Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-09-14
Verdict of a Packed Jury.


Topeka Capital ably characterizes the
farcial and unmanly trial and verdict,
as we'll as some minor disreputable
matters connected with the present
administration, as follows: 1.-THE
verdict is only what everybody expected
from packed jury and little need be
said of 1t. The appeal Of General
Caldwell 10 the conscience Of the court,
on the high ground that a court martial
was a court Of honor, went over the
heads Of the members. They could
see nothing in the trial Of a fellow
officer but matter OF politics. The
petty creatures Of Asst. Gov. Doster's
making ind Col. Hughes guilty of not
driving the constitutional house Of
representatives at the point Of the
bayonet from the hall which the people
built for them and they condemn him
to dlshonorable discharge for respect
fully declining TO commit crime
which no body of soldiers in the history
Of this country has ever dared to
attempt and which was never attempted
in the mother country, from which our
institutions are derived, except under
the orders OF the most despotic tyrants
and at the cost of their thrones.
"The verdict OF the people of this
State at the next election and the
overwhelming verdict Of history will be
that the executive who dares to call
upon the arm OF the militia to coerce
the peoples representatives. In their
hall to do his personal bidding in a
matter regarding hich the constitution
gives him not syllable Of authority
expressed or implied, ia worthy OF
execration forever. Gov. Lewelling
may enjoy little brief authority by
virtue of political craze, assisted by
a steal of enough votes to elect him on
the southern border Of the State; he
may even receive the applause Of
thousands Of men in Kansas who hate
the present constitution and desire a
revolution of anarchy leading to the
miasma and National death which
they call socialism; but his name will
be a steuch In Kansas and his period
VI despotic rule will be the blacklist
chapter in its history.
1--WE desire to say one word about the
securing by the Capital Of the report
Of the verdict. There never has been a
time when the newspaper reporters
we're not permitted to obtain the news
Of the peoples government for pubica-
lion among the people, nor was there
aver discrimination between them.
Under the present first peoples party
government on earth, only one re.
porter and one newspaper have been
recognized. After the evening Press
comes out the news Is utterly sup
pressed and reporters are discouraged
from attempting to learn anything
about the public business. The Capt.
tai is able to take care OF Itself aud
makes no appeal from this star cham
Der, monarchical system on its own
account. We speak Of 1t simply as an
outrage upon the people Of the State,
In the present instance the verdict was
rendered; the people desired TO know
ii; the governor offered it to the even.
ing Press; that paper was unable, with
its limited equipment, TO print II In
time for Saturdays issue; the governor
thereupon promised the Press, regard
less Of the public's right TO know the
news, to hold 1t until Monday. The
Capital alone procured the verdict and
in spite Of the g1vernor's autocratiC
methods Of suppressing public intelli
Sence, is able to present 1t to the peo
pie of the State.
THE disgraceful verdict and its at
tempted suppression are another sam
Pile OF the utterly rotten craftsmanship Of
the party that was organized as 8
protest against partisanship. 1t ia III,
ignorant prejudice of stupidity worthy
Of the dark ages. IL Is an aiIront 4
the progress Of centuries and an insult
to the civilization of Kansas. Nosucl
spirit can live IN the air Of this FIRE,
ntinent. 1t will be crushed out By
the spirit Of manhood and independ
enc6 and equal rights, or Kansas is n,
longer composed Of the men who CAV,
the glory of an epic to her early history
but OF mollnsks, invertebrates, AM
crabs progressing backwards
The Pops are using Kansas week a
the Worlds Fair for political purpose
the same as they do Fourth of July
Thanksgiving day and Christmas
When Populism gets little furthe
along law allowing PopulisL lecture
| in the chuTohaa IN Sunday NAV ha az