The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-09-21

ceed 20 demand the forfeiture of the
charter of such an offending corporation.
The technical answers of the defend
ants were referred to pointedly Gs an
evasion that was at once undlRnlfed and
unworthy Of consideration. The injunc-
tion being based upon these views, the
broad ground Of public policy, and the
duty Of the state to protect the people
from the abuse Of corporate power, can
only be decently respected by being
obeyed in spirit az well as letter, by an
entire abrogStion Of the arrangements
which It iS now declared viii be carried
out In some other way, for the original
purpose agreed upon. It requires but q
small measure of intelligence, therefore,
to perceive that the declared position Of
the enjoined companies to-day is one Of
absolute contempt for the spirit of the
law, utter disregard and defiance Of the
purpose sought to bO obtained by the
state.
There is abroad in the land an ugly
and omlnous spirit Of revolt against the
existing order Of things in society and
the state. The mutterings and threaten
lngs of the anarchist are heard on every
hand. During the last ten years the
country has had some startling lessons,
warning il Of che existence of this deadly
peril to American institutions. It has
been the mlschleVous element which has
turned the heads Of thousands of hitherto
honest, law-sbidlng, and patriotic labor
ing men. IC is the spirit which ls to-day
the subject Of grave anxiety in every
thoughtful mind.
What is the use of letting railway
combinations demanding the enforce
ment Of the law for the protection of per-
son and property, to whatever amount Of
blOodshed even may be necessary, the
calling out of all the forces Of the COM
monwealth against rioters and armed
rebellion, while men who control vast In
terests can snap their fingers In the face
of courts and the people, trAmple upon
the rights of millions, and carry out their
schemes of personal aggTandlzement,
regardless alike of the interests Of the
public, the welfare of society, the safety
and perpetuity of republican govern
ment? If the law Is not to be respected
and obeyed In Its integrity by those who,
through their superior intelligence and
great influence, are largely responsible
for its creation, how long will il be posi-
bic to maintain respect for 1t, obedience
to its mandates, peace, and safety,
against the desperate anarchlstic spirit
which already warns the whole country
of danger Of the gravest kind?
It has come to this, that when a hun
dred men join in strike which runs into
laWlessness, che commission Of crime, the
shedding Of blood, the power Of the COM
monwealth must be speedily and effect
lively exerted for the maintenance Of the
public peace and public safety. But ten
men can get around big table, resolve
to create q monopoly IN some article of
popular consumption Of absolute public
necessity, and when courts declare the
papers which they have signed illegal,
they tear them up and make others
which avoid the letter of the law, while
being equally defiant Of its spirit, and go
right on, insolently inqulring Of their
millions Of Victlms, "whae do you pro-
pose to do about it?"
These are sober truths, and they ale
being pond0red to-day by thoughtful
men az never before. It Is passing strange
that their force is not recognized by those
most interested. The monopoliSt of TO.
day may SOW TO the wind; his successors
will reap the whlrlwind.
But Mr.. Hoch's greatest effort was TO
demonstrate two propositions: First, that
the Peoples party was q sociAllStlc party;
and second, that It was a professional
calamity party. The second proposition
l will not touch further than to say that
l would rather belong to a party Of
calamity howlers than party Of cslam-
ity makers. Mr.. Hoch said that We were
"Set of fellows that were always look
ing for something bad" Mr.. Hoch ought