Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-23


as result Congress moved to Princeton,
N. j.. where 1t met at the call Of the Presi-
dent on the Both of the same month. On
July % an address was received by Con-
viting Congress to return. and assuring
them that they would be duly protected,
ana on August l a motion was offered that
Congress should adjourn on the 9Th to
meet at Philadelphia on the 18th, and re-
main until the last Monday Of October, and
then adjourn to Annapolis unless difrer-
entity decided in the meantime.
''On the I'D of August, 1883, the dele
gates from Pennsylvania laid before Con-
gress resolutions Of. the general assembly
OF that state agreeing to do all necessary
to support and protect the honor and
dignity Of the United States in Congress,
and expressing their desire that Congress
should arrange for the permanent seat of
government in that state.
Maryland, Virginia and New York had
also offered places for a permanent seat of
government, among others Annapolis, Nd,
Williamsburg, Va. and Kingston, N. "
besides other offers of public buildings and
money.
TT was this trouble of menacing Congress
that led to the adoption in the Constitution
of the clause giving to Congress exclusive
legislation In oil cases whatsoever over such
District mot exceeding ten miles sauare) as
may by cession OF particular states and the
acceptance Of Congress become the seat Of
government Of the United States
"And 1t was in accordance with this pro-
vision that Congress passed the act Of July
16. 1870. locating the permanent seat Of
government where 1t now Is.
The object clearly was to have a national
capital absolutely and entirely under the
control of Congress, where 1t could bring to
bear the whole power Of the national gov
eminent. II necessary, at any time to enable
Congress to legislate free from intimidation
or interruption by any one or from any
source whatever, and to enable the execu-
tive and other branches of the national
government to perform their duties in peace
and safety. =.
There can therefore be no doubt as to the
power Of Congress and the executive to
exclude from the District the so-called COM
monweal army, or any other body of men,
whenever. In their opinion, 1t may become
necessary; nor can there be any question
as to the validity of the law passed by Con-
gress prohibiting the use of the Capitol
grounds and the various other acts referred
to by The Star
Whether in the present case It will be
necessary to exercise these powers will de-
pend upon circumstances, of which the ma
tional authorities can alone Judge In my
opinion more absurd and ridiculous affair
has never occurred in the history of our
country. 1t is sincerely to be hoped that no
trouble may result from the foolish scheme:
but If there should there is no doubt of the
authority and the duty of the United States
government to quell 1t at once with a
strong hand and in such manner that it
Will be lesson for all time"
no FOOu Tor COxey's Army.
Another writer. who adopts the nom de
plume Of "Forethought." says: There are
two ways In which the people Of Washing
ton can receive the members of Coxey's
army-one is to ignore them and the other
is to feed them. The first is the normal
method. Why should it be departed from?
Visitors to a city are always ignored ex-
cept by their acquaintances-that is, they
are treated with respectful Indifference are
permitted TO come when they will, have
anything that hotels and boarding houses
can furnish for money and depart when
they get ready. Why should not the Wis
ftors now announced be received with the
same decent inattention?
For. mark 1t. IL they are treated with at
tention: If they are housed fed and made
comfortable. We shall be laying up for our
selves wrath against the day of wrath.
III we support thousand penniless men in
May we shall have two thousand to support
In June and hundred thousand to support
In May of next year. And perhaps a mill
lon year later. Who knows? Is Wash
lngton prepared to face such a future as
this? For, mind you, this would result
whether this army is composed of profess
sional tramps or only of honest men out
of work. Professional tramps are made as
well as born; perhaps more are made than
born. The way to turn Washington into a
great mandatory of tramps, ioafers and
thieves is to advertise widely that all un-
employed who come here will be fed and
mace comfortable or set to work at q dol
lar day. The best thing that can happen,
then, both for us and our visitors, is that
they shall be compelled to take care of
themselves while here and pay for every
thing they get. Charity Will injure them
even more than II Injuries us, IL possible.
In all parts of the north today is an unlim-
tied demand for unskilled wofkingmen at
wages of ten to fifteen dollars per month
and their board: and II frugal and thrifty
men can save nothing out of this their
wives and children, If they have such, must
and will be supported by the neighbor-
hoods where they have left them. And
Coxey's followers can get where work
awaits them quite as easily as they made
cts. from distant parts of the country to
its capital"
Suggestions From the Pulpit.
Several Of the pastors of the city based
their sermons yesterday on the coming of
Coxey's army. Rev. Alexander Kent of the
Peoples Church declared it as his opinion
that the best interests of the nation de-
manded that Congress should give the
Coxey men a respectful hearing Rev.
Thomas Chalmers Easton, while of the opin-
Ion that the movement would accomplish
nothing, for IT was not a legitimate manner
OF obtaining legislation, urged that the men
coming to the capital are entitled to a most
respectful hearing. Rev. DR.. Bartlett of the
New York Avenue Church thought that the
army should be received with the kind
ness characteristic OF Washington people
and allowed to walk about the city, under
the aegis of the law, with the same restric-
tons and limitations imposed on other
citizens.