Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-21
The Use of Troops.


We always like to agree with our friend
of the News when il is possible, but we
regret TO find IL not always possible.
For instance, In the Spiller case, II pro-
nounced the calling I'm OF the military
wise precaution on the principle of lock-
ing the stable door before the horse Is
stolen" and that ut was the proper
thing TO take all precautions to prevent
interference with the course of justice.
The character OF the military display
particularly struck II. for 1t was made
so imposing that no attempt 10 interfere
with the due course OF the law could
be entertained. and no leader would dare
offer himself vicarious sacrifice for the
life OF a criminal etc, ETC."
We were right with the News In its ex-
pressed opinions Of the whole management
of the Splller business. and we agreed
with II that the precautionary action OF
Sheriff Watts in calling on the military
was Of the wsest and most humane cha
racter. or course. then, we are little
astonshed to find our esteemed contem-
porary this week saying in an article on
''Too Much Military" that:
an writing this we have In mind among
other occurrences the farce that was en-
acted here with the military in the Splller
case. There was never a moment In
that exciting period when the Sheriff,
with half dozen resolute deputies, could
not have preserved order and commanded
the peace The call for mill
tary at that time we have always re-
garded as a serious reflection on our
county and a useless expense to the
State. The remedy for these things is 10
elect 10 Offices men of strong character
cool. and determined. Around such men
good citizens will always rally to support
nil fla.sNF ora
quickly rally than in Augusta, and in no
State more than in Virginia"
OF course It would take an acrobat
with a well developed case of strabismus
TO keep I'm line with our esteemed con-
temporary-one who was able. while look
ing two WAYS 10 throw a complete somer-
sault i'm a twelvemonth. Not having at
tanned that fexibility of eye and muscle
we shall have to content ourselves with
standing by our friend as we first found
him I'm the blaze of the Spiller excite
ment, and steering not by his hind
sights. but by what he saw before him.
II was our opinion at the time that
Sheriff Watts never exercised his authori-
ty TO a wiser purpose than when he
called in the military. No man could tell
what an assemblage under such condi-
tons as then existed would do; a blow,
an angry word a sudden cry. anything
may turn an angry VroWd INTO raging
mob I'm an instant. Had the town OF
Roanoke had a large body OF troops
brought from abroad, as was brought
to stanton. there would not have been
life lost in that city.
IL IL the officers of 'strong character,
cool determined men," like Watts, that
show themselves equal TO the occasion,
and do not wait and waver and doubt,
as was done at Roanoke, until citizens
have TO be shot down 10 maintain the
law. No, Watts was right; TO save life
you must guard against all chances Of
mob-expense 10 State is as nothing
compared TO the lives of her citizens.
Augusta owes her Sheriff much, but for
nothing more than his wise action in the
Spiller case.