Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-20

existence OF extraordinary miSapprenenSlOn
~ to certain important statutes and as to
the official who may or may not put the
laws In question into operation. 1t is unfor-
tlnate. to say the least of II, that a Senator
whose knowledge of the facts displayed
poverty should be so liberal of language and
that language mainly OF the Incorporate
sort, but as his utterances and the debate
of which they were so prominent q part
will doubtless afford some one an oppor-
tunity to show plainly what Is the govern
ing power here. and may cause that power
20 perform its duty by promptly adopting
and announcing definite plan of action to
be followed In the emergency. the incident
cannot be regarded as altogether regretable.
Senator Allen declared that he had been
reading for two or three days in the news
papers Of this city Ito have been just he
should have said some newspapers'O that
General Ordway was mobilizing the military
force Of the city for the purpose OF receiving
Coxey at the confines Of the District with
the bayonets OF soldiers and the clubs of
policemen" Upon that foundation-which
IS really no foundation at all-the Senator
built an oratorical and decidedly socialistic
structure. IN the architecture Of which the
woes of those whom the Senator declares
10 be oppressed were conspicuously mani
lest: the dark basement was filled with
unnoticed petitions: the ground foor-spa-
sious as IL was-could scarcely contain the
complaining multitudes; from the upper
story windows long-haired men gesticulated
wildly and cried "RevolutionY' in raucous
tones. while the roof glistened blood-red in
the rays Of the setting Industrial sun which
capital and the District National Guard
had combined to force beneath the horizon.
The charge against General Ordway is,
IN view Of the fact that the President of
the United States Is commander-in-chief of
the District militia, nothing less than an
absurdity. Without the Presidents order
the troops cannot even be assembled as a
precautionary measure; the general govern
nent is supreme. The trainers OF the Con-
stitution intended that 1t should be so at
the national capital. and the wisdom of the
forefathers in this matter has never been
questioned 1t is true that to some extent
the District Commissioners are the instru-
ments by which the municipality is gov
erned, but they derive all their power from
the Congress of the United States and the
Chief Magistrate of the nation; the one
provides such laws as IL sees MT. the other
appoints as Commissioners whom he pleases.
To attempt, therefore. to hold those who
may be termed local authorities responsible
for what may may not be done in con-
nection with the coming of the dangerous
crank from Massillon is to do an excuseless
thing. Congress. in its wisdom, legislated
that no organized body of men should as
semble for any purpose without permission
in the Capitol grounds. and unless Congress,
IN its lack Of wisdom, repeats that law, Mr..
Coxeys chances for assembling his follow
ers on the plaza east Of the Capitol to cry
for the moon. to petition or to threaten, are
decidedly slim. Should Coxey and his
crowd. encouraged by such short-sighted
men of position as Senator Allen, insist up
on violating the law. it Is the general gov
eminent. through its head, that will deal
with him. There may be apprehension of
riot or there may be riot itself, but General
Ordway can do nothing and will not Of
course even attempt to do anything until
he receives from President Cleveland an or
der requiring him to bring out his forces
for the restoration of peace. For the infor-
nation of Mr.. Allen, The Star would state
that anything like extraordinary prepara-
ton by the District National Guard would
be work of supererogation, as for the past
three or four years the Guard has prided
itself upon being continually In a condition
of readiness; 1t Is not an organizat ton, of
play soldiers" and 1t Is not at all Hurried
over the prospect of having to do that for
which it was organized and has been sup
ported. The people Of the District Of Co
1umbia. whether they be uniformed or not
are not blood-thirsty, nor would they do
wilful injustice to either Mr.. Coxey or Mr.
Allen; even If they desired to commit this
wrong they are powerless, for the Congress
Of the United States makes their laws and
the President of the United States is re-
sponsible for the laws execution.
So far as the LIST of May visitors are un-
employed. seeking work. the people of
Washington have direct concern in the
disturbar &c of the already unsettled labor
market, which will be caused by the ad-
dition of thousands to the existing army of
the local unemployed. But since the local
workingmen. who are the men most con-
cerned. apparently attach no Importance to
this phase of the affair. and are so far as
their organizations represent them, welcom-
ing this influx. the city may for the present
disregard this danger, trusting that it's
workingmen know what they are doing
So far as the incoming army is liable to
become public charge the people of the
city are concerned; and the gang of thieves
and desperate characters who will take adj
vantage OF the occasion to transfer their
operations to the capital are also a source
Of local anxiety.
But the main purpose of the visitors, as
announced. Is not to seek work or bread
Tor themselves. but to compel certain legis-
Ation. and in respect to them In this ca
pacity the people of Washington have no
oirect concern. Their visit their petition
and their threat are directed to Congress.
The national legislature is to determine
freeing itself as far as possible from polit-
,cal and demagogical considerations.
whether 1t will be wise and safe to estab
hsh the precedent Of permitting thousands
OF men. In organized bodies, without the
means to prevent them from becoming a
public charge, to march as an army to the
doors OF Congress, and demand certain leg
islation, threatening to remain there living
upon the public, until this legislation Is
passed This Is a national, not a local
question. 1t is the only issue raised BY the
proposed visit of the army which seriously
threatens the necessity OF calling out the
National Guard. 1t Is to be decided by
Congress. and The Star is glad that the
national legislature has taken I'D the mat
ter. and hopes for wise and prompt de-
cision of 1t.