The Indianapolis journal., 1894-07-07
ALTGELD's MANIFEsTo.
Its Weakness Exposed by Olney-The
Dufx of the Presidenf

Duty of the President
WASHINGTON. July 6.-Attorney-gener-
al Olney was to-day questioned as TO his
views OF The Altgeld letter 10 the Presi-
dent. He said: 1T is hardly worth while
to discuss at length the false premises and
the illogical nonsequi;urs OF the Altgeld
manifesto. AS campaign platform IL "a
safe prediction that the author will be
found TO be the only person TO stand upon
1t. The soil OF Illinois is the soil OF the
United States. and for all United States
purposes the United States is there with its
courts. its marshals and its troops not by
license or comfy. but as of right. The
para amount duty OF the President Of the
United States is to that the laws OF the
United states are faithfully executed. and
In the discharge Of the duty he is not ham,
pered or crippled by the necessity of con-
sulting any chief of police. Mayor or even
has BEEN done m and nsh nothing ordered WheS
the most captious critic can condemn
as any invasion OF State rights. The ac-
simply and exclusively directed TO enforce
ment OF the United States laws the execu-
ton OF the processes OF United States
courts and the prevention of any obstruc-
tions of the United States mails The no
ton that territory or any State is too sa-
cred TO permit the exercise thereon by
the United States government of any OF its
legitimate functions never had any legal
eXfs .ence and as a rule OF conduct became
civil war"
The Attorney-general was not disposed to
further discuss the matter, but il can be
said with certainty that the fact that the
riotous strikers in Chicago continue 10 OBJ
struct the traffic OF the railroads and re-
sist the execution of the laws has not in
pose TO enforce the laws at all hazards and
at whatever cost The fact that the riot
Gus demonstration continues only shows
that the conduct OF the troops in not re-
spending with ball and bayonet TO the in
suits and assaults or the strikers was OF
The government realizes that IL is unfOr-
tunate that troops from interior posts are
not Immediately available in the present
difficulty owing to the great distance TO be
travelled. Nevertheless, If found necessary.
a force will be massed In Chi
at a single blow. There is to
be no temporizing; no compromising
must be permitted to conduct their bust
ness unmolested if the entire army OF the
United States has to be brought TO bear.
General Miles is well supplied with all nee
essary force to carry out his orders. and X
reinforcem ents are necessary they Will be
forthcoming. Even now, in anticipation OF
to strengthen his command Immediately
upon call. this time by troops from the
East for those naming at Western posts
are believed to be absolutely needed to
protect government property. General Scho-
field has such implicit confidence in the
discipline and splendid organization OF the
New York National Guard that he would
feel safe IN WithdraWlng all OF the OnlteQ
States regular troops now stationed in that
State for service at Chicago. This Will
not be done, of course, except in case OF
absolute necessity, for there is every dispo-
ton on the part of the executive TO per-
nit the militia Of Illinois to quel the
a needless show of United States forces.
The troops likely to be called on TO re-
inforce General Miles upon demand are
the garrisons at Fort Niagara, where are
three companies of the First Infantry, and
at Madison Barracks, Sackett's Harbor,
where there are seven companies of the
Ninth Infantry. These companies can be
placed in Chicago on a days notice. Should
the Illinois National Guards, the next
move would probably be to call out a con-
siderable part OF the New York and Penn
sylvania militia for service in Illinois,
which may be done under Section 52sS OF
the Revised Statutes. 1t is estimated that
twenty thousand of these men,, the pick
of the militia of the United States. can
be thrown into Chicago on short notice.
They would be used purely for militia duty.
guarding. property and SO on, thus freeing
The President, il is held, has full and
complete authority under the Constitution
and statutes TO call for such levies of mill
tia, and he may also, by virtue of the
and also of the National Guard OF Illinois.
without reference to any Governor.
1t can be stated authOritatively that
there is no immediate prospect of a declar-
to Chicago or the State of Illinois. The
principal purpose of such a declaration
would be to suspend the issue OF writs OF
habeas corpus should the judiciary seek
to obstruct the executive, but there here ,lS, Is no
other power desired, ii is stated, is already
within the reach of the President without
recourse to this extreme measure.