The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-02
The Emperor Of south Caroline.

Capt. BEN TILLMAN, Governor OF South
Carolina, IL giving some remarkable illus
trations Of autocratic government. The
eonstAbles appointed to carry out his State
Dispensary law have been paying domi-
cliary visits to private citizens. Il would
seem clear that II there are any constitu-
tional rights and traces Of the common law
left In South Carolina, It's citizens are
Justified In resisting. In protection Of
their homes against the incursions
- the Palmetto liquor hunters. The prim-
Tive right OF defending ones house
cannot be taken away. and Farmers
Alliance law, II It really does sock to
authorize the excesses OF the TILJMAN
constables. is worthless. II the South Car
elina troubles. however. should become, as
they seem likely to become. an actual civil
war, with tho armies divided according to
political lines. law would be lost sight Of
altogether. and the South 'Carolinians
would DO shooting and hanging one another
In really military political campaign.
TnLMAN's friends are In the majority, and
the countrymen will be pretty apt to stand
BY him. irrespective Of his cause. He Is
their law and their gospel. The intelligence
and wealth Of the State are against him
more bitterly than ever. and the old
vindictiveness may find expression In
violence that will be q lasting injury to the
State.
Governor TLLMAN's course has been as
extraordinary and violent as anything In
the record OF Populist Governors. We are
aware, OF course. that he Is not technically q
Populist. but the distinction Is merely one
Of name. He has all the lawlessness and
the arrogance Of Popullst Governor. and
more than that. he has an arbitrary and
reckless character.
Think. for q moment, OF what this man 10
doing. Suppose that Governor FLOWER
had force Of State constables. and should
send them into the houses Of private citi
tens to look for cigarettes. The citizens re-
sist. The Governor calls on the militia.
The regiments from New York and Brooklyn
refuse to answer the summons. The Gov
ernor declares the State to be under martial
law. and summons special force Of armed
FLOWER men from jefferson county. He
seizes on the New York Central Railroad.
And yet while the laws have had to yield to
arms. he goes before Judge OF the Su-
preme Court and gots an Injunction against
the publishers Of The SUN. forbidding them
from pursuing their regular business Of
publishing daily newspaper. This is just
what Governor TLLMAN has done in the
case OF the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany. That corporation has declined to
submit to his censorship OF its news de-
spatches from South Carolina. Thereupon
the military ruler Of the State finds Judge
who obligingly issues an Injunction forbid
ding the corporation to carry on the busl-
mesa for which 1t was established.
The situation In South Carolina is extra
ordinary. A Governor. who Is the State.
uses martial law and the processes Of the
courts. too. when 1t suits his designs. to
fight part Of the State. and to keep people
outside Of the State from knowing the facts.
He begins little war. 1t will be fortunate
II the war does not become great. He is
now engaged In guaranteeing to South
Carolina Populist form OF government.