New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-14
MOB RULE At THE WEST.

The public has been taking square and
steady though a much disguised look at the
doings of those Western reformers who style
themselves Populists. 1t has seen them get
votes and Offices by processing the most intense
zeal for the peoples interests and the people 5
WILL and yet i'll one state after another 1t sees
them resortng TO absolutely revolutionary over
throw and defeat of the peoples will in order
10 seize larger power 1t has heard them pro-
test most vocferouSly their devotion TO reform,
and behold, not even the most corrupt and
desperate of the old parties has been guilty
of more high handed or shameless things than
the PopulistS have done in some Of tho West
ern States.
The performance in Kansas is, strictly speak
ing, Infamous A clear majority OF all the
members elected, including one Independent
and one Democrat with quorum of Repub-
icans alone, organized tho House of Repre-
sentatiyes in strict conformity to law But in
the very Same room body of lawbreakers,
confessedly less than a quorum Of the whole
number, had the impudencc TO pretend that
they also elected a Speaker and effected an
organization, and then this utterly impotent
minority having not the falntest shadow OF a
pretext for calling itself the House, proceeded
TO vote out of their seats without any inquiry
or hearing enough of the duly elected Repub-
lican>, and TO vote into seats enough Popullsts
who had not been elected 10 make up 4 pre-
tended quorum. A law -defying Governor dared
TO refuse recognition to the duly organized ma
iority OF members, and has even dared to
recognize the minority, is II It's high handed
dongs made it the legal House. The Demo
cratic members publicly declare that the ma
iority organization is legal and valid, and the
only one that can be authorized. All Of them
vote with it, and condemn the revolutionary
behavior Of the Populists in strong terms. But
so frenzied are the pretended reformers that
they seem to pay no regard whatever TO tho
opinion Of respectable citizens.
The intelligent people of Kansas must of
necessity feel that they are dlseraced by the
partial victory of such set Of revolutionists.
1t will be necessary for the people 10 deal
strenu0usly with this uprising of mob, in
order to restore in the State respect for law
and for tho peoples will 1t may take some
years, and possibly it may cost heavy losses,
before conservative and law-obeying citizens
can como together in sufficient force, but in
some form there will have 10 be such con-
centration of good citizens, and those who
have defied the laws will have 10 be turned out
of place and punished before the State can
wipe out the disgrace.
The uprising of Western Populists does not
do them credit, if the venerable rule is to be
applied, "By their fruits ye shall know them"
Men who have just cause, or any real griev-
ance or a sincere desire to benefit their state,
do not resort to or countenance lawless over
turning of the peoples will. The farmers Of
The West, be it said with profound thankful
ness, are not as rule men of the Populist
pattern, but it is disheartening to find even a
minority of these property owning and indus
trious citizens so strangely mised.