The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-12
SURELY A poRrENrous rScrpEsr

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SURELY A PORTENToUs INCIDENT
The most portentous incident OF the
Kentucky State election was the pres.
ence OF bluecoats at the polls. That they
appeared on the scene at late hour and
we're withdrawn when 1T was demon
strated that they were unnecessary TO the
preservation of order. makes no differ.
ence, so far as timely protest against
the act itself is involved. The constabu-
larry OF the commonwealth OF Kentucky
created by civil authority and vmenable
thereto. ought to be, and undoubtedly
was, fully able to maintain the public
peace and protect the dignity of the state.
Until the State shall, therefore, confess its
inability to put down and punish infrac-
| tons OF the law, by means OF It's con-
stabulary, there does not exist defenslbre
rroyocation for resort to the military
arm of the government
! No principle OF this republic has been
so zealously guarded and no principle
Is 20 essential to its perpetuatoi as the
| principle of local lf-government. II is
the very soul and genius of constitu-
tional democracy. When It is sssailed the
assault is met with alarmed resistance,
and II infringed the infringement is met
with revolution.
/ II troops are sent 10 the some OF a
riot. the only condition precedent that
/ instifes their presence is confession upon
the part of the local authorities that they
are powerless TO cope with the situation,
and a request from such authorities that
the States executive have recourse to
the military.
II was the contraventiou of this right
inherent within the sovereignty OF the
State of Illinois. by the Federal govern
ment, that prompted the democratic party
in It's platform OF 1896 to "denounce ar
bitrary interference by Federal authori-
ties in local affairs as violation of the
constitution OF the United States and a
crime against free institutions"
The assumption upon the part OF Gov
ernor Bradley that Kentucky county
was unable to preserve order. in the abb
sence Of appeal for assistance from its
untary and beyond the constitutional ex-
ercise OF executive function. In dispatch
/ Ing troops to the polls he, therefore. arbi-
] trarily interfered in local affairs and
was the deliberate perpetrator OF crime
against free institutions, just as surely
as II he had proceeded as president OF
/ the Nation and not as governor of his
/ State
! A precipltate and unlimited resort to
I the military by State or National ex-
ecutive, is charge of ineftciency, lodged
without warrant OF fact or circumstance,
against the local constabulary and men-
ace to popular government. Free men
instinctively resent the interference OF the
military in civil affairs and when they
shall cease TO do so the downfall OF re-
publican institutions is at hand.
Federal troops have, following the dan
gerous Chicago precedent, recently been
sent into a sovereign State, ostensibly to
put down riots that the local authorities
had not confessed their inability to mas
ter and over the solemn protest OF the
states governor, but really to cunningly
emphasize the need OF vast standing
army and to forge still another link In
the cruel and gllttering chain OF imperial
ism.
Does all this mean, when the real pur-
poses of the republican party are wrought
out to their infamous untmatum. that
State elections shall be held under the
threat and shadow OF the bnyonet and
that the fattened, insolent lords OF the
trusts and combines shall be protected
against the uprisngs of pilfered labor and
the righteous protests of local and State
authorities by a military Gordon of sword
and steel?
There was time, when the demonlac
era of reconstruction was on. that loyal
citizens and freemen were compelled to
march 10 the ballot box between rows OF
Federal soldiers. 1t was hoped when tho
end came with the restoration of civil
government that this infamy would never
find duplication within the limits of tho
republic. Certainly Il was not anticipated
In the gloomy philosophy OF the most
confirmed pessimist that a semblance of
1t would be revived by State executive.
who, In an attempt to awe local author
tiles with the threat OF military inter-
ference and intimidation at thes polls,
has proceeded upon far less provocation
than that upon which the president OF the
United States has acted, since the re-
construction period, In any matter OF
arbitrary usurpation OF the right to con-
troll In l0rnI affatrg
II this violent disregard OF the prin-
ciple OF local self government. upon
which is reared the republic, shall con-
tinue. It requires no prophet to confidently
predict that sooner or later there will bel
built upon the splendid ruins OF civil gov
eminent. by the mailed hand OF imperial
lam, constitutional monarchy whose
King shall BIO president In name created
by the republican party. gone mad from
greed and usurpation.
-
England Is wonderfully gracious. When a
Deal Is hxed up between John Bull aud the |
kaiser tho former gentleman suavely turns
70 patronizng old Uncle Sam and exclalms |