the
Governor, who shall take care that the laws
be faithfully executed"
The Governor Subordinate to Law.
"The military shall at all times, and in all
places be in strict subordination to the civil
power" Note the language-the supreme
executive power is vested in the Governor,
his duty is plainly defned-to see that the
laws are faithfully executed. The power is
supreme, the duty imperative.
This Involves the very essence of the State,
and the Government instituted by those and
TO all the offices, authorities and instrument
talities by which it performs its functions.
1t must be civil power or law. As Com
mander in Chief OF all our military the Gov
ernor himself is part of the military, and is
strictly subordinate to the civil power and
to law.
In him resides the power of the people
snd the majesty OF the law. 1t is his high
est duty to protect the lives, the person and
the property o! the citizen. Civil power de-
fines by law the powers and duty of mill
tarv as well as civil officers, and disgrace
and punishment can only be visited upon
an offender by either, according to that law.
All inferior officers are his subordinates.
Omissions or neglect to preserve civil rights
endangered by violence or riots, or through
the neglect of interior civil officers like
sheriffs and constables do not relieve the
supreme executive officer from his duty to
see that the laws shall be faithfully ex-
ecuted. His power is the supreme one. His
duty is to execute the law and to support
and sustain all civil magistracy. The
supreme executive authority embodied in
his person represents the power and dignity
dignity firmly displayed in the midst of ex.
cited thousands OF our people is worth TO-.
900 troops. The majesty of law bravely pro
claimed by its supreme executive head will
compel obedience where attempted compul.
sion by military iorce only serves those who
believe they are right, to armed resistance OF
the military power.
A Sheriff With Pluck.
1 have seen a single armed sheriff awe and
control 600 angry and excited miners, but
the officer knew his duty, and was fearless
in its discharge, and the men he controlled
were fairly intelligent and understood the
system of which they felt they were a part.
do not believe "that peace and order will
have to be enforced at the point of the
bayonet." 1 cannot think so i'll of the
masses OF the people of Allegheny county.
II did, 1 would despair of the future of the
Republic. believe that the intelligence of
that people is ample to defend themselves
as well as to hold to a rigid account those
WHO forgot that the civil power was above
the military, and inflicted punishments that
have made us blush for the civilization of
our State. Much there was that is to be re-
gretted but it is not to be charged to those
who acted in hot blood, tnat they are aliens
to our laws and traitors to our system
1t is unwise and unreasoning to charge
crime upon the many for the wrongs of the
few. The law is in 1ull force. The scales of
Justice rest in the hands of honest Judges
and the guilty will be punished. If it be
true, as / fear it is, that the violence COM
mitted lies at the door or those who find
their birth and teaching in other lands, then
we must remember that the stream cannot
raise higher than its head. We must purify
and invigorate the springs o: power. We
must recognize and appreciate our great
responsibilities as makers and executors of
the law.
Must Learn Ono Truth.
We must learn and practice the pregnant