Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-18
WEDNESDAY. JULY Is. 1894,
,er. Bland. spesch-state Rights.

Mr.. Bland. Of Missouri, is best known
~ the leader In the House Of Representa-
tives OF the advocates OF the free coin.
age Of silver. The celebrated silver law
passed in 1878 and known as "the Bland
bill" was In a certain sense the work of
his head and hands. He Is stiil the chair
man Of the Committee on Coinage
Weights. and Measures. AS a bimetallist
he Is always ready to give a reason for
the faith that is in him, and is not back
ward in giving reasons why he thinks his
antagonists are in the wrong. Mr.. Bland
Is thoroughly posted on the silver question.
Nobody can present his side of that ques-
ton with more ability than he can do it
himself. He occupies high place In the
esteem OF his constituents, who show no
disposition TO dismiss him from their ser
vice on account OF old age, which Is the
only objection we know OF that could be
brought against him.
But in his speech in the House of Rep
resentatives on Monday last on Mr.. Nc
Creary's resolution touching the recent
labor troubles and on the measures adopt
ed by the administration to cause a cess
sation OF those troubles Mr.. Bland showed
that he was still not only a silverite, but
a believer in the old-fashioned doctrines
OF the Democratic party. He made an APP
peal 10 the Democrats to stand by the
States-rights principles of the fathers OF
the republic. as these had always been
understood-up TO 1860. at any rate. He
disclaimed all sympathy with men who
raise their arms in violence to destroy
property and keep other men, from work
ing. But he at the same time declared
that he was believer in local State
government and held that all the power
Of the several States should be exhausted
before calling upon the Federal Govern
ment. except TO protect the mails and its
own property. Mr.. Bland protested
against blanket Federal injunctions. He
protested against the omnibus injunction.
He objected TO sending Federal deputy
marshals all over the country to take
the place OF state authority. He warned
the Democrats that they We're liable to
do violence 10 every Democratic prin-
ciple
Mr.. Catchings. OF Mississippi. another
Democrat. voiced the sentiments of the
masses OF the Democratic party and of
the people. when. in replying to Mr..
Bland he declared that there was no place
In this broad country where the Federal
troops might not go in the performance
Of their duty TO enforce the laws of the
land. That Mr.. Catchngs spoke the sem
timents OF the House Of Representatives
was shown by the fact that when Mr..
McCreary's resolution came up on its pas
sage there was virtually unanimous
FAYE" the noes" being so few and faint
rs 10 be almost inaudible.
II is too soon to be able to forecast
the results OF the measures TO which Mr..
Bland objected. Revolutions never go
backwards" 1t is said. Power is al
ways stealing from the many to the
few" Certainly. everybody must have
experienced week before last sense of
relief when the news went forth from
Washington that the President had or
dered troops to Chicago and elsewhere.
In fact It does not yet appear that the mi
litia Of Illinois. acting under orders from
the Governor. could have successfully per-
formed the duties which were per-
formed with 80 little apparent friction
by the Federal troops. Nobody knows
how the State militia would have acted
II there had been no Federal power be-
hind 1t. There must have been no little
sympathy between the citizen-solders and
the best OF the strikers And this fact
explains why 1t was better to employ
the Federal troops in this case than TO
reply upon the State militia.
However, all the questions involved in
Mr.. McCreary's resolution and in the
Senate resolution approving the action of
the President and his administration In
the matter Of the strikes will be tho
roughly discussed in the future-possbly
Ia the near future.