The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-05
UNJUST CRITICISM.

Mr.. W. II. Mullen made speech
last Monday at Ocean View. the
burden Of which was criticism
of the President of the United
States for sending United States soldiers
to Chicago during the riots there year
ago. In oppositiou to :he protest of Gov
ornor Altgeld, and Of Governor OFFER
ran for sending troops to Pocahontas
recently to prevent the destruction OF
property there.
We shall waste very few words justi-
fying Mr.. Cleveland in sending troops to
Chicago. rhe United States courts had
rightfully taken jurisdiction OF the con-
troversy pending there in order TO give
full effect to the acts of Congress pro-
yiding for transportation Of the mails,
and to the other act of Congress pro-
vidin, for free and uninterrupted COM
merce between the States. 1t was their
especial function under our Constitution
TO do this, and their authority was being
set at defiance and nullifed by power
that was too great for them to deal
with. Under these circumstances the
United States Court called upon the
President, in pursuance of the act or
Congress, to send them a sufficient mill
tary force to compel obedience TO their
orders. and the President complied with
the call as the act Of Congress required
that he should. Neither the assent nor
the objection Of Altgeld. the Governor
of Illinois, was in place in such case.
The Constitution of the United States
and tho acts of Congress made in pur-
suance thele of, are in force at all times
upon every foot Of territory OF these
United States. the courts OF the United
States are established to put those acts
of Congress into force and effect, ana
the military power of the United States
has been created and established to back
those courts, amongst other thirgs, and
to compc, all men to yield them obedi-
cnco and respect while administering the
laws that Congress has passed These
courts and this military authority have
a sphere wholly separate and apart from
that Of Altgeld IN Illinois. they are as
rightfllly on Illinois soil as Altgeld IS.
and when the occasion arises for them
TO assert the power and authority of
the United States government on the
soil OF Illinois, 1t is TO be done irrespec-
tive OF the Governor Of Illinois or the
laws of Illinois.
And let every working nan ask himself
how he or any other working man could
be injured by United Stsios troops be-
ing at Chicago? II the workingmsn there
were behaving in an orderly manner,
and interfering with the rights of no
one IL was matter of no moment 10
them whether the United States troops
were in Chicago or whether they were
not. If the workingmen there were riot
Gus. and were interfering unlawfully with
the rights of other people, Is there
peaceabe workingman in Richmond who
thinks they should not have been re-
strained AMI compelled to desist from
unlawfully interfering with the rights
Of other people whether by United States
troops or any other troops?
The same line of reasoning applies to
the action Of Governor OFcrrall. II
there was peril that riotous men would
destroy property at Pocahontas and rre-
vent peaceable citizens from working
who wanted TO work. was 1t not wise
and right in Governor O'Ferrall to take
whatever action was necessary to pre-
vent The rioters from destroying the
property and pre-, entng others from
working? And If there were no rioters
and no danger of interference with those
who wanted TO work, how were working
men injured or affected by troops being
at Pocahontas? Mr. Mullen may put any
specious face upon his plea that he
wishes. but what he has In mind Is tnat
the Chicago rioters should have teen al
lowed TO burn. murder, and destroy as
they pleased, until they coercsd those
who differed from item into yielding 10
their demands and that the Pocahontas
rioters should have been left free to pur-