The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-04-19
EMPORIA NEWS
FRIDAY. APRIL 10, 1878.


The HOVernOr's BIander.
The acts of public officer are prop
er subject OF comment at all times.
By comment we do not mean either
adulatIon or abuse, but calm, rejecting
criticism in the light Of experience and
reason The record OF public officers
Is public property, and ;past history as
well as present surroundings should
have some weight in making up YER
dict. In the private walks OF lie
charity would maintain silence as to
the mistakes OF Judgment if the inten-
tons were good; but public officer
has no right to expect any such silenc,
or the theological dogma as to the
macadamizing of the road to hell
might with more justice be applied to
public affairs of the world. Viewed
from this standpoint, Gov. Anthony's
: proclamation and the military occu-
patton of this sity, in accordance there
with is, to say the least, mistake.
We consider It a great usurpation OF
authority, and one that cannot be de-
Tended even upon that dogma of ty-
rants and volutionists-success AS
a military movement It was failure,
and as an act of civil authority it was
but little less than q crime. We do not
wish to misjudge Gov. Anthony. He
Is the chief executive of the State, and
great pressure was doubtless brought
- H.o. ,,roo him N1ha Conka To off /.
cials probably felt, as they had a right
to feel, aud as capital always feels,
keenly alive to the danger their road
might be In, and were justified in re-
sorting to all honorable means in pro-
tecting their property. But the Gov
ernor OF State has other duties as well
as protecting property, and making
acquisitions for troops, and it is
usurpation to call them out without il
should come from proper officers, viz.
the legislative or executive authorities
OF city or county, not irresponsible pri-
Vate individuals or corporations, and
then only after tho civil power is ex-
hausted. Now, unfortunately for him
Governor Anthony has a record or
this very point. All will remember
the conflict between the two towns in
the lead mines a few months ago, Ga
lena and Empire City, If we do moi
mistake the names. There were arm
ed men arrayed against each other
threatening destruction to life and
property. The case was a much moro
aggravated one than ours. The re.
Spouse made by Gov. Anthony to the
mayor OF Galena, when he applied fol
troops to maintain law and order, was
eminently just and proper. He sale
In effect, "you must first exhaust al
the civil power of your city and coun
ty before can lawfully interfere t.
aid you" How the Governor can jus
tify his action of last week with thu
above opinion we would like t
know. 1t looked very much as 1
what was law for the city of Ga
lena was a very different thing as ap
piled to great railroad corporations
and perhaps, but-we will not under
SoAO " AobhOhA MS LaObANSSy % tLS ulOI'
we attempt to penetrate the less W,
can give reason such as we would
like to give. Our officials always claim
ed that they werc abundantly able t.
enforce the laws, denied that troops
were wanted, protested against thei
being sent, and urged their withdraw
al; but the Governor sent then
against their advice and protest, anC
refused to recall them in response to
their demands. We cannot explaIR hi
actions. It seemed as If it required tn,
sacrifice OF one of our purest men t
bring him to his senses. In fact, h,
acted more like An obdurate partizal
thaH the executive of a great common
vvaalfh