, 1896-09-12
SEVERELY CRITICIZED.
ATTORNEY GENERAL HARTMAN
ARRAIGNS BRYAN IN UN-
MEASURED TERMS.
Takes to Task That Portion of the Chi
cago Platform Which Calls Atten,
ton to Government Interference
Refers to the Constitution.

Washington, d. c., Sept. 1l.-Attor-
ney General Harmon today furnished
the statement for publication by which
he says:
Il have concluded to give a public an
swer to many inquiries made of me
upon a subject of great moment, to
which general attention is now direct
ed. Mr.. Bryan. in his letter accepting
the nomination for president by the
convention at Chicago, amplities the
protest which that convention made In
its platform against federal interfer-
ence in local affairs. These protests
are understood to he directed against
the recent action of the president in
forcibiy suppressing riotous disorders
which had stopped the carriage of mails
and interstate commerce and were de-
flying the civil officers Of the United
States. The president ooh this action
not only without requests but in some
instances against the protest of the au-
thorities of the state in which the riots
occurred. Bryan pledges himself
against any repetition of the violation
OF the law which his letter necessarily
charges.
This in my judgment is h far more
serious matter thar the money question
or any of the other questions o be-
fore the people, grave as they all are.
Our form of government may survive
a wrong decision of these questions and
the people may endure for n time the
evils which result from false systems
of finance and taxation, but If the presi-
dent has deliberately d%isregarded the
instrument upon which the union is
founded by %supplanting the authority
Of a sovereign state by armed force, a
precedent has been made which threat
ems our form of government. while II
a candidate for presidency pledges him
self in advance, as Bryan has done. to
do nothing to protect property, main
tain authority and enforce the laws of
the United States. unless and until the
officers Of another government request
and consent, then we really have nc
federal government: for a government
which is not entirely free to use force
to protect and maintain itself in the
discharge of its own proper functions
is no government at ALL"
THE section Of the constitution to
which Bryan refers is as follows:
THE United States shall guarantee
to every state in this union a republi-
can form Of government and shall pro.
tect each of them against invasion: and
on application of the Legislature or OF
the executive (when the Legislature
'canno be c%onvened) against demo-
cratic violence This section plainly
refers merely to the protection of the
states against Interference with their
authority. law or property, by domestic
violence. and they are wisely made the
sole Judges whether and when they
need such protection. Bryan betrays o
consciousness of the limited operation
Of this provision in his expression, fed
eral assistance in the clause I have
quoted. But by the express term of the
constitution a state has nothing to dc
with the maintenance Of authority OIL
the execution of the laws Of the United
States. within the territory Of the state
The prevention and punishment Of Of.
lenses connected with the mails, will
Interstate commerce, with the admin