The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-10-02
NASH'S DEFENSE
OF HIMSELF.
The Governor Replies to Recent
Criticisms.
THE MILITARY is SUBORDINATE

To the Civil Power, aud Must Always So
Be---Both sides To the Mansfield
rrouble Have M cans OF
Redress.
Columbus, o., Sept. 2s.-Gov. Nash
last evening addressed the following
letter to the Rev. H. H. Barbaur, pas
tor Of the First Baptist church, of
this city, in response to the memorial
to the governor in regard to the treat
ment Of the Dowie elders, which was
adopted by that church last Sunday
and placed in the COVE hands on
Tuesday:
Columbus, o., Sept. 81, 1900.
Rev. H. H. Barbour, Columbus. o.
My Dear Sir: / am in receipt of your
favor of September "a, inclosing copy
Baptist church Of Columbus, Ohio, on
last Sunday, expressing regret and
deep indignation at the assaults made
upon religious liberty and the right of
free speech that for many weeks have
disgraced the neighboring city Of Mans
field" In your letter you suggest that
issue "a proclamation to the world
that religious liberty and free speech
are still the heritage Of the people
everywhere in Ohio" I really think It
is not necessary to do this, as every
intelligent person knows that free
speech and the right to worship God
according to the dictates of their own
conscience, are amng the rights guar
anteed to the people of Ohio by our
ever, that authorizes the governor Of
Chic to send armed forces to protect
these rights in case our citizens should
be unlawfully deprived of them.
OUR CONSTITUTION DECLARES
that the military shall be in strict
subordination to the civil power" The
governor Is commander-in-chief Of the
militia and to that extent is a part Of
the military power. This injunction
applies to him as well as to the other
officers and men constituting the mill
tia. Because Of this provision, every
law of the state of Ohio authorizing
the governor to order the militia into
active service for the purpose of sup
pressing or preventing riots, directs
that they be sent "to aid the civil off,
GERS" In the case Of the recent riots at
Akron. I directed the commanding
officer to take his regiment to that city.
civil authorities. Whenever in the past
the militia has been put into the field
for the purpose of suppressing or pre-
venting riots, they have always been
sent, as have indicated. to aid the
civil authorities. The commanding Of
ficer of the regiment and the governor
had no right to direct or command what
should be done when the soldiers
reached the scene of action. These or
ders must be given by and received
from the civil authorities II this is
the law, as ! believe ii to be, 1t would
be vain thing for the governor to send
soldiers to the aid of civil authorities
when they do not ask for them and do
not want them.
MUST BE SUBORDINATE.
The clause Of the constitution refer
red to was Incorporated therein because
our fathers We're jealous of the mill
! tary powers, and were determined that
I. should be forever subordinate to the
civil authorities. I would not say al
| this late day that the trainers of our
| Fundamental law were overcautious IL
having a fear that military power, un-
restrained, would be dangerous to lib
| erty.
hope that you, as well as the people
that ] earnestly desire that every citi-
zen of the state shall peacefully enjoy
every right guaranteed by the constf.
| tuition and that upon q case properly
presented I will be swift and efficient
in suppressing and preventing riots
will, however, keep the military ir
strict sbuordination to the civil power.
This can be done and yet strike quicl
and hard blows when the emergency
requires them.
The rights of free speech and of re-
ligious liberty are not more sacred thar
other rights given by our government
smong them the right to possess ant
enjoy property.
| THEY HAVE THEIR RECOURSE.
When person is violently an,
wrongfully deprived Of his property, h
does not call upon the governor Of tn
! state for aid. He resorts to the cour
for the redress of his grievances and
. large part Of the litigation in Ohio /
, OF this character. So, also, II q perso
Is deprived OF his right of free speech
, wr0nged must seek the courts whic
. have jurisdiction, and not the governor
who has no jurisdiction over the sub
ject matter.
. The people who claim to have bee
deprived of these rights In the city Q
Mansfield. instead Of trying to hav
their wrongs redressed by the courts
continue to tempt an angry populac
: day after day, and week after weel
r II occurs to me that instead Of doin
this, 1t would be more chrfstianlik
!, and the better policy, to ask the court
: tc redress their wrongs and quickl
: await the decision of these courts.
:, is not necessary for me to point oil
,. their remedies. 1t Ii sufficient for me
}. know that they are ample.
have taken the pains to explai
my position and my view OF the lay
because / have great respect for yo
personally, and for the good people
whom you minister.
GEORGE X. NASH, Governor.