The record-union., 1894-07-11

this matter, however, it is nevertheless
true that the President of the United
States. by the laws and statutes, is author
lied TO call forth the military and invoke
the measures of law whenever there is
rebellion against the authority OF the
Government of the United States, or
armed resistance to the enforcement of its
laws.
AS / have before intimated, the mere
existence of this authority, while it may
excuse, cannot justify its exercise, except
IN cases OF the most positive necessity,
and to the people are intrusted the high
| prerogative of committing to one of their
fellow citizens, competent TO perform the
task. the right TO use this discretion in
the exercise of this dangerous power.
| When. therefore, the President of the
United States, to whom this power has
| been delegated, by his proclamation duly
issued, determines that cause of sufh-
cIent magnitude exists, and calls forth
| the militia, or the army of the United
States. for the purpose OF suppressing the
cause, his mandate, IN this respect, is the
determination of the highest power in the
Government, and his decision. when not
clearly in violation of the laws which
prescribe his duties becomes the final de-
cision of the highest authority in
| the land. To this decision, how
| ever severe its consequences, so long
as it does not threaten the perpetuity
| of free institutions anu the existence of
individual liberty, all patriots are bound
| to render unflinching obedience. The
| proclamation of the President, when
made in accordance with the provisions
OF the law defining his duty in that re-
| spect, becomes the law upon the subject.
and, however unjust it may appear to
individuals, must, for the time being,
| command the respect and receive the sup
| port OF all persons living within the ju1is-
dletlon of the Government.
! The fearful consequences, both to the
| individual and To the Government, which
might follow armed resistance to the army
| which has been called forth by the Presi-
/ dent, are too great and overwhelming TO
| justify any individual, or class OF indi-
| viduals, in hazarding such an undertake
/ ing. While it is true that a majority of
! the people believe that the act of the
| President in calling forth the army in the
present emergency is utterly inexcus-
able. yet it cannot be doubted that a re-
sort TO arms by the citizens for the pur-
pose of defeating this mandate OF the
| President would not only be serious
crime against the commonw ealth, but it
would set an example which, if made use
perhaps less justifiable occasions,
might endanger the perpetuity OF
our present form of government. II cam
| not be denied that armed resistance to
the lawful authority Of the United States
would be treason against the Government,
which would not receive the support of
the large majority of citizens who now
sympathize with your cause.
/ advise you, therefore, not to permit
yourselves, in these times of danger to
allow your ardor and devotion to your
cause to entangle you in a conflict with
the armies of the Federal Government,
for such course would be fraught with
serious consequences. and might result
in bringing more or less odium upon the
! just cause of the laboring people,
Ii the Federal Government, in sub
serviency to aggregated wealth and cor
| porate power, by the exercise of the
strongest powers of government, shall
coerce you and the laboring classes Of the
United States into peaceful submission to
the wrongs with which you claim to be
afflicted, a just people, appreciating your
| situation, and in condemnation of those
| in official power who truckle to wealth
aud despise the wrongs heaped upon the
| laborers of the nation, will, in the near
| future, come to your rescue, and will see
/ to the elevation to power Of men
W hose individual worth, whose self-re-
spect and integrity will see to the passage
OF wise laws Tor your protection, and
|
| and executive officers who will see to the
administration OF those laws in manner
which will secure you forever from that
! injustice which comes from a recognition
| of wealth as the only particular ward
| which the Nation is bound to guard.
! l hope that the excitement of the hour
! may not induce any OF the men who are
now banded together in labor organiza-
! tions in this city to commit any act
which may, under any circumstances, be
| denounced as criminal.
The people, if they value their rights.
will enforce just reckoning when their
| high prerogative, the elective franchise,
is again called into exercise. Let the
| Chief Executive account to the constitu-
ency whose just rights and privileges he
was elected to protect and subserve, for
| this willingness to involve a whole nation
/ in war, with all its coucomitant suffering
| and dangers, simply and only that a
| number of private corporations might at
| tach to their trains cars of particular
manufacture; and let the corporations,
| whose servants and officers would con-
sent that life might be destroyed and a
nation wrecked in q quarrel with its
| workmen. wait patiently for the approv-
ing smile OF a suffering public. Very re-
spectfuily. yours, A. i. HART.
III. A. Knox, Chairman of the Media
ton Committee. was seen last night and
stated that he should abide by the opin-
ion of their attorney and make no resist
ance 10 the troops. He also said that the
opinion had been freely discussed among
the members of the American Railway
Union, and that they assured him that
they would stand by him and make no
resistance to the troops or to the moving
of the trains.
NEW TODAY.