Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-17
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY II. 1893.
The Kansas Troubles.

Tbs troubles IN Kansas may lead to a
new construction Of the 4th section OF
the 4th article of the Federal Consti-
tuition. which provides that the
United States shall guarantee to every
State IN this Union n republican form Of
government. and shall protect each of them
against invasion, and. on application OF
the Legislature (or of the Executive when
the Legislature cannot be conyened)
against domestic violence"
In the Kansas case we have o condition
Of things not foreseen by our fathers and
therefore not provided for in the Federal
Constitution. There is no Legislature in
that State which the Governor recog-
nizes as lawful body, and consequently
he must claim that as there is no such
Legislature which can be convened under
the provision quoted above from the Fede-
raj Constitution, the right the power and
the duty TO call upon the President of the
United States for assistance devolve upon
HIM. But there are two bodies claiming
70 be the lawful House Of Representatives,
Of Kansas--the Populist House and the
Republican House. And it depends upon
whether the ono or the other is recognized
by the President of the United States as
the lawful Legislature whether the Popu-
lists or the Republicans will carry tho day
in Kansas The Kansas Senate may play a
part IN this political drama. for the recog
milton by that body of either House of
Representatives as the lawful House ought
20 carry great weight with 1t, and have a
persuasive influence upon the action of
the President of tho United States under
any call which NAV be made upon him for
assistance in protecting Kansas from do
mestic violence" These last two words
describe accurately the troubles in Kan
eas, but they fail TO point out whether 1T
is the Republican House of Representa-
tatives OF the Populist House OF Repre-
sentatives that has resorted TO domestic
violence"
Governor LZwELLING decided the ques-
fion for himself and called out the State
militia to aid him in suppressing do
,nestic violence" But on "Wednesday the
indications were that the State militia
tympathized-no as the State militia, but
rs individual persons-wlth the Repubh-
can House of Representatives. In case
the State militia prove TO be mutinous and
refuse to obey the call of the Governor
then he will. of course. call upon the
President of the United States for assist
ance in suppressing domestic violence"
md the President will be bound by his
oath of Office TO render the required assist
ance, unless he shall conclude and decide
that there is lawful Legislature in Kan
tas which can be convened" The Pre-
sident's power to act depends upon
whether there is or is not lawful Legisla-
ture in Kansas empowered TO provide for
the suppression Of domestic violence. +"
and if there is such lawful Legislature
whether it can or cannot be convened.
When the Federal Constitution was IN the
process of being formed, the words "can-
not be convened" were probably under
stood to carry very different meaning
from that which they now carry, or rather
from that which the President of the
United States will have to place upon them
In order to justify his refusal to honor the
call Of Governor LEwELrING for Federal
troops to assist the Kansas militia in sup
pressing domestic violence" Under the
iatitudnarian construction placed upon
the Federal Constitution by the latter-day
statesmen or politicians the President
might perhaps hold that he has right to
Insure 1.-The domestic tranquility" of the
several States. this being one of the rea-
sons given in that instrument itself for
"ordanipg and establishing" the Federal
Constitution.
There could be no more interesting and
important questions thanehose which are
seeking a solution in Kansas. We are
sorry that Mr.. CLEVELAND is not now the
President of the United States, not that
there ought TO be any party lines drawn in
such case. but because he has such clear
views of the relative rights and powers of
the Federal aud State governments.