The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-11
ALTGELD,s MESSAGE.
Federal Authorities and the Courts
Severely Arrafgned.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Jan. 10.-The bien-
niaI message of Governor A1tgeld was SUBJ
mltted to the Thirty eighth General Assem-
bly, of Illinois to-day. 1t is a very lengthy
document--nearly twenty thousand words.
In the beginning the Governor devotes
much space to a review of the condition
of the various State institutions and makes
numerous recommendations. He speaks in
terms of highest commentator of the work
of the Illinois National Guard during the
troubles of the past year. Taking up the
question of the great strike he reviews
the many reports which have been made
and says the placing of the United States
troops on duty in Chicago, under the con-
ditions that existed, presents question or
the most far-reaching Importance. "Tha
old doctrine of States rights" says the
Governor, 'is in no way involved. Nobody
for a moment questions the supremacy OF
the Union. The great civil war settled
that we should not have anarchy. 1t re-
mains to be settled whether we shall be
destroyed by despotism. If the President
can, at his pleasure, in the first instance
send troops into any city, town or hamlet
in the country, under pretense of enforc-
ing some law, his judgment being the sola
criterion, there can be no difference what
ever in this respect between the powers OF
the President and those of Emperor Will
liam or the Car of Russia. If the acts
of the President are to stand unchallenged
and thus form a precedent, then we have
undergone a complete change in our form
of government, and whatever semblance we
may have in the future our career as a.
republic is over. We will have a rapidly
increasing central power controlled and
dominated by class and corporate interests.
1t is matter of special regret to many OF
our patriotic citizens that this blow at
free institutions should have been struck
by a President who was placed in power
by party that had made local self-gov-
ernment a cardinal principle for more than
Government by injunctions'' is dealt
with severely by the Governor, who says
the usurpation of power the part OF
the federal judiciary has assumed form
which is destroying the very. foundations
tions, he says. are a very great convenience
TO corporations, when they can be had for
these were the process of the court TO
enforce which the President sent federal
speaks of the numerous arrests for con
tempt of court made under these injunc-
tions, and of the fact that the federal gov
erament, in spite of having at hand In
Chicago the complete machinery of JUSTICE
found it necessary to retain another at
torney and he an employe of one of the
railroads involved in the strike, and adds:
Never before We're the United States gov
ernnent and the corporations of the eoun-
try so completely blended, and never be-
fore was the goddess of justice made q
mere handmade for of the combatants.
Ii is evident that IL the Attorney-generaI
of the United States did not outline and
advise the policy that vas pursued it re-
carried out through his assist
ance. When the interstate-commerce
law was taken into court by the
railroads few years ago, these same fed
eral judges proceeded TO hold section after
section to be unconstitutional until they
had made the law as harmless as dead
rabbit. Then, after having nullified an act
of Congress intended for the protection OF
the people they turned around and made OF
it a club with which 10 break the backs
OF the men who toll with their hands If
both the Constitution and our past ex-
perlences are to be disregarded and tho
federal courts permitted set up this new
form of government Ii will be equally prop
er for the State courts TO do and We
shall soon have government by injunction
from head TO toe. All affairs will be regu-
lated, not by law. but by personal pleasure.
prejudice or caprice Of multitude Of
judges.
The marked feature of the age" says
the Governor. has been consolidation. IA
they grow more powerful these trusts get
beyond the control of the government.
Prompted by the instinct of eif-preserva-
ton, the laborers of the country nre try
ing to form combinations. Trust rnagnates
are opposed TO this and the federal courts
that have been the special guardians of