Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-03-23
KEARNEYISM.

Recent doings in San Francisco have
been of a character calculated to shake
the faith Of firm believers in the perpetui-
ty of American Institutions, while they
afford strong argument for the skeptical
who claim that our system of govern
ment is only a doubtful experiment.
The simple fact that an ignorant, pre-
sumptuous bully like Dennis Kearney
should be allowed to set up in the bust
ness of dictatorship IN one of the leading
cities Of the Union is in itself sad com
mentary on our boasted free government.
That this man Kearney--a blatant, loud
mouthed ignorsmus, who speaks the
English language but indlferently-can
rally to his support the large following
which he undoubtedly has, is not only
surprising but truly astounding. Under
no other form of Government in the world
would such shameful proceedings be tol-
Grated as those which disgrace the me-
tropolis of the Pacific at the present
time. Law is openly defed and order
turned into veritabe chaos under the
/ leadership and direction of this self-styled
champion Of the Workingmen. The
most insane mutterings Of the Paris
! Commune slink away into shadow in the
bright glare Of the more beastly threats
and venomous donunciations of Kearney
and his gang. Public meetings, called
by Interested citizens and taxpayers for
the purpose Of respectful remonstrance
against proposed legislation, are taken
possession of by this Dictator and his
blind followers Kearney declaring that
/ ne is the ''only man entitled to call a
/ meeting to oppose that damnable den Of
thieves now in Sacramento" Kearney
thrusts himself on the platform Kear-
ney nominates Kearney for Chairman !;
/ Kearney declares Kearney duly elected !;
and Kearney harrangues his gang Of full
grown hoodlums in the interest of Kear-
neyism. Lending citizens, property hold
ers, men Of high repute, even State SEN
ators are positively refused "a hearing by
this arbitrary despot. Yet these out
RACES are tolerated in an American city !;
even applalded by large part OF the peo-
Pile and praised by the servile, fawning
portion of the press. The situation brings
torcibly to mind the utterance of Bret
Hartes "Truthul Jeems:"
"'Do slcop, do dream, or is visions about ?
| Is civilization failure or is the Caucasian
played Out?'
The proceedings at the Platt's Hall
meeting in San Francisco last Saturday,
were the most outrageous and disgracefl}
that ever occurred in any American COM
munity, and we doubt whether its paral-
lei can be found elsewhere. The very
idea Of an intelligent community being
overridden and bullied by such MS Kear-
ney and the band of roughs who follow
in his wake seems too absurd for belief.
Yet the intelligence aud wealth and mu-
nicipal government Of Sun Francisco
have permitted this mob clement to gain
the ascendency communism stalks
abroad and life and property are imperl-
ed. Free speech in that city seem to be
utterly crushed by the freedom allowed
the mob. Such a state Of affairs cannot
long exist; it must be crushed at all
hazards. The people of the State look to
the law-a5iding substantial citizens Of
San Francisco Tor speedy, energetic and
final action. Kearney has run the full
length Of his rope and should be brought
up With a round turn, Hemp is his
stock in trade, and a portion Of it might
be adyantageously used to suspend his
own worthless carcass.