New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-11
TOO MANY GOVERNORS.


The situation of public affairs in Nebraska
may well be called serious. Two persons have
taken the oath of Office as its Governor, and Il
third. the Official who in the natural course OF
events would now be retiring, assumes to hold
over and to continue the exercise of the EXecu-
tive functions Nothing less deplOrabe than
anarchy can be the outcome of this situation
Its pcrs are vastly increased by the Indian
troubles which menace Nebraska fully as much
as South Dakota, and which have already re-
qured the caKng-out Of considerable bodies OF
the State militia. These troops now in active
service and presently, perhaps, TO be engaged IN
actual warfare, are according to law, under
the command of the Governor. Already the
controversy as to which of the three Governors
they must obey is raging violently. The com
handing officer actually in authority recognized
only the orders Of Governor Thaycr the Official
holding over. Governor Boyd, however, who
received a plurality of the votes cast in NO.
yembcr. has undertaken to remove this officer
and to place the troops under another com
mander. Meanwhile the third Governor Mr.
Powers. has sworn himself into office, and IS
issuing military directions with great enthusl-
assn.
Nebraska is indebted to the Farmers ALI
ance for this painful situation. That over
shadowing organization undertook 10 elect
State ticket last fall. and came within an ace
of doing it, On the face of the returns how
ever the Democratic candidate for Governor
received clear plurality OF the votes cast ana
the Republican candidates for minor state OIL
COS were in similar good fortune. The Alliance
candidate. Mr. Powers. received a vote nearly
as large as Mr. Boyd'S and laid prompt claim
to the Office on the ground OF gross electoral
frauds clear majority of Alliance men were
elected to the Legislature, and their sympathleN
were so strongly with their leader that they
made an effort TO give him the office by the
short and simple eXpcdcnt of a Joint resolution
declaring his title valid But time and wiser
counselS interviewed TO prevent 50 revolutionary
2 proceeding. and when the Legislature met III
Joint session To perform It's constitutional duty
of canvassing and declaring the vote II eXecu,-
cd the law honestly. certifying TO the result
according to the face Of the returns although
in significantly guarded language.
But this did not suffice to remove opposition
TO Mr. BoydS assumption Of Office. Governor
Thaycr inteposcd with the allegation that Mr.
Bovd is not a citizen of the United states, hui
subject Of Great Britain and consequently
ineligible under the Constitution Of Nebraska
70 the Chief MagiStIacy Of thai state. This
charge appears to be true. Mr Boyd scomS +"
DENY il. but admits the facts on which It j.
presented. That j. he admits that HIS father
was n foreigner; that he himself was horn III
Ireland that he was ten years old when he
came y this country that he has never been
naturalzod. and that his father omitted TO So
cure the rights Of citizenship until he. the SON
was of full age. But conccding these facts, he
appca1s 10 deny their logical consequence and
LEGAL effect. l. is undoubtedly a serious thing
for Governor Thaycr 10 interfere with the Will
Of the people a> expressed in Mr.. Boyds plu-
rali,v. but the Governor has sworn TO support
end maintain the Constitution, and the Con
stitufon plainly saws that 4" no person shall be
eIioible 10 the Office Of Governor who has not
beon for the two wears next preceding his cleo
ton citizen of the United states and Of the
state" 1t is not Governor Thaycr's fault il Mr.
Bovd has been careless or Indifferent with re-
gard 10 his rights and duties The question Is
purely legal one, and some way should be
found of determining it in 4 prompt and lawful
manner. PartisanShip should play no part in
sucb n controversy.