The Globe-republican., 1893-10-13
SUPPOSE A CASE.
mat Is Always a Good Way to Find Out
just What You Believe.

SUPPOSE A CASE.
mat Is Always Good Way to Find Out
just What You Believe.
The ceaseless cry of the populists is
that Col Hughes ought to have obeyed
the governor. because the governor is
the commander-in-chief of the militia
suppose case: Suppose Grover Cleve-
land, who is commander-in-chiefO of the
armies of the United States, should some
day take personal offense at the legis-
ture of the state of Kansas and should
order the troops at Fort Riley to come to
Topeka and sack the town and diSperse
the Legislature. dead or alive. 1t is
likely true that the comnandant at
Fort Riley could obey this order, and
if he got out alive the order from his
superiors would exempt him from pun
ishment at the hands of Kansas courts.
But suppose the commandant declined
to execute such an order-it is
as sure as sunrise that on trial
for disobeying orders he would be
cleared by every court Of com
petent jurisdiction, on the ground that
he was ordered to do an illegal thing;
that the president had no more right
to order an assassination in Kansas
than he would have to come to Kansas
and do the assassina ting himself. In
other words, every general commander
is limited in his rights to command and
when he crosses the limits he does not
have to be obeyed.
The universal feeling about Col.
Hughes and his trial is most admirably
expressed by the Rocks County Record,
an independent, clear headed and ont
spoken paper. 1t says:
''The members of the Douglass house
knew that they We're the legally con-
stituted house of representatives of the
state of Kansas. They knew they
were in possession of that which was
their own. They knew that the con-
stitution of the state gave them the
right of possession and absolute con-
troll of the house of representatives
and that no power on the face
of the earth could question it.
They knew that they were right
and that the protection of their rights
was necessary to the continuance of !
constitutional government They were {
brave men and they determined to hold
their rights. Gov. Lewelling knew this =
and he further knew that when he at 3
tempted to force the militia into repre-
sentative hall he attempted to intefere
with a right and consequently attempt !
ed to do wrong. Col. Hughes knew
that, and he further knew. as did the
governor, that the grounds and the
streets surrounding the capitol were
thronged with large bodies of armed
men who had assembled from many
parts of the state determined to main
tain. by force, the claims OF the opDos-
ing factions. The governor and the
colonel both knew that the firing of a
single gun or exercise OF armed force
would have precipitated collision
that must have resulted in deplorable
bloodshed. Gov. Lewelling knew
that Col Hughes was a patriot
and that his patriotism would
not allow him to begin civil war by
wrongful act He knew that Col.
Hughes would disohey his order. Had
ne not known it he never would have
made the order: for he knew that, in
al VIC III "oUlu
vail, and that the sober judgment of
The people of Kansas would never up
hold such lawlessness on the part of an
who had given his oath to
defend the laws and the constitution.
For this 'disobedience' Col. Hughes is
% be 'dishonorably discharged Dis
Tonored 10y the dishonora ble-these
'wo negatives make positive-hon-
bred, by the honorable. Col. Hughes
will ever be honorel by lawabiiing
citizens. At a most critical moment
his GOODNESS prevented bloodshed and
leath 1t saved many home from
sorrow and our state from disgrace.
When the anxious hearts of peace-lov-
pg citizens all over this state learned
IN the 10th day of February that Col.
Hughes had 'disoheyed' they said
amen, And now. when his court mar
sial is announced. they add. God bless
rou'''