New-York tribune., 1880-02-19
BAx7ER. the "INLAND DESPoE7

Until now we never heard of John q. Bax-
ter. He seems to be-if we may credit "A
douhle-leaded article of u column and nalf
in The Couvier-JOurnal, in Mr. WattersOn's
most impassioned style-thc present Mayor Of
Louisville, Nv. There have been Baxters
before: notably. Richard. author of the
SAINTS Everlasting Rest" and the "Call to
the Unconverted." This is a different kind
of Baxter: he has stirred up the only Saint
we know of IN Kentucly-to wit, Watterson-tO
a state OF mind very far from Everlasting Rest !;
and we Judge from The COtuier-JOurnaFs re-
marks that he has, in the phrase oil the favor
lie game of Kentucky, not merely " called !"
tbc uncOnverted, but " raised them. Being
remote from the scene cannot be expected
to enter into the denuuciation OF Baxter with
TI, Courier. Journals earncstness and warmth ;
but we do say that if Baxter is rs that journal
charges, ga world-be inland despot." he
onght to be put down for Of all GespOts the
"inland despot" has been set down in all
ages as the worst. And we say, TOO, un-
besitatingly, that if he has, "A charged
been guilty of "an assault upon the
"lberty of the citizen" and "an aiirOnt to
"tbat beautiful creation of our republican
system, the NJ jesty of Franchise. such as
was never before attempted in any free city
"of the world" and revives the one-man
"power in its most odious form. denuded of
the decent apparel which the cffete tyran-
MES of the Old World, the Viceroys and the
| ''Fakirs, the Surajahs and the Pachas. were
wont to assume to hide, if not excuse, their
"acts of rapacity and oppression IF he
has done this, we say. then steps
should be taken Immediately to make his
tyranny at least as decent rs that of
| the Viceroys, Fakirs. Sunjahs and Pachas.
| Baxter carries it altogether too far when he
denudes the one-man power OF decent ap-
parel.
II ia also charged that Baxter, though it
| has been hardly more than one little year
since he was borne into the municipal
ofice.r " seems bent on converting it into
d" y nroconsulater And Mr.. Watterson SAYS
flat for this reasOn-notwIthstanding he has
q" many time stood between JOHN G.. Bax-
"ter and the popular displeasure," has
been distrustcd and misjudged," "hooted,
Kissed and jeered in mass meetings for
"bis sake Tho must now, at the cost of
inexpressibe Distress" part company with
him. For Baxter--if we are able to extrcate
| definitely the character of his offence from
the torrent of Mr.. Wattepsons impetuous dis
course-has been trying to smuggle the
mower TO sell the Louisville and Nashville
sto k through the Legislature" in the form
| of charter amendments. Mr.. WattersOn seems
| TO be opposed to the sale, and in favor of a
popular vote on IT. So he appeals TO the
Legislature g in the name of the people,
4" in the name of n manned and bruised
popular sovereignty, which, struck down
"in the synagogue. is sought to be mur-
"dered in the temple" " Is this not fair r.
lie says "Whay man," he asks, "lookinp
" either INTO his conscience or at his future
"can have the heart the hardhood, "a
"sfand up and face the oustretched
"hands Of a pleading, an honorable
"people, and pcrpctrate the awful crIm,
"of denying them their rights and that
at the command Of a handful OF supercihOu,
officials scorning the ends for which THEN
"places were created, and wearing IA littl,
"brief authority ~ 1t is not possible tha
the Kentucky Legislature can resist sucl
an appeal as that. They cannot stand by anC
see manned and bruised popular sovereignty
murdered IN the temple alter having beel
struck down III the synagogue.
Moreover, they cannot have the heart Il
turn the City of Louisville over to the one
man power. "Lovey cityi" says Mr.. Wat