The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-31
THE OLD SOLDIERS DUTY
SHOULD HE SUPPORT ANARCHIsM OR
AGAIN SAVE HIS COUNTRY.
Question Discussed at Length by Gen.
John Coburn Before the Union
SOldfers' Mutual League.

The Union Soldiers and Sailors Mutual
League held a meeting in the hall In the
Morrison Block. on Monument Place. last
night. for the purpose OF hearing discus
sions as to the duty of soldiers in the pres
ent campaign. There were two carefully
studied addresses during the evening-one
by General John Coburn and the other by
D.. l.. Brown. The address of Mr.. Brown
was very interesting from the fact that 1t
contained a new fable on the Chicago con-
vention.
The hall was filed to its utmost capacity
and the speakers were heartily applauded
many times. Their reception indicated that
those present had determined to do their
duty this year and rally for the preserva-
ton Of the credit Of the Nation as they did
for its existence in ~1s61-1S65. General CO.
burn was the first speaker. Extracts from
his address are given below:
Having been invited to address a nom
partisan assembly it cannot be expected
that / will now enter upon a general dis
cusSion of the questions that have arisen
no inclination to do so and can only look
to certain points. that have not heretofore
elected and ought not now to elicit any
heated or even earnest discussion.
Both sides are alike, l~aw-abiding citi-
zens: both sides nave heretofore stood up
manfully for good government; both sides
IdNt OohCu uDOl u oinltu oldltS "a
with the respect that the administration
of justice for more than a century has i'm
bedded deep down in the American heart,
and both sides. have been wont to regard
with ~veneration the opinions md judg-
ments OF the Supreme Court of the United
States, But today we are confronted with
courts are denounced in terms OF astound-
ing bitterness and contempt. and reference
Is made TO their decisions as a new and
highly dangerous form of oppression. Their
acts are termed government by Injunction
In contempt OF the laws of the State and
the rights OF citizens, under which the
Judges become at once legislators, judges
and executioners-
WHAT SHALL THE SOLDIER DO?
I'm view of this. what shall the old SOL
der do?
Shall he. II he Is a Republican, 60 of
with this revolutionary crowd? Shall he
yield to the wild clanor about free silver
and cheap money and unite with the men
who are proposing to destroy the most
sacred institutions OF the country at the
suggestion of Debs. Altgeld & Co.
shall he. IL he is a Democrat, forget
that he stood up month after month and
year after year to uphold the great fabric
our Constitution as the fathers framed
them and prepared US by their wise labors
TO take the foremost place among the ma
Ought not both Republican and Demo-
crat to rise above the cries and cIamors
for free silver and anarchy and forgetting
both OF these new platforms and old party
lines. stand fast by the old andmark of
the Constitution?
LET US look for q minute at this SUBJ
1ect as a matter OF law. There are two
ways OF restraining trespassers and per-
sons committing waste and perpetrating
nuisances- One is by order from the courts
In accordance with the law and the long,
continued rules OF equity. by which the
oficer of justice goes quietly and enforces
the directions given him In the court room.
The other is by military force. The one
Is in accordance with the best methods OF
the enlightened nations OF the old and new
bloody method resorted TO by tyrants.
usurpers and crowned villains. who assert
the cruel doctrine that might gives right.
"Cne Is the method of the best thought
and the most perfect systems OF free and
Just government; the other is a relapse into
barbarism or despotism. or anarchy.
One has been typifed by Debs and the
bloodthirsty gang OF rioting houseburners
and marauders. who sprung up to aid him
in his outlawery: the other. by the quiet
and serene sittings OF the august tribunals
that are only accessible 10 the men who
rely upon reason. upon justice and upon
the public welfare as forces with which
they contend for supremacy.
with such a fearful contrast OF recent
occurrences. in the plainest view. two ma
tional conventions have attacked the
United States courts and demanded a re-
Lapse into mob law. But these conventions
have not stopped at this. They have strick-
en- at the time-honored law relative to in
functions which covers much OF the eQut-
table jurisdiction OF the courts OF the United
ssBy the Constitution OF the United States
The judicial power shall extend to all
cases In law and equity arising under this
Constitution and 10 a vast range OF Juris-
Aicton. civil and criminal The power 10