St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-10
MARTIAL LAW.

The pro clamatiOn of the president to
the people OF Chicago, calling upon
them to attend to their business and
remain away from the scenes of riot
and disorder, Is not a declaration of
martial law, as many seem 10 regard it,
although it is long stride in that direc-
ton. and an intimation that, if the
scenes OF confusion and riot are much
longer continued, the city will shortly
be subject 10 all the rigorS that attend
a condition of war.
a declaration of martial law is des-
perate remedy for desperate disease.
1t is the assertion of the superiority of
the military over the civil law-the
complete suspension Of the latter. The
machinery of the courts is suspended d,
and otfenseS are tried and punished by
court martial-a summary. and often
deSpotic proceeding, sometimes unjust
in operation, but always prompt and
decisive. There is no opportunity for
avoidance of the consequences of an
infraction of the law by reason of tech
nicalitieS. The facts ascertained, the
conclusions of the court are intiexible
aud inevitable, and its sentence is car
ried out upon the spot.
Such condition does not yet exist in
Chicago, although it is not impossible
that it will result if the disturbances
continue. The president has evidently
made up his mind to assert the suprem.
acy of law and order if the entire mill
tary and naval force of the United
States shall be necessary 10 secure it.
And he is right. If mobs are to be per-
mitted to run riot, setting at defiance
all law, destroying private and corpo-
rate property, numbering and pillaging,
assailing and driving from their work
peaceable citizens engaged in lawful
undertakings, the law is a mockery and
liberty farce.
The proclamation is opportune and
necessary. The emergency that called
it forth is deplorable and greatly to be
regretted, but without violating his
official oath the president could not do
otherwise than he has done; and. in
deed. the declaration of a condition of
war might have been warranted under
the circumstances. He chose, however :,
to take a medium course, sufficiently
suggestive of what may be i'll reserve
for the future. and harsh enough to con-
vince the most obtuse that he is of the
opinion that the day for temporiZing has
passed, and that if this warning Is un.
needed the full power vested in him by
the constitution will be employed to re-
store domestic order and punish those
who are guilty of violations of law.
Perhaps this warning will be needed.
The probabilities are, however. that the
worst has not yet been seen. The lead
erS of the emeute are mad. They are
iusanely drunk upon the small excess
OF their own power in which they have
INDUCED. They are men whose only
conception of law is force. Within
their own ranks they have sought and
obtained power, and have forced the
members of the labor organization to
sub nit to slavery more degrading and
more subyersive Of true manhood than
any that has ever cursed humanity. 1t
has reached such a pass that no man
can owe allegiance to labor orgauiza-
tions who does not surrender his right
to think for himself, to WORK for whom
he chooses, Or to work at all, and must
permit his wife and children to starye
before his eyes without reaching forth
his hand to receive proffered aid.
There can be no misunderstanding of
President Cleyeland's action. He takes
no sides in the pending controversy
does not assume 10 know which is in the
right or which in the wrong. He simply
declares that the property Of the United
States has been threatened and the
peace of the people invaded and that
regard must from this time forth be paid
to the law. TO secure this obedience
the military commander of the depart.
ment is placed in charge and enjolned
10 see that the law is enforced. and en-
joined to consult with aud act in con-
junction with the civil authorities, more
especially the mayor Of the city of Chi
cago. There will be no conflict between
the civil and military authority, for
they are in !.armony-both equally de-
sir0us of attaining the same results.
If the emergency shall arise-and at
present writing it seems imminent,
when martial lay vii. he required, the