New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-17
PEVOLUTION IN KANSAS.

The disturbance in Kansas is not riot, but
an attempted revolution. The will vi the
people as lawfully expressed by their votes
for members of the Legislature, has been 50
long and so darngy defed that some intell-
| gent men NAV have forgotten the acts which
caused the present outbreak and which deter
mine its character But il is to the credit Of
! most Democratic journals that they fully adj
nit the iegality Of the So-ca!lcd PopuliSt
House of Representatives and the revolution
airy nature of its proceedings. Yet when men
read that the Governor Of a State calls out
troops. they are apt 10 infer that the Executive
must he uphoding the law, and The revolution
lists must be those against whom his forces are
directed. Happily. it has been very rare III
American history that the Governor himself
has been the chief awbrcaker and revolution
list, but that is the fact in Kansas to-day.
Before the Legislature assembled desperate
efforts had been made by the POpuliSt> 10 Sc
cure majority in the House through proceed
ingS in the couIiS. They brought actions i'll
tended to deprive some Of the Republican mem
beers of their seats and were cnraged when the
courts decided against them. Many Of the
populiSt leaders even went 50 far aS 10 threaten
that the Judges should he mpeachcd and re-
moved not because the lawfulncs> Of their
decision was questionable, but because they
left the control of the lower house where the
people had placed it, When the Legislature
assembled certificates Of election t, the House
we're held by 81 Republicans, - PopuliSlS
3 Democrats and Independent Republican.
The majority of the legally elected members
Of the House organized in due form by the
election of Republican Speaker. Not only
was there in the body thus organized a clear
majority Of all members having certificates Of
election, but the Democratic members also
recognized The Republican House Is the only
legal organization and acted as members OF IT,
The minority OF PopuliS;s, never having a
quorum of the members holding rticatcS or
legally elected, pretended to orsaaize a. scpa-
rate body by the election Of a speaker. In
order 10 make up quorum this Illegally con-
stituttd body. which never had any more an
thorty or power than any mob on Il street
corner, proceeded to declare certain POpulist,
duly elected in pllci OF Republicans who held
regular certificates and were sitting a mem
bers Of the lawful House
Il was this unlaWfully constituted body. this
mere mob without the shadow OF legal right
proceeded to recognize as the only lawful
House, and in order to give it more color OF
authority he now attempts with troops 10 dis
pcrse and drive out Of the state Capitol the
legal House of Representatives. There is not
q man of any party in Kansas, having intelli-
gcnce enough TO form an opinion on the sub
ject who does not know that these proceed
ings are wholly and absolutely Illegal, and
constitute a bareiaced uSupaiion of the lcgs-
lative authority by mob Of laWbroahers led
by the Governor himself.
The Republicans have seen fit 10 resist this
usurpation by force. They have the law and
the right on their side, and that fact is alum
dainty proved. For the so-cacd popuSt
House, during all lis pretended session since
January ], has never dared until this week
to pass any bill which could be made the basis
of proceedings in the courts, because il knew
and publicly admitted that the cOut> would
declare its organization illegal and without a
shadow Of authority. At last the POpust
members became crazy for funds, and anxiety
for their pay oyercame their prudence far
that they pretended to pass bill appropI iaiing
money for salaries. Instantly payment under
the so-caled act wa, enioined and stopped, and
the final decision Of the courts will undoubt
eddy be against the legality Of the so-calcd
House which the Governor recognized. But
the decision cannot be Immediately reached
and in the mean time the State would be at
the mercy Of anarchists led by the Governor if
the Republican Representatives were not firm
in the right, with public opinion rapidly form
ing ON their side.