Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-07
SATURDAY. ....... JULY z, 1894,
The Courts Must Be Obeyed.


made as much progress rs they have may
be charged somewhat to the account OF
United States District-Attorney Michrist'
OF Chicago, and Governor Altgeld. of ILL
nois.
What the President and his Cabinet
thought Of the effectiveness Of Mr.. Mil
christ as a public officer may be guessed
from the fact that without consulting
him, 1t is said, they appointed a special
attorney to be his "coadjutor' in the
work of prosecuting the striking law
breakers 1t Is understood that this ac-
ton was taken by the Washington au-
thorities upon the Recommendation Oh the
IA lroad companies, whose business was
being destroyed and whose employees
were being assaulted by some OF the
strikers. These officers also suggested Tor
appointment Edwin Walker. "the Nestor
Of the Chicago bar" who was promptly
commissioned, and is now vigorously at
work against those of the strikers who
have broken the laws.
The position and sympathies Of Gov
ernor Alleged are shown in the protest ne
has made 10 the President against the
presence Of United States troops at chi
cago. Altgeld writes as if Chicago were
a peaceable city. as If the laws were re-
spected by everybody there. and parucu-
larry as If nobody had interfered with the
United States mails or had conspred 10
defeat the provisions Of the interstate
commerce law. He insists that the trou-
bic is not that strikers interfere with the
movement of trains. but that the railroad
companies have not the men 10 man
their trains, Furthermore, he AYERS that
there are three regiments at Chicago and
that he can furnish as many more State
troops az may be needed. Therefore he
thinks it was discourteOus and unwar-
rantable for the President TO send part
of the United States army to Chicago.
The Governor processes to be in utter
ignorance Of the fact that the strikers
some days ago tore up a writ Of injunc-
ton from a Federal court and defed the
United States marshals. or if he is ac-
quainted with this fact he is evidently
of the opinion that the marshals should
have come to him for help instead Of
sending 10 Washington for it.
Governor Altgeld is believed TO be some
thing of an Anarchist sympathizer. 1t
has always been charged that he traded
for certain Chicago votes with the under
standing that he would exercise executive
clemency in the matter OF some of the
Anarchists, who were in prison when he
came into office. charged with the murder
of the police at the Haymarket. How
ever that may be, greatly to the surprise
OF the public, Governor Altgeld did par
don some of the men-some of the men
who should have been hanged in the first
place instead Of being sent to prison.
The Dispatch was among the few pa
pers which showed an inclination TO give
the Governor an opportunity to be heard
in explanation of this use of the eXecu-
tive power before condemning him for the
pardons. But we waited in vain. He
never gave any reason which satisfied
either the people of Chicago or the people
of the country at large At best he blum
dered sadly in granting those pardons
Now we have him appearing before the
public wondering why it was necessary
to send Federal troops to Chicago and
protesting against their being there. The
fact is they wouldn't he there If Altgeld
had done his duty at the first sign OF
lawlessness. He should have seen that
commerce was not blocked by an act
of any mob He should have seen that
peaceable men, who have accepted en-
ployment In the place Of strikers were
protected In their rights as citizens. But
he did none Of these things. So We may
we'll charge him with large share of the
responsibility for the growth Of the
strikes.
The course Of the President and his
Cabinet in this matter is justified by law
and is approved by the country. We ma
Republicans and Democrats, poor ana
rich, applauding his determination 10 see
that the mandates of the courts are re-
spected When the courts have no power
n compel obedience to their DEGREES then
law is gone-then anarchy Is near at
hand.
~
other person to break the law and snap
his fingers at its officers. Debs has -
authority TO license men TO seize other
persons property, TO trespass upon tracks,
and depots, 10 assault peaceable citizens.
Nor do we anywhere find Debs, or
his agents, or his sympathizers. clothed
with the power TO stop mail-cars because
In the same trains with those cars are
some Of the Pullman Company's coaches.
All these things have been done openly
In Chicago and at other places in Illinois,
and Governor Altgeld has done next TO
nothing to prevent them, and IL Is now
too late-it is now very "cheeky"-for
him TO demand Of the President to with
draw the Federal troops sent 10 Chicago
There is overwhelming testimony in the
hands OF the President 10 show II
some OF the strikers have flagrantly '.
lated Federal laws by Selling property of
railroad companies, terrorzing and as
saulting new employees. obstructing
tracks, defying marshals, interfering with
the movement of mails. &C.. &c,
The President had either TO act as he
did. and sustain the Federal courts, or
consent TO see the Federal laws as con-
temptuousiy violated - Chicago as the
State laws are.
The Federal Constitution provides that
the United States shall guarantee to
every State 'fn this Union" a republican
form OF government. and shall protect each
OF them against invasion. and. on appli-
cation OF the Legislature. or Of the Exc
cutive when the Legislature cannot be
convened. against domestic violence.
Whatever meaning the fathers OF the
republic may have intended that cons,itu-
tiopal provision TO carry, the proceedings
OF the United States Government during