New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-01
THE SOUTH CAROLINA DISTURBANCE


The sovereign State Of South Carolina APP
pears to be repeating the experiment OF ST.
cessiOn 1t has cut itself off from the rest ol
the world in order TO be free from ouiSiuc III
reference while it engages in dolhesuc uiS-
turbance The man Of the house has Locked Tie
door on the inside and the members OF the lam
jly are hard at it. If this Is the only way III
which the somewhat peculiar citlZehS vi 'i,''
very peculiar State can work OF their s'lperhu.
ous energy il Is perhaps best that they shouiu
lock themselves in and pummel each other un'ii
they are tired enough 10 take a rest anu sNo
tho remainder of the world peace. III Is ho'
likely that the example of Governor liIili"n III
taking possession of the railroads anu 'eic
cranh lines in the State. will be followed by 'le
Governor Of any other State until ne mas cs''o-
usbed the success of the present experiment OF
- has resulted in failure. During its progress
II will serve as a useful object lesson. "o'-
ornor Waite of Colorado and Governor Le"ri
urc of Kansas. both Of whom have apparent!
had In contemplation the same vigorous s'ioNe
of nolcv. will do well 10 watch 1t closely
Corornor Tlman IS one of several Governors
who came into office on the wave OF the move
want known in some sections rs Populist, III
theirs os the Farmers Alliance. In the ela-
tion following their temporary successes 'iic''
statesmen. most Of whom were without eAPeii
o,co in nuhic affairs became fuddled ana hgh'-
headed They assumed that they were not
,oro,x tho advance guard of a sweeping poilu-
oo, moral and social revolution. but that thcy
were the revolution itself; not precursors vi
tho millennium, but the actual mneli'luin'
Du,inr the last year three or four OF these GOV
ornors have made more noise. created ihoIc US
Guidance and emitted more dreadful threats ana
su,nhurous cuss words than all the "o'erhoiS
% oil tbn STATES in the whole history OF the
oorrtrv No such ridiculous assumptions OF aD-
solute power were ever heard OF. NO SUCH "i'''
and reckless attempts to direct all depdr'llci'''
,.rol oil onerations and ride rOughshod over
law, ond nroccdent courts and judges, were
over witnessed A parcel OF magistrates cho'ch
ot random out of lunatc asylum couu h'i"i!
h,vo raised greater tumult or set the commune
tos over which they were placed more by 'he
ears. ..,,
Tho action of Governor Tillman is IN pursu-
ance of an effort on his part TO revolutohlze
tho morals of the people of South Caroliha ny
curing off their supply of intoXicants; or, II not
orttinc II off entirely compelling citizens 10 pur-
chase of State agents. Perhaps it Is putting 'hc
movement on too high ground 10 sa! 'ha' !.
was solely in the interest of temperance anu
good morals The law combining the liquor nusi-
moss 10 State agents and turning the proh's OIL
the same into the State Treasury may he con-
..;dorod a revonue measure But il was no
doubt enacted in the interest of temperance ana
morality. Very likely some such RESTRICTION
WAS needed Wisely framed and JudiciouSy ell
forced If might have accomplished great good
Rut Governor Tilman, who inspired tne ehact
ment is neither wise nor judicious. lie Is |he
logical outcome of the political craze of the last
two ar three wears; the craze OF violent ana
unrcasoning men, who have not the intelli-
| ccnce to understand the causes OF their disSauS
| foction. nor the patience to deal with them by
| healing processes rather than surgery.
South Carolina is to-day in condition Dor
| dorinc ON ANARCHY because her citizens dclID-
cratcly chose a headstrong rantcr little Det'cr
| ,hon = mailman for Governor He has called
| ont the militia and provoked mutiny on their
| part has taken possession OF the railroads. anu
| telegraph lines, and practically locked up the
| STATE and has plunged the State into bloodshed
| and rlotous confusion, not so much to enforce
! law as TO assert his own power. In TINS he IS
simply manfestng the spirit Of the popular
| movement which he representative rule-or-r1ln
shirt which stops at nothing in its mad pas
| sion for power Meanwhile the sober, law-abid-
ing. orlcr.loving people of the country may look
| on the spectacle presented, If not with salts
faction. at least with philosophic resignation, in
the reflection that they are Witnessing the cul-
mination Of a dangerous dcusion ana senselcss
| craze.