The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-14
ABOUT TAR AND FEATHERS.

The Eagle took occasion, short
time since, to deprecate the spirit OF
boycott, which had grown out OF the
unreasonable and ineXcuSable con-
iict into which the people of this city
have been thrown by q vaciilating
executive and his bumptious crown Of
ficer, the windy Dawes. If there is
no possible excuse for resorting TO the
boycott, threatened personal violence
is still more reprebensible. The cause
which resorts to it must fail. Ku-klux-
ism was never inspired OF Kansas at
mOsphere, nor can its adherents sur
yiye in this latitude. An overwhelm-
ing majority cannot afford TO resort to
force or to the methods OF the moo.
Any such move would prove disastrous
to any cause, however, praisewCrthy
in itself, and the men who should en-
courage it would go down in igno-
minious and deserved defeat There
is no occasion for threats of personal
violence. The men who have done
such 4 wrong to the business interests
and property values OF this city had
legal authority and a personal right
to do what they have done. The fact
that they are in minority, or that the
effect of an attempt to enforce their
peculiar convictions should financially
ruin every man in the town, would
constitute no excuse for mob ven
geance or Ku-klux penalties. Because
these narrow-souled and extreme in
dividuals hold that there is but one
law in Kansas, other people should
not forget that there are other laws,
laws far more significant Any act
therefore, of personal violence, any
threat Of bodily harm, will react in
overwhelming defeat. Fight for your
homes and your business interests,
fight bodily and uncOmpromisingly but
fight manfully and above board. The
prohibitOry law is but the political in
Strument Of men, and may be repealed,
amended, ignored or annulled without
violence, but the body and life of the
individual who thinks otherwise is
none the less sacred and inviolable
There are many laws in the statute
books which are an annullity, but the
individual, we care not who he is,
or what he may hold to, has right to
life and to liberty, unmenaced by ma
jOritieS. To wreak vengeance on the
individual is to defeat the cause of the
community, we care not how obnoxious
the individual may be to such COM
The man who stands on one
of the street corners every night ha-
the crowds which line up
the curb-stOne and in denouncing the
churches, has right to do So
and the church or congregation which
should resort to personal violence
against him, however much they may
hate his talk, would, in making GRIM
inals of themselves, make a martyr Of
him. Tiger Bill or any of the individ-
uals backing him in being made a mar
tyr would win the sympathy if not the
support Of right-minded men. 1t is
dangerous to pitchfork skunk. The
wisest thing is to stay away from it.
No man or set of men who might at
tempt taking matters into their own
hands can be upheld or supported by
the good people Of the community, and
the good are the large majority. Be
cause these good people are indignant
over being annoyed, their interests en-
barrassed and their pockets robbed by
expenses which must be
met by taxation, they will not excuse
letters or brook or coun-
tenance threats of tar and feathers. or
q ride on a rail out of town, directed
to or against whOmsoever.