Omaha daily bee., 1893-10-15

person by reason of race or color,
and incidentally that Nebraska shall
forever maintain a republican form
Of government. Now what consti-
tutes a free state and what
is u republican form OF government?
Can any state be called free whose
people are bereft of the sovereign right
of self-government? Is a state enjoying
a republican form OF government whose
people are dominated by a corporate
dcspotism? We assert boldly that Me-
braska has ceased to be a free state and
her people are today in the grasp of a
more dangerous oligarchy than South
Carolina ever was in the palmiest days
of slavery. We boldly assert that if
William Lloyd Garrison or Wendell
Phillips were today living in Nebraska
they would appeal with greater terror
for an uprising of every lover of freedom
and hator OF human bondage against the
corporate tyranny that rules this com-
monwcalth than they did of gore against
the hydra-hcadcd monster. African
slavery.
Call this a free state when paid NOR
ccnarics and cohorts are marshaled to
destroy every yestige OF individual man
hood by forced nominations of corporate
tools and time servers?
Call this a free state after the das-
tardly political assassination OF a vener-
able judge who had incurred Ghe dis
pleasure of railway managers and state
house plunderers whom the Legislature
had impeached for misdcmeanors in
Office?
Call ours a republican form of govern
ment where the will Of the people is set
at naught, their laws dcfied and tram
pied under foot and their officers, from
constable to supreme Judge, are either
debauched or oyerawed by corporate
satraps who usurp the functions of gov
eminent and prevent the free anG UNI
trammcled choice of candidates for
Office?
Gail this a republican form of govern
ment when George w. Holdrege, the
Burlington autocrat, can issue a man
date as potent in Nebraska politics as
the ukase of the Russian car!
Did ever South Carolina subject the
judges of her highest courts to the ig-
nominy to which Holdrege. the car of
Nebraska, has subjected our supreme
court and every officer in tho state
house? What was the turning down of
Maxwell but a proclamation to the mem
dare incur the d~ispleasure of the rail
road car or any Of his satellites their
political doom is sealed forever?
Last year the republicans of Nebraska
pledged themselves to make a reason
able reduction of railway rates. This
pledge could and should have peer re-
deemed by the republican officers who
constitute the State Board of Transport
tation. Had they done so there would.
have been no maximum rate bill on the
statutes. But these officers have been
degraded to mere groveling lackeys of
the railroad car. They did not dare to
act and no other official will dare so
long as Holdrege and his confederates
in the Nebraska oligarchy. are allowed
to dictate who shall be politically ex-
allied or cast down: so long AS the pass
port to promotion and honor must be
countersigned by the vice regent of Bos-
ton and New York stock jobbers.
Is Nebraska a free state? Have we a
republican form of government? Does
not the overthrow of r%epublicanism by
railroadism strike down the very pillars
that uphold popular self-govcrnment?
Is not he freedom OF elections a farce
and a fraud so long as the selection Of
candidates is made by the coercivc and
%corrupting forces of the corporations?
The founders of the republican party
rebelled against the slave power and
proclaimed obedience to the higher
law" Theloyal republicans of Nebraska
must emulate their example this year
and help to restore Nebraska to her
place among the free states by over
throwing railroadism. Unless it is over
thrown the party must perish.