Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1904 — TALKS ON CHICAGO RIOTS. [ARTICLE]

TALKS ON CHICAGO RIOTS.

Cleveland Defends His Action In Sending Troops in 1894. - Former President Grover Cleveland delivered a lecture at Princeton, N. J., the other d:iy,\in which he "congratulated” himself —-to—use his own words—on his course in sending federal troops to Chicago to suppress the riots during the great railroad strike of 1894, and read the correspondence wherein he severely criticised tEw late Gov. John P. Allgeld' for his resentment of federal interference.

Mr. Cleveland’s ■ address was the first of the ''Honr.v Stafford Little Lectures on Public Affairs.". a series founiTeilTy his personal friend, Mr. Little 1 Primeton '4-i.i. who 'lied about a week ago. It Was Mr. Cleveland's first lecture in two .rears. Mr. Cleveland's eondenin.'ition of the dead Illinois executive was unequivocal. 11c said: “"This-official not only refused to regard the riotous disturbances within the borders of his State as a sufficient cause for an application to the,federal government for its protection ’against domestic violence' under the mandate of the constitution, but actually protested against the presence of federal troops sent into the State upon the general government's initiative and for the purpose of defending itself in the clearly defined exercise of its legitimate functions.” The correspondence that followed was Illuminative of the._ whole quest ion__'of State rights and federal supremacy, concluding with this dispatch from Mr. Cleveland:

"While I am still persuaded that I have neither; transcended my authority nor duty in the emergency that confronts us, it seems to me that in this hour of danger and distress discussion may well give way to active efforts on the part of ali in authority to restore obedience to the law and to protect life and property.” “This.” said Mr. Cleveland, “closed a discussion which, in its net results, demonstrated how far one’s disposition and inclination will lead him astray in the field of argument.” Outlining his reasons for sending troops to Chicago, Mr. Cleveland said: "Attorney General Olney, in his official report, correctly stated the purpose and design of this outbreak in these words: To compel a settlement of disputes between the Pullman company and a portion of its employes, nothing else was meditated or aimed at than a complete stoppage of all the railroad transportation of the country, State and interstate, and freight as well as passenger.’ ” Mr. Cleveland then described the repeated but ineffectual attempts by the United Sta test Court injunctions and the use of deputy marshals to prevent riots and the obstruction of commerce and mails.