New-York tribune., 1896-07-28
GOVERNMENT BY "HOLDUP."

Complaint Is made we observe, by some OF
the persons connected with the late Saturnalia
at st. Louis that Senator Allen of Nebraska,
who was the presiding genius and ringmaster
of the performance, was desp0tlc in his rulings
and arrogant in his manner, and that he car
ried things with a high hand in his own way.
That the complaint is well grounded is evident
enough to any one who takes the trouble to re-
call the cours. OF proceedings and trace the re-
lation OF Allen as chairman and ringmaster TO
the whole slangwhanging. song singing and bias
pheming performance Allen did ride rOughshod
over all opposition to the programme he was
put in the chair to carry out. But why shouldn't
he? That the gathering was composed of law
less and disorderly elements. which required
the iron hand to keep them in control, was plain
enough from the terms Of the platform they
adopted That was sufficient excuse for arbl-
trary rulings and a despotlc sway on the part
of the chairman. But it Is to be taken into ac-
count In addition that Allen there for one
definite purpose, which was to force Bryans
nomination lie kept that end constantly in
vlcw and, regardless Of the rights of delegates
and all parliamentary rules and usages, he
went straight forward to the accomplishment
of his purpose.
II Is also worthy Of nOte-indced, of unusual
Significance Allen, In holding up" the
Convention. In taking it by the throat and com
pelling it to do his will, was simply following
out the line of policy In which these singular
persons believe and TO which they are devoted.
Why should they complain? The one thing
they devoutly believe in is the efficacy OF what
they call ON the wide plains, where Populism
most fourshes the "holdup" That is the
hv icl, t1Vo nr m Of tha
Jesse James order. animated by n desire to
correct one Of the evils Of the social system by
q more equal distribution Of wealth, "hold up
stage-coach or a railroad train, and make a
beginning of reform by seizing everything IN
sight and dividing 1t among themselves. Allen
was the logic of the situation. He represented
with absolute accuracy the spirit and purpose
of the remarkable aggregation Of patriots over
whom he presided as chairman and snapped
the whip as ringmaster. The cardinal article
of their political creed Is that to obtain what
they want there must be vociferation, profan-
ty, threats, bluster, swagger. hip-pOckct ap-
peals and all the concomtants Of a "holdup."
Just think for n moment Of the men who were
behind Allen and his programme. There were
all the fierce and intlOmitable spirits who had
already held up" the Democratic party sue
ccssfuly at Chicago and robbed 1t of its prin-
ciples. its prestige Its name AMI its organza-
ton There were Altgcld, who had tried "a
| 'hollup" without success upon the Federal Gov
| ernment In Illinois; T1llman, who had played
the same game with the same result in South
| Carolina; with lot Of ex-COnfederates who
! tried 1t earlier, but did not learn the lesson Of
failure Then there were Waite OF Colorado,
| Pennoyer Of Oregon. Lewelllng Of Kansas and
| Stone Of Missouri each Of whom had tried the
"holdup" game without success by bloody
| threats and violent language; and there were
| COxey who had marched on Washington and
| bumped up against Keep off the Grass
! sign, and Debs. who had actually held up the
| Government and the business Of the country
! for several days until the Government asserted
itself and put him in Jail in spite OF Ahgeld.
! Then. too there were United States Senators
| Stewart PETER, Dubois and all that noble
band who had actually succeeded in holding
up the United States Government by refusing
to consent TO provide for its living expenses
until they were rcckOned with and their de-
mands granted.
All these were behind AlleIl-every one Of
them a believer in the doctrine of government
by "hOllup," and the theory that loud. bolster
| Gus and profane language, coupled with threats
and coarse abuse. will in the end override an
orderly peace-lovng numerical majority and
put q minority In power. Why shouldn't Allen
override and overrule this rabhlef They had