Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-05-02

control the situation. While the dates |
and the facts show that It was done in |
this case for the purpose Of setting a
precedent for having the Federal Gov |
ernment take the corporal lions under Its |
immediate protection. the principle In |
volvcd Is much broader than even this
violation of the Constitution. and
cOntemplates the exercise of a
power that cannot exist in harmony
with republican institutions. This act
was an entirely new departure In the
history Of our government. and n great
constitutional writer of the country.
In complimenting the President upoif
having taken this step. speaks of II
as a great step taken In constitutional
construction and Ii thankful that II
cost 40 little blOOtlslict, thus piTctic-
ally stating that this new departure
was n violation Of the constitution us
II had been understood for century.
The old doctrine Of state rights Is In
no way involved. Nobody for n mo-
ment questions the supremacy of the
Union. but It does involve the ques.
ton whether. In connection with Fed.
er,ll supremacy, there does not 20 hand
In hand the principle of local sclf-gov-
crnment. These two principles. l. e..
Federal union and local self.gOvern.
ment. have for century been regarded
ns the foundation upon which the glory
OF our whole governmental fabric rests.
One is Just as sacrcti. just us inviOln-
bic. just as important as the other.
Without Federal union there must fol.
low anarchy. and without local self.
government there must follow dcspOt.
Ism. Both IRE destructive not only of
the liberties. hut Of the higher aspirn.
lions ana possibilities Of % people. The
great Civil War settled that we should
not have anarchy. II remains to be-
settled whether We shall I've destroyed
by dcspOtisni. If the President can.
at his pleasure. In the first instance.
sent troops into any city. town or ham,
let In the country. or into any number
OF cities. towns or hamlets. whenever
and wherever he pleascs. under pre-.
tense Of enforcing some law. his judy
ment, which means his pleasure. be.
Ing the sole criterion. then there can
bc no difference whatever In this re-
spect between the powers Of the presl-
dent ana those Of Emperor william
or Of the Car of Russin. Neither Of
these pOtentntes ever claimed any.
thing more. 1t IL not u question IN to
whether the President must first get
the permission Of local authorities b..
fore he can Interfere. hut the question
Is whether the local and State author.
tiles should first bc called to enforce
the law ana maintain order. using for
that purpose such local agencies ana
forces ns the Inv has created or whcth.
er he can ignore all these and bring n
foreign force ana station II In any
community at pleasure. In this respect
Federal civil officers and the Federal
army 10 not stand on the same foot.
Ing. The Federal civil officers nj.
ways have acted directly In the
matter within their Jurisdiction.
but the American people. az
we'll M all other free ana intelligent
people. are jealous Of central military
power. hence great precautions have
been taken to limit the use Of such
power. and these limitations have nj.
ways been recognized In this country.
and were recognized by the Attorney
General 40 late as June 16. 1904. Again.
the Constitution provides that the mill.
tary shall III subordinate to the civil
authorities. ana In all eases where
State troops IRE ordered out they are
subject to the control Of the local au.
thOritics ana net under their direction.
but the Federal troops ordered to Chi.
tay0 last summer did not net under
any civil officer whether Federal or
State They did not net under the
United States Marshal. hut directly I'M.
der orders from military headquarters
: ~ Washington. and were subject only
ut MI. 1t was military government.
Local government II the very fOrn-
dalton Of freedom and OF republican In
situations. ana no people possess this
: who are subject to have the army
patrol their streets ana Interfere In the
affairs Of government, acting not nm.
der hut independently OF the local au.
tl,orities. ana do this ut the mere dis
erection of one man. or Of central
power that IL fur away. Such local
self-government ~ would be possible
under these conditions may be found
all over Russia. We grew great and
powerful and won the admiration OF
), the world while proceeding under Il
" liffrcnt form Of government. ana II We
= are to 20 on In the same line. then the
American people must arrest ana TO
. buke this Federal usl,rpatiOn. In al
= history no power possessed by govern
!. ment was ever allowed to lie dOrman,
J, long. Either the man or the class sOOl
= appeared who. for selfish purposes
proceeded to exercise It. II the acts OF
!" tho President are to stand unchal
', lengcd and thus form precedent. theI
' we have undergone u complete change
, In our form of government, ana what
:. ever semblnnce we may keep up In thu
y future. our career as u republic Is over
- We will have II rapidly increasing cen
', trail power controlled and dominated
- by class ana by corporate interests
!, Holding these views ana knowing tina
y the law had been enforced, prOpert.
protected. ana Orler maintained for
" whole century by Constitutional ngcn
~ cies, ana feeling that the mighty Stat
:. of Illinois needed neither assistance