The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-07
Self-Government at Topeka.

The press of the United States is in
ventive and proud of the fact. There
fore we need not believe all that we hear
from Topeka Kan. Yet accounts OF the
height TO which party spirit has been car
ried IN that distinguished city contain
nothing which is incredible, ana they 90
report something which nay be particu-
larlv commended to the attention of Mr..
Bryce when he next draws on his Amerl-
can studies for arguments in favor OF
home rule. What the fight IS about we
shall learn further on. Of course, but for
the present II is enough TO know that there
has been a fight, a thing which the true
home ruler will prove is impossible where
a people is sobered by the Responsible
ties of freedom. and the will OF the people
can be freely expressed through its dele
gates. AppareniN they find some DIM
| Guilty In Topeka Kan, In deciding VINO
speaks the voice Of the people.
Populist and Republican differ so pro-
| foundry on the point that they have taken
| to presenting Winchesters and smashing
| in doors with sledge-h hammers. The artil-
| lerv has been called out, II the Americans
| do not lie, in that portion Of the Land OF
| Freedom which has attained 10 uneX-
| ampled prosperity under the protectloh
| OF the Constitution Ii must be ackno"l-
| edged that the luck Of the Gladstoneians
Is vile They had hardly appealed to
| Sweden and Norway for an example IN
! favor of home rule when those interest
! ing countries went by the ears. Barely
had Mr. Bryce quoted American prosper
itv as an encouraging instance Of what
| can be done by ramshackle paper Con
| stitution Eve hope the Americans appre-
ciate the candor of their friend. when
| there comes this news from Topeka.
IL certainly sounds very Irish. In the
| beginning il appears that Populists and
| Republicans divided the lower House OF
| RaDitsentatives in an amicable manner
| One party had IT in the morning. and the
other In the afternoon. This alternate
use of the building was possibly copied
| from the practice of certain religious
! bodies which use the same place Of wOr-
| ship turn and turn about. 1t is not I'M
| commonly found in these cases that one
! body after a time. wants TO have the
! exclusive Use of the sacred ediAce."
| The Popuiists are reported to have first
! displayed this selfish desire towards the
| lower HoI Sc. They took the opportunity,
when they were in possession in the
morning 10 elect officers and lock the
door How this House divided against
| itself had got on hitherto without officers
| does not as yet transpire.
This action, on the part OF the POpulists.
did not appear TO be the game TO the
Republicans, who thereupon swore In
other offlcers-in the street. or perhaps
at bar-and marched on the Capitol more
like ancient Romans than anything else.
The scene that ensued was, as reported.
confusing The Populists pointed Win
chesters, but did not use them. Regard
less Of the feeble threat. the austere Re
publicans marched in, and taking their
seats. began TO legislate. For a moment
II looked as If the rights of the people
| had been manfuiiy asserted Republican
style), or an infamous usurpation had
been consummated by brute force Popu-
list version. But the end was not yet
The Populsts returned, kicked the Re
publcans out, and barred the door. Their
victory was OF short duration.
The Republican torrent, driven back for
moment. welled up again in fury.
Headed by their Speaker, who laid aside
his mace for sledge-hammer. the Re
publicans returned and smashed that door
down. The Populists fled shreking 10 the
Governor, who. being a member OF their
party, is manifestly impartial. He called
out the militia and a battery of artillery.
Meanwhile the Republican Speaker had
appealed for support TO the citizens Of
Kansas, and both sides declare their
determination to carry their point by
force"
This Is very encouraging story for the
Nationalist members. When they have
the freedom OF Topeka. they may enjoy
an endless repetition OF those delightful
scenes In the office of a certain Dublin
newspaper in which some of them took a
hand only. so 10 speak. the other day.
That such things should happen in the
United States is what was to be expected.
II is only an application to politics Of
the methods employed by the sovereign
people in their little industrial disputes
in Idaho. Tennessee. and at Pittsburg II
is only lynching. which has been steadily
on the increase for a generation. applied
to Parliament. How completely lynching
has become rooted among American insti-
tutions was shown when the respectable
citizens Of Texas lately met to denounce