The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-12

by section 8. 297 Of the revised statutes, au-
thorized the President to use the armed
forces of the government in aid of state
authorities when requested by them, as
provided in the constitution, and has also,
by the following section $685. authorised
him to employ such forces, upon his own
Judgment alone, against unlawful OBJ
structions, combinations or assemblages
of persons in whatever state or terri
tory thereof the laws of the United States
may be forcibly opposed, or the execution
thereof forcibiy obstructed.'
1T was under the power conferred by
this last section that the late rebellion
was suppressed Mr., Bryan's doctrine that
this law is unconstitutional is more dan
gerous than that of secession. The latter
at least left the government some power
and authority in the territory of the
states which should choose to remain.
Mr. Bryan would reduce it to the idle
mimicry Of the stage.
ut was no more intended to make the
general government dependent upon the
states with respect to the matters COM
mitted to 1t than to make the states sub
jeet to the general government with re-
spect to the rights reserved to them. As
the general government is authorized to
maintain regular army and navy, which
the states cannot do, and as the militia
of all the states is subject to direct call Of
the President, it was natural that the
states should be made to call on it for aid
against violence, but there was no reason
why 1t should not call or walt on them for
protection to itself
What / have said is we'll known to
lawyers and students of the constitu-
tion. 1t is chiefly intended for the people
at large, before whom the subject has
now been brought.
II will recall in this connection the fol-
lowing resolution (proposed by the Hon.
John w. Daniel of Virginia, who.was pres
ident of the convention which nominated
Mr.. Bryan), which was passed by the
Senate July 12 1894, Congressional Rec
ord, page S663) without apparent dissent:
Resolved, That the Senate indorses the
prompt and vigorous measures adopted
by the President of the United States and
the members of his administration to re-
pulse and repress, by military force, the
interference of lawless men with the due
process of the laws of the United States
and with the transportation of the mails
among the states.
1.-THE action Of the President and his
administration has the full sympathy and
support of the law-abiding masses of the
people of the United States. and he will
be supported by all departments of the
government and by the power and re-
sources of the entire nation
II must 10 that NJ DAsHA, oihiN bhO
MANY demands on his tsme and attention,
has fallen into an inadvertence. 1 can
not believe that he really thinks the
President has no power under the consti-
tion and laws to maintain the government
entrusted to his charge. Nor can / be-
lieve that Mr.. Bryan means to promise
or to make or permit others to think he
has promised, not to interfere If he should
be elected and the situation of the riots
of 1894 should arise during his term.
VIII not lightly question either his knowl-
edge as a lawyer or his sincerity as a
public man. Certainly his letter is gen
orally misunderstood, unless 1t means
either that Mr.. Bryan thinks the Presi-
dent has no power, or that he would him
self not use 1t If elected.
"Judson Harmon"