Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-31
PITTsBURe. SUNDAY. JULY 81. 1892.
THE REPREss1oN OF DISTURBANCE


One of the questions growing out of the
Homestead disturbances which may have
pressing interest for the taxpayer in the
future is how to preserve the peace when
large communities are affected by labor or
other troubles. The calling out of the
National Guard of the State is an effective
method; but disadvantages of a serious
sort would attach to it if the operation
should have to be many times repeated.
Particularly would this be true if the
period of service on the field were long
protracted. The pay of 81 80 per day for
the men represents to most of them a
direct loss in money. This they cheer
fully bear, on account of patriotic feeling,
during the time ordinarily required for
drill and for annual encampments. But
it would be serious hardship to many of
the enlisted troops if they had to stay for
long stretches of time on the field. If
such possibilities became frequent, it is
easy to see that either the compensation
of the Guard would have to be greatly in
creased, or the enlistment of the best
material for it would greatly diminish.
So far as expense goes, it must not be
counted at all as against the end of assert
ing whenever and wherever needs be the
: -eou1I,'-'- supremacy of the law and of all
the rights guaranteed Hereunder. No
matter what the expense, if 1t were to
take the last penny in the Treasury the
law will always be sustained. But, at the
same time, if disturbances, such as too
frequently have occurred through the
country, are to be looked upon as among
the possibilities, thinking people, includ-
ing the taxpayer who has to foot the bills,
will inevitably begin to cast about for
quicker and less costly methods than sum-
moning the State militia.
Already this problem, as brought up in
connection with the Homestead situation,
great many suggestions. The most COM
mon is the organization of a small special
force for the State or for counties, to be
permanent in its character, and liable to
summons at any time and any place and
for any period needed. The immediate
objection to this is that no matter how
small the number, it would have the dis
agreeable aspect of standing army; and
while less costly and quicker perhaps,
than the calling out of the militia, it would
lead the way to militarism and to perma-
nent burdens upon the taxpayer.
Any suggestion looking to a steady mill
tary organization, constantly in service
and under pay, will always fall harshly
upon the public ear. In the end, too, we
have no doubt, it would come to be
heavy charge upon the public purse. But
the worst feature of such an arrangement
the one which should be most repulsive
to the pride of good citizens-is that it
would do away with the claim which up
to the present could generally have been
made for all American communities, that
they need no garrisons or standing mill
tary organizations to keep the peace and
enforce the law.
A boast, however, no matter how much
pride it evokes, is nothing unless the facts
support it. The saving influence for our
republican institutions must ever be the
citizens respect for and fidelity to the law
and to legal rights. With this spirit fully
prevalent, we would not have occasion for
calling out the National Guard or getting
up supplementary military organizations
This is the spirit not only for the Courts
to enforce, but for good citizens on every
hand TO inculcate