Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-25
THE COxEY MOVEMENT.
The Question of the Hour-Sugges-
lions From s.star" Readers.

A correspondent Of The Star, reviewing
various suggestions made by correspond
ents in Monday evenings Star, says: 1.-THE
idea of not merely limiting, but absolutely
denying an American citizen access to the
nation al capital or thinking that such right
OF entrance Is on a par with his right to
enter private property. Is 80 utterly pre-
posterous and untenable: and such denial
OF entrance to either the national capital
or the city Is so repugnant to every feeling
and instinct Of American citizenship that I
wonder any man of even an ordinary I'M
derstaI ding of the fundamental principles
OF our Constitution would entertain them
for a moment.
us 1t not very evident that the small but
numerous bands Of unemployed, now pain
fully marching toward Washington. repre-
sent but in miniature the millions of Amer
icas suffering people today?
Are the dissatisfied limited to the work
ing people? Is not discomfort visible on
the faces and evidenced by the conversa-
ton OF thousands more unfortunate? II
so, must not this discomfort gradually in
crease until mighty political upheaval
Will haul the incompetents from power?
Your w. c. d. correspondent has evil
IDENTIFY given but little thought to the sub
Ject Of constitutional liberty as enunciated
and elucidated by the authors of our grand
old Constitution, wherein the inalienable
rights OF every American citizen are SUBJ
stantially and explicitly set forth. His as
sertion that there can be no doubt of the
power Of both Congress and the executive
to exclude both Coxeyites and any other
body Of American citizens from the capital
whenever, In their opinion, IL may become
necessary Is so palpably an agonistic to
both the spirit and letter of the federal
stutional liberty would readily recognize
Its sophistry. Your correspondents refer
ence to feeding and sheltering these i'm
poverished sons of toll, or such of them as
oh a l-A4
from such long and perilous marches. is
also unworthy of consideration and is posi-
lively antagonistic to every impulse Of
either humanity or wise craftsmanship.
ANY attempt to prevent the entrance or
cfrcumscrfbe the constitutional privileges
of any American citizen (who has not for
feited his rights by criminal acts) in COM
ing to the capital OF this nation will not
only involve a breach Of the law, and in
the case OF an officer. Justify impeachment,
but will also subject such violator of the
law and Constitution in suits for damages
as well.
Further such treatment of American cfti-
Gems Will awaken such general dissatis-
faction on the part of voters of this coun-
t-y as will utterly annihilate any and every
party supporting or conniving at such IL
legal, arbitrary and brutal conduct whether
it be the democratic or republican party.
In fact the signs of the times point
quite distinctly already to a Reputation of
party fealty and the election of men more
in accord with the necessities of the hour
Exclusion from the precincts of the ma
ticnal capital, by even so respectable an
authority as our honorable Commissioners,
whose efficiency and good intentions no one
will question, can have no force in law: and
etectment by mere physical force except
under provocation of violated and constitu-
tional law. will never be tolerated by our
highest court of judicial authority Let
Congress act promptly, and make Ii known
that no rights of American citizens will be
abridged by either legislative or executive
authority, and then proceed to such legisa-
ton as will dissipate our present national
Distress"
Wants Congress to Adjourn.
Another writer says: "If this Coxey move
ment is fraught with danger to this coun-
try. and particularly to the national capital.
and 1t Is intended to force the Congress into
unwise legislation by the stencil of bodies
in our Streets Congress should pass or
defeat the Wilson bill. make necessary an
Preparations and adjourn at once, or leave
the Wilson bill where 1t is, make the an
preparations and go home We can get
along without them: the country will be as
well on for all they have accomplished
Coxey will have time to take a rest. regain
MS wits and march back again. Ask Con-
greSs to adjourn"