The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-12
DANGEROUS CREED
OF TALKER BRYAN
Attorney General Harmon's Opinions
Upon States Rights.
DOESN'T ADMIRE CHICAGO PLATFORM
The Attorney General Calls Atten.
tiOn to the Dangerous Elements Of
Mr.. Bryan's DOctrine..IIe Also
Quotes from Convention ResOlu.
tiOns Of 1894.

Washington, Sept. 11.-Attorney Gen.
eral Judson Harmon today made pub
lie his views respecting the POLITICAL sit
uation. especially emphasizing his opin-
ion on the question of federal inter-
ference in local affairs" on which sub
jecs1he attorney general does not agree
with the protest embodied in the Chica-
so platform. Mr.. Harmon's commun-
ication, which is lengthy. says:
Mr.. Bryan, in his letter accepting
the nomination for president by the
convention at Chicago. amplifies the
protest which that convention made in
it's platform against federal interfer-
ence in local affairs. which strangely
enough Is not found in the platforms
of the other two conventions which
have also nominated him.
"rhese protests were intended and
are understood to be directed against
the recent action of the president In
forcibly suppressing riotous disorders
which had stopped the carriage of the
mails and inter- commerce and
were defying the civil officers of the
United States. The president took this
action not only without the request,
but in some instances against the pro-
test, of the authorities of the states in
which the riots occurred and Mr.. Bryan
taking section four of article of the
constitution to be the law on the sub
ject, pledges himself against any repe-
titions of the violation thereof. which
his letter necessarily charges. He vim
dicates the wisdom of the trainers Of
the constitution by declaring that the
local authorities are better qualified
than the president to judge of the nee
essity for federal assistance. This, in
my Judgment is a far more serious
matter than the money question or any
of the questions now before the people,
grave as they all are.
But by the express terms of the
constitution a state has nothing to do
with the maintenance of the authority
of the executions of the laws Of the
United States within the territory Ofthe
state. The prevention and punishment
of offences connected with the mails,
with Interstate commerce and with
the administration of Justice in the
federal courts, are committed to the
general government and to it alone.
Therefore. the state cannot require
protection against them. The state
has no duties to discharge in these
matters.
RIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES.
This sovereign right of the United
States necessarily follows its officers
and agents everywhere they go pro-
int at,,;,
discharge of their duties. Congress has
accordingly by section 5297 of the re-
vised statutes authorized the president
to use the armed forces of the govern
ment in aid of state authorities when
requested by them as provided in the
constitutional and also by the following
section 529S, authorized him to employ
such forces, upon his own Judgment
along, against unlawful ObstructiOns,
combination or assemblages of per-
sons, in whatever state or territory
thereof the laws of the United States
may be forcibly opposed or the exc
cution thereof forcibly obstructed
1T was under the power conferred
by this last section that the late re-
bellion was suppressed. Mr.. Bryan's
doctrine that this law is unconstitu-
tional is more dangerous than that of
secession" In conclusion, General At
torney Harmon quoted a resolution
adopted by the Senate on July II, 1891,
which was proposed by Senator Daniel
of Virginia. who was president of the
convention which nominated Mr..
Bryan, endorsing the prompt and Wig
orous measures adopted by the presi-
dent and the members of his admin
istration to repulse by military force,
the interference of lawless men with
the due process of the laws Of the
United States.