Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-02

governor sent for the blue coats. The
only purpose the governor had in call
ing out the militia was to accomplish
by force what the Populists had failed
so far to accomplish by fraud. lie
desired to overawe the members OF the
legal house Of representatives and to
compel them by force Of arms to recog-
nize his illegal house. His ignominious
and humilating failure is fresh in the
minds Of every one. The righteous
Indignation Of an indignant people
drove the cowardly usurprr from his
untenable position and he surrendered
will. out a shot. The militia were sent
home and the legal house Of represen
tatives were permitted the undisputed
possession Of representative hall. Still
the Populists had failed to make an
opportunity to test the legality OF
their rump house In the courts. The
Douglass house finally found an oppor-
'uuity to test this question in the case
IT witness who refused to testify
before a committee of the house,
lie was arrested aud he immediately
applied for his release. This brought
the legality Of the organic 'tion Of thu
two houses before the supreme court
The supreme court decided, ~ every
Intelligent lawyer knew they must, II
they decided according to law, that the
house organized by 81 members was
the legal house of representatives, and
that house organized by So members
was not a legal body at all And now
nftersix weeks Of anarchy of revolution
II disgrace and of irreparable injury
to the credit and good name of the
State, this little mob Of lawbreakers,
has been compelled to acknowledge
that the Republicans we're right and
that they were wrong. Every step
taken by the Republicans has been a
lawful one. Every step taken by the
rump house has been an unlawful one.
Every step taken by the governor to
compel the Douglass house by force OF
arms to recognize the legality Of the
rump house has been an unlawful one.
Every step taken by the partisan
senate in recognizing this rump house
has beeL an Unlawful one.
The inn ,mmatory rot which from
time to time appeared in the Populisl
newspapers has been intended to de-
ceiye the people aud hide from them
the real facts about the situation at
Topeka. Instead of telling their
readers the truth they have systematic
ally msrepresented the facts.
The people of Kansas will be likely
to reflect very soberly upon the events
of the last few weeks and upon the
character OF the representatives Of the
party which promised better govern
ment and more equitable laws. They
began thsir legislative career by open
contempt of law and principle. Said
one Of their spnkesmen, a week or two
ago: "Our principles are variable aud
are taken up as occasion may require
and they have been declaring all along
that II the IN after should Let into the
supreme court and be- decided against
them they would not obey the court
This is the spirit that sometimes gets
uppermost in Mexico and in South
American states; 1t Is the spirit which
came up1erm 'st in Chicago when the
! anarchists went about their bloody
work; 1t is the spirit which is deslruc
tive of all legal forms of government
Those who talk and oct in that spiriI
are enemies, for the time being, Of
human government.
The FIRST principles of orderly gov
eminent are respect for law auC
obedience to the voice Of the people
These principles of Populists Of KansaI
have put at defiance.