PRESIDENT CLEVELAND DEFENDED AND FIREMEN PARADE IN HOMER

Grover Cleveland.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, September 12, 1896.

PRESIDENT DEFENDED.

An Opinion Issued by Attorney General Harmon.

CONCERNING THE CHICAGO RIOTS.

Holds That the President Was Authorized and Justified In Interfering.

Position Taken by Bryan and the Chicago Convention Criticized.

   WASHINGTON, Sept. 12.—Attorney General Harmon has furnished the following for publication:

   "I have concluded to give a public answer to the many inquiries made of me upon a subject of great moment to which general attention is now directed. Mr. Bryan in his letter accepting the nomination for president by the convention at Chicago amplifies the protest which that convention made in its platform against federal interference in local affairs which, strangely enough, is not found in the platforms of the other two conventions which have also nominated him.

   "As nothing else has been done or proposed to which they can possibly apply, these protests were intended and are understood to be directed against the recent action of the president in forcibly suppressing riotous disorders which had stopped the carriage of the mails and interstate commerce and were defying the civil officers of the United States.

   "The president took this action not only without the request, but in some instances against the protest of the authorities of the state in which the riots occurred, and Mr. Bryan, taking section 4 of article IV of the constitution to be the law on the subject, pledges himself against any repetition of the violation thereof, which his letter necessarily charges. He vindicates the wisdom of the framers of the constitution by declaring that the local authorities are better qualified than the president to judge of the necessity for federal assistance.

   "The section of the constitution to which Mr. Bryan refers is as follows:

   "'The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence.'

   "This section plainly refers merely to the protection of the states against interference with their authority, laws or property by domestic violence and they are wisely made the sole judges whether and when they need such protection. Mr. Bryan betrays a consciousness of the limited operation of this provision in the expression 'Federal assistance' in the clause I have quoted.

   "But by the express terms of the constitution a state has nothing to do with the maintenance of the authority or the execution of the laws of the United States within the territory of the state. The prevention and punishment of offenses connected with the mails, with interstate commerce and with the administration of justice in the federal courts, are committed to the general government and to it alone.

   "According to Mr. Bryan there is somewhere implied in the constitution, for it is nowhere expressed, a prohibition of the use of force by the United States against persons who within the limits of a state may be successfully resisting its officers and completely paralyzing all its operations as a government unless the local authorities shall first make request or give consent.

   "This is contrary to the settled principle that while the federal government is one whose operation is confined to certain subjects it has, as to those subjects, all the attributes of sovereignty, and one of these is always and everywhere, within the territory of the states which compose it, to suppress and punish those who in anywise interfere with the exercise of its lawful powers.

   "The fact that there are within that territory other governments exercising sovereignty over all matters not so committed to it, can make no difference under our double form of government, the essential principle of which is a partition of powers to be exercised independently over the same territory.

   "This sovereign right of the United States necessarily follows its officers and agents everywhere they go, protecting and maintaining them in the discharge of their duties. Congress has accordingly, by section 5,297 of the revised statutes, authorized 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, 5,298, authorized him to employ such forces upon his own judgment alone, against 'unlawful obstruction, combinations or assemblages of persons, in whatever state or territory thereof, the laws of the United States may be forcibly opposed or the execution thereof forcibly obstructed.'

   "It was under the power conferred by the section last named that the late rebellion was suppressed. Mr. Bryan's doctrine that this law is unconstitutional is more dangerous than that of secession; the latter at least left the government some power and authority in the territory of the state which should choose to remain; Mr. Bryan's would reduce it to the idle mimicry of the stage.

   "It must be that Mr. Bryan, amid the many demands on his time and attention, has fallen into an inadvertence. I cannot believe that he really thinks the president has no power under the constitution and laws to maintain the government entrusted to his charge. Nor can I believe 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. I will not lightly question either his knowledge as a lawyer or his sincerity as a public man. Certainly his letter is generally misunderstood unless it means either that Mr. Bryan thinks the president has no power or that he would himself not use it if elected."

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Poor Bryan.

   A dispatch from Lincoln, Neb., under date of Sept. 10 says:

   On Mr. Bryan's return Tuesday the change in his appearance caused general comment. In one month he has lost that buoyancy of manner that has been a prominent characteristic, and in place of a smooth, smiling countenance his features are haggard and drawn. His eyes have lost their clear expression and lines are visible on his face that were never seen before. Mr. Bryan is thinner than he was thirty days ago, and he is manifestly nervous and irritable.

   This afternoon, as he received visitors at his house, he showed signs of being very much run down physically. He says these few days in Lincoln have given him the only rest he has had since he left for New York.

   It is no secret that Mr. Bryan's friends are concerned about his condition. They are fearful lest he shall overtax himself and break down, and he is urged to take the best care of himself.

   Mr. Bryan has hitherto been able to stand an immense amount of exertion owing to his capacity for sleep. He could sleep any time, day or night. Since the presidential campaign opened he has changed in this respect. He is now troubled with insomnia. However pleasant the sensation may be, it is evident that being a candidate for president is not agreeing with Mr. Bryan.

   Even his political enemies will sympathize with the "Boy Orator" and his friends. He was as happy with the Popocratic nomination as an urchin with a new toy—but already the sawdust is beginning to leak out. He is a good-natured, well meaning kind of a boy, but he lacks a man's judgment and sound sense—and he can't stand grief. He may talk about the glorious receptions given him in the East, but the frost which settled on Madison Square garden when he made the speech which was to be so great and proved to be so little, chilled him to the bone and he can't get over it. Mr. Bryan realizes, notwithstanding his brave words, that his political doom is sealed. It is not work but worry that kills. Mr. Bryan is doing a great deal of worrying. No wonder he is "nervous and irritable."

   A former resident of this village, now of Chicago, writes us as follows concerning the political situation in that city:

   "We are hoping and praying for the dawn of a new political administration. Chicago feels the present business depression very keenly. The city is awake to the folly of Bryanism. There is not in the whole place a single paper devoted to the advocacy of free silver. The York Journal is sold on the streets as a free silver paper. Bryan was announced to speak here on Labor day before the Trades and Labor assemblies at Ogden's grove, but in a circular issued by these assemblies it was afterwards stated that they repudiated their former action. I never saw business men so keenly alive to the gravity of a situation before. I visited the national Republican and also the Democratic (or Popocratic) headquarters last week. The Republican place was plain and substantial, while the Democrats had one of the finest suites in the Auditorium annex; the ceilings were magnificently decorated. It would astonish some of the Populists to see the luxurious quarters of their leaders. After seeing the way in which the Popocrats are housed, one would be convinced that some one was contributing money very freely—presumably the silver mine owners."

Cortland County's Valuation.

   The state board of equalization of taxes in 1805 fixed the valuation of property in Cortland county at $9,660,105. This, year the same board fixed the valuation at $10,106,000, which is an increase of $439,895 over last year. A number of people who have read in The STANDARD and other papers a statement contained in an Albany dispatch that there has been added to the equalized valuation of real estate in this county the sum of $1,554,737 have been mislead by the fact that they failed to recognize the distinction between equalized valuation and assessed valuation. The equalized valuation as fixed by the state assessors has for years been higher than the assessed valuation, as fixed by the local assessors, because the state assessors considered that the local assessors assessed too low. The equalized valuation is this year $1,554,737 above the assessed valuation, but the difference between the equalized valuation and the assessed valuation has only been increased $439,895 this year.

Band, Concert, Fire Works and Dance.

   It promises to be just the evening to go to the park and keep cool. The Cortland City band will give a concert there in the band stand. Dancing will be in order in the pavilion with music by McDermott's orchestra. There will also be a grand display of fire works in the north grove near the band stand. A choice selection of set pieces have been secured which can be shown to good advantage in that place. Everybody welcome, [trolley] cars every twenty minutes.

BREVITIES.

   —To-morrow will be rally day in the Universalist Sunday-school.

   —One drunk was up in police court this morning and was discharged.

   —There will be a band concert at the park to-morrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock, weather permitting.

   —The next meeting of the Ministerial association will be held in the Y. M. C. A. parlor Monday, Sept. 14, at 10:30 A. M.

   —New advertisements to-day are—A. Mahan, a guardian angel, page 6; C. F. Brown, there is nothing in the world, page 8.

   —Rev. Lathrop C. Grant of Hamilton will preach at the Presbyterian church to-morrow morning and evening in the absence of the pastor.

   —All the excise cases that have been up in police court are adjourned and are returnable at police court at 9 o'clock Monday morning. There are thirteen cases with fifteen defendants.

   —"Jack" Cowles was arrested Thursday by Officer Edwards of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was taken before Justice of the Peace Dickinson and fined $5.

   —The Bryan and Sewall Bi-metallic league seems to be on the decline. Not enough were present at the meeting Thursday night for a meeting. The next meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 17.

   —On Sunday evening Rev. A. Chapman will begin at the Baptist church a series of lectures on "Pilgrim's Progress." These will run through successive Sunday evenings for several weeks. The first one will be a preliminary lecture on "The Man Who Wrote the Book."

   —A camel belonging to Barnum's circus taken sick and had to be left at Syracuse at Dr. Turner's veterinary hospital. It died yesterday. The animal was 14 years old and cost its owners $1,500. A dromedary which was also left behind is rapidly recovering from its illness and will be able to join the show in a few days.

   —The residents of Fitz-ave. [West Main Street] and vicinity were yesterday sure that surveyors had been through in the night setting stakes for the proposed railroad from Cortland to Syracuse, when they saw a row of stakes with red streamers set at frequent intervals through the Powers' lot. All suspicions were dispelled when it was learned that the streamers were for the purpose of keeping blackbirds from the fruit.

HOMER.

Gleanings of News From Our Twin Village.

   HOMER, Sept. 12.—G. A. and H. S. Brockway returned home from the East last evening.

   The firemen had everything in their favor yesterday and their annual field day and inspection as a thorough success. The sun shone brightly upon the uniforms and gay apparel of participants and spectators alike. A large crowd was upon the street at an early hour to see the fun which was provided on a liberal scale. The day was opened by a ball game at the academy grounds and as the school had been dismissed for the day, the small boy and all his chums were there to roast the visitors. McGrawville's team was substituted for Tully at the last minute owing to the latter's failure to keep their engagement. Lowel Gates of Cortland umpired the game. For the first few innings the game was evenly waged, but the home team soon proved too much for their opponents and the visitors had to content themselves with holding them down as much as possible. That was not very much, for Homer won by a score of 11 to 5.

   At 1:30 P. M. sharp, as advertised, the parade started from the fire house in the following order:

   Chief and officers of the department.

   Cortland City band.

   Emerald Hose Co. of Cortland.

   Tioughnioga Hose Co. No. 2 of Homer.

   Tempest Hose Co. No. 8 of Homer.

   Triumph Hose Co. No. 4 of Homer.

   Orient Hook and Ladder Co. of Homer.

   The president of the village, and trustees in carriages.

   By special invitation the Emerald Hose company of Cortland were present, seventy-five men strong, with their elegant hose carriage and added greatly to the interest in the parade.

   Many houses and stores along the line of march were elaborately decorated in honor of the fire laddies, among which were the Mansion House, Keator block, M. Murphy's and P. Donahue's saloons and the residences of Marshall Briggs, C. C. Carley, J. I. Brown and others. The boys made an excellent appearance in line and the result of the inspection was very creditable indeed.

   The sidewalks in the central part of Main-st. were packed when the parade returned, with an audience waiting to witness the races which commenced immediately after the inspection.

   The Hub and Race was first. Distance 200 yards with finish in front of First National bank. The contestants crossed the line in the following order: First, Triumph Hose Co. No. 4; second, Tempest Hose Co. No. 3; third, Tioughnioga Hose No 2. Best time 27 sec.