The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-12

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept 1.-At-
torney- General Judson Harmon to-
light made public his views re-
speeding the political situation, en-
phatically emphasizing his opinion on
the federal interference in local af-
fairs" on which subject the attorney
general does not agree with the pro-
test embodied in the Chicago platform.
Mr.. HarmOn's communication follows:
i have concluded to give a public
answer to the many Inquiries made Of
me upon a subject of great moment,
TO which general attention is now di
rected.
Mr.. Bryan, in his letter accepting
the nomination for president by the
convention at Chicago, amplifies the
protest which that convention made in
its platform against federal interfer-
ence in local affairs. which, strangely
enough, is not founG in the platforms
of the other two conventions which
have also nominated him.
LAS nothing else has been done or
proposed to which they can possibly
apply, these protests were intended
and are understood to be directed
against the recent action of the presi-
dent in forcibly suppressing
RIOTOUS DISTURBANCES
which had stopped the carriage of the
mails and Interstate 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 protest. of the
authorities of the states in which the
riots occurred. and Mr.. Bryan, taking
section 4 of article of the constitution
lox fn c1rf ralH Trr.ac
himself against any repetition Of the
Violation thereof, which his letter nee
essarily charges. He Vindicates The
wisdom of the trainers of the conSti-
tuition by declaring that the local au-
thorities are better qualified to judge
Of the necessity for federal assistance.
This in my judgment is far more
serious matter than the money ques-
ton or any of the other questions now
before the people, grave as they all
are. Our form of government may
survive a wrong discussion of those
questions and the people may endure
for time the evils which result from
false systems of finance and taxation.
l,1,+ if the president has deliberately
disregarded the instrument on which
the Union is founded by supplanting
the authority of sovereign state by
armed force. a precedent has been
made which threatens our
FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
while if q candidate for president may
nledge himself in advance, as MI
Rrvan has done, to do nothing to pro-
fect the property. maintain the author.
itv and enforce the laws of the United
States, unless and until the officers
Of another government request or con
sent. then we really have no fedora
government; for a government which
IS not entirely free to use force Il
rrotect itself and maintain itself III
The discharge of its own proper func
tions. is no government at all.
.srhe section of the constitution t
which Mr.. Bryan refers plainly refer:
merely to the protection Of the state.
against interference with their author
itv. laws or property by domestic VIC
lsnce. and they are wisely made sole1
The Judges whether or not and when the,
need the protection. But by the ex
nress terms of the constitution stat
has nothing to do with the maintsn
ance Of the authority or tn
execution of the laws Of til
United States within the territor,
Of the state. The prevention ant
punishment Of offenses connected wit
the mails. interstate commerce and tn
administration of justice in the fed
eral courts are committed to the gen