Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-10-02
THE MILITARY POWER
A MENAcINo DANGER TO THE
REPUBLIC.
It Is Being strengthened and Becon-
ing More Tyrannical Every Year-We
Must Preserve Our Liberties at Any
Cost.

Cost.
The citizens of republic, who have
been taught that the voters are the
sovereigns, are naturally jealous OF
their liberties, yet the liberties Of the
people of the United States have been SO
upon during the last quarter
of a century that it is now difficult to
determine where the rights of the cit
izen end and the authorities begin. We
have seen workingmen shot down at the
command of corporations for no other
reason than that they asked for more
equitable wages or better treatment,
and refused to work until these were ac-
corded. Innocent people, in no way
connected with these disturbances, have
been wounded and killed in this indis-
criminate firing. 1t is in proof indis-
putable that corporations have produced
that an excuse might be had for send
ing the military against workingmen.
Forts and barricades have been erect
ed by corporations in advance of any
disturbance, but in preparation for the
enforcement of orders for the reduc-
ton of wages, and these barricades have
been used by state and national author
ity against citizens of the republic.
Even now distinguished citizens lie in
prison charged with no violation of
law, but at the dictum of court, for no
other cause than that they had been
chosen by their fellow workingmen to
perform certain responsible duties en-
tirely within the constitution and laws
of the country.
But these are only the first footballs
of tyranny and oppression in the Unit
ed States. Our military power. is being
strengthened and more widely dissem
mated throughout the country. New
army regulations have been made and
approved by the president, who pro-
nulgates new and startling rules for the
government of the military. There is
show of keeping the military subor-
dinate to the civil authorities. but not
terruption of United States mail, or
other emergencies an officer of tho
army may take szch action before the
receipt of instructions as circumstances
may justify" and the rules declare
that ''it is purely tactical question
in what manner troops shall use weap-
ons with which they are armed =
whether by fire of musketry and artil-
| lery or by the bayonet and sabre, or by
both, and at what stage of the opera
| tions which or other mode of attack
shall be employed. This tactical ques-
| tion will be decided by the immediate
commander of the troops according tc
the judgment of the situation"
This makes army officers both judge;
and executioners, and past instance:
prove that corporations have the ear!
of these officers who are always to;
ready to do their ci3iing. We regart
! these rules as ominous-a startling eX
tension Of the military power and /;
menace to liberty. Had they been il
force during the Pullman and railroat
strikes at Chicago, or the trolley strik
in Brooklyn, we don't see how open war
fare could have been averted. The son
of those who tracked tyranny and op
preston from Lexington to yorktown
will not submit to be shot down by mil
itary satraps at the behest of soulles
corporations whose only shrine is gold
and whose only god is greed.
But this is not the worst of it. Sharp
shooters are to be employed to pick on
and shoot down in crowds any VIII
may have fired upon orthrown missile
at troops" This makes irresponsible
soldiers and unframed and excitabl
militia arbiters of human life. In tn
midst of wild excitement it is only nee
essary for a sharpshooter to believe O
imagine that some one has fired at tn
soldiers or has even thrown somethin
at them to warrant him in shootin
down an American citizen. Have W
reached point when human life is S
very cheap? Monarchies, despotisms-
kings, czars, sultans-confer no sue
power upon their military subordinate
When free people sit like scourged an
hungry dogs upon their launches, an
permit the imps of greed in the nam
of party to nominate their legislati,
and executive authorities, they are bl
sowing the wind and may whet the
sickles for the reaping of the whir
wind. Under these new rules promu
gated by the hangman Of Buffalo, Il
very next labor disturbance will precil
itate the catastrophe reformers ha,
so long seen and labored to avert.-Pr
gressive Farmer.