Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-09
A CANDIDATES PAST HISTORY.

a CANDIDATES. PAST HISTORY.
Next TO IFS currency plank. the declara-
ton in the Chicago platform against
Federal interference in State matters has
come in for the greatest share OF de-
nunciation from the Republicans and their
boiling Democratic allies. This anti
Federal interference declaration has been
distorted out Of all sembance Of its
original phraseology. the most unwar-
rantcd interpretations OF II have been pre-
scented TO the public, and in its
metamorphosod forms it has been used
throughout the land by the opponents
Of Bryan and sewall as an argument
that the proceedings Of the Chicago con-
vention were surcharged with the virus
OF anarchy.
The three tailors Of Tooley street Demo
Gratis who held a rump convention at
Indianapolis last week were so Mortified
at the plank in question that in the pre-
ambio OF their platform they inveighed
vigorously against what they termed the
Chicago attack upon the authority Of the
President 10 enforce the Federal laws"
This attack" they olassed in their
platform as among the grave de-
partures from Democratic principles,
and it was criticised by one of
their speakers as proclaiming new
and strange doctrine. Then they
proceeded to seal their record for
inconsistency. They placed upon their
platform as candidate for the presidency
General John NJ. Palmer, who first at
tanned widespread political notoriety by
the enunciatlon Of the non-interference
principle that is contended for in the
Chicago platform and denounced in the
indianapolis declaration.
At the time of the great Chicago fire
General Palmer was Governor Of the,
State OF Illinois, and. as is we'll known.
the criminal classes Of the city, taking
advantage Of the Generalization incident
10 the calamity, came to the surface
and a saturnalia Of murder and robbery
was threatened. General Sheridan was
then in command Of the military division
Of the Missouri, with headquarters at or
near Chicago, and upon an appeal from
the Mayor Of the city and leading citi-
zens. and after consultation with the
War Department, he moved United States
troops into Chicago, and assumed charge
Of affairs.
That this action rendered General Chen
Governor Palmer indignant is matter
Of history. He scored the Mayor Of
Chicago for going beyond his powers and
abdlcaung his duties. and indited
vigorous and lengthy protest to President
Grant. from which the following is a cha
racteristic extract:
1T seems to me TO be very well settled
as a principle of American public law
that the duty OF protecting person and
property. and the preservation OF pubic
order and peace against the EFFORTS OF
disorderly persons, or from local internal
disturbance. is the peculiar and exclusive
duty Of the States, with which the gov
eminent Of the United States has no con-
Germ. and in which il cannot interfere,
except upon the application OF the Legis-
lature or the Executive of the state, as
contemplated by the fourth section OF
the fourth article of the Constitution;
and that any attempt by the oihcers
OF the United States army to employ any
part Of the military forces as proposed
must be improper, because yiolative OF the
Constitution and the laws
But this is not all Not satisfied with
his protest TO President Grant, in the
conclusion Of which he asserted that
there was no question about the pro-
priety Of having the Federal troops with
drawn at once from the State, he took
stems TO have the sovereign hand OF
Illinois brought down upon the Federal
military. He went so far as TO instruct
the Attorney General Of the State to
bring complaint before grand jury
primarily against one of Sheridan's sol
diers. and. secondariiy, against the Gene
raj himself, for having caused the death
~ q citizen who was shot during the
disturbances.
Although. on the memorable occasion
OF his clash with the Federal authorities,
General Palmer was acting as Republic
can-he has boxed the political compass
he was applauded as asserting and en-
deavoring to enforce sound Democratic
doctrine-as. In fact, asserting and en-
deavoring 10 enforce the cardinal distin-
gushing principle Of Democracy. In view
of these facts, the only logical explana-
ton OF the nomination Of Palmer is that
IL Is entirely consistent with the utter
Inconsistency that has marked the whole
course OF the boilers 1t also proves
that II the Chicago platform places the
national Democracy in sympathy with
anarchy. the boilers. despite their depre-
catory declaration, are equally If not
more in sympathy with it. This is
conclusion from which their action in In
dorsing General Palmer leaves them no
escape. There is nothing in the Chicago
platform against Federal interference In
state affairs more vehement than General
Palmer's protest against such inter-
ference.
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What is the matter with the Virginia
state Republican Committee, that Hanna