The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-12-20
THIEVES THEY ARE.
n TERSE REVIEW OF SOME INTER.
ESTING REPUBLICAN, HISTORY.
The Boyd and Thayer Contest Which Was q
Fair sample of the Rascality of the
Great Moral Party.

Omaha, Neb., December 17.-(Special.)-
The attempts of the republicans to steal
the states Of Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming
and any other state in the northwest
where there is the shadow of a chance
to contest, recalls to mind the outrageous
steal in Nebraska two years ago by this
party of morality. BY that steal James
L. Boyd, who had been elected governor
by a gOod-sized plurality, was ouSted
from his office by the decision of q par
tlSan supreme bench on the ground that
he was not a citizen. and therefore not
qualified to hold office in this or any
other state in the union. And this, too,
in the face of the fact that he helped
frame the constitution Of the state; had
been foremost in the work Of reclaiming
the state from the dominion of the Indian;
had twice been elected mayor of the larg-
est city In the state. and had twice rep
resented the democratic party of his state
In national convention assembled. lie
had taken the oath TO support the consti-
tuition OF the state Of Nebraska and the
United States of America on a dozen diff
ferent occasions; had been a citizen who
had always been foremost in the work of
pIOlIotIuS tuS puDilC WtlIdlc, dIIu Yet d
supreme court made UP of republicans
decided that he was not q citizen.
The present attitude of the republican
party may be better understood and ap-
preciated by Il brief resume of the historic
Boyd-Thayer case. In the election OF
1890 James e. Boyd was the nominee of
the democracy of Nebraska for the office
of governor. When the nomination was
made and accepted it was looked upon as
an empty honor. Nebraska had always
been a republican state, giving majorities
ranging from 10000 to $4,000. The NOM
snee of the republican party in that cam
paign was Lucius ID. Richards. 1t is only
fair to say that Mr.. Richards was too
manly and aonOrble to take any part in
the infamous proceedings that afterwards
resulted. That was the year of the great
populist uprising. and the nominee of that
party was John Powers. late president
of the National Farmers Alliance. In that
election the question of prohibition played
an important part, as the votes Were call
ed upon to accept or reject cOnstitu-
tional amendment prohibiting the manu-
facture and sale of intoxicating liquors.
Governor Boyd took a firm stand against
prohibition; Mr.. Richards evaded the is
sue, and Mr.. Powers made his campaign
on the ground that the state was fast
going to the demuitiOn boW-WOWS. Party
lines were. to 4 large extent lost sight Of
in the one absorbing question of pro
hibitiOn. When the votes We're counted
The republicans were panic stricken to
learn that their candidate was actually
the third man in the race. However. the
republicans had succeeded in electing all
of their other candidates The p0puliSts,
whose candidate for governor had passed
under the Wire second, at once asserted
that there had been gross fraud and in
timidatiOn of voters in Omaha, where the
anti-prOhibitioniSt sentiment was over
whelming, which had defeated their can
didate. The pOpuliSts, who had elected
z majority Of the legislature. Instituted a
Contest against the state officers elected
Oh the face of the returns la order to
save themselves the democrats and rcpub-
Leans made common cause against the
populists. The republicans had six state
officers to save, while the democrats had
but one. The populist contest. which
had never had a foot to stand on, was
soon seen to be q failure.
Thsyer's Effort to Hold On.
1t was then that John NJ Thaycr, who
was at that time serving his second term
as governor, began his contest. Governor
Boyd, who was born in ireland. learned
that his father had never completed his
naturalization. The governor was p lad
of nine years when he came to this c, IN
try and surprising that his father had
been naturaized, had never taken out
naturalization papers in his own name.
Thayer took his contest into the supreme
court claiming that Boyd was not a cit
izen, and that under the laws of the
state he CThayeD held over until the next
general election. In the meantime Gov
ernor Boyd had taken the oath
of office. Thayer refused to va
cate the office and had a company of the
state militia stand guard at the doors OF
the executive chamber Finally the re-
publican board of public lands and build
lngS frozo Thayer out by turning off the
steam that heated the executive chamber.
The supreme court then told Thayer that
by giving the Office over to Governor
Boyd he would not in any way prejudice
his ciSe-Which was made manifest at
later date-and Thayer stepped down
until the supreme court could decide the
matter The case was argued with all
the skill and ability of the best legal tai
ent in the state. 1t is interesting to know
that the theory that afterwards proved q
winner for Governor Boyd. was the work
of a republican attorney of Omaha, Hen
Ty EStabrook, who was one Of BOyds
Warmest admirers.
Today John NJ. Thayer's name is never
spoken save in terms of reprOach. Even
the men who used him as a tool to cover
up their own nefariOuS schemes sneer at
him, and he is now iii obscurity. Three
years ago he was locked upon with re-
spect by everybody.
TRYING The Same Tactics.
The republicans Of Nebraska are today