New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-18
"THE pEOpLE.'

will he found on another page Of this issue.
We never before heard Of Mr.. c. J. Lamb. OF
Enterprise. Kan. but we judge from MS letter
that he Is a representative. consistent ana per-
haps leading Popust Of his State. He diskes
"cormorant corporations" Is a friend OF pun
dered labor objects to revealing in stolen wealth
and Is as convinced rs are any OF his partisans
that what he wants 1.-THE people want. ana mat
all who differ from him are enemies OF THE peo-
pie" Notwithstanding his somewhat broad IN
situation that The Tribune Is afraid or tine
people," helps plumber labor, delights in Drib-
cry. despoils producers and sprinkles hearth
stones with the blood Of the fraernal guest
slain at midnight, we are right glad to hear
from Mr.. Lamb He settles question on which
we have been seeking light.
Last summer when Mr. Bryan was running
for President on platform denouncing the en-
ployment of Federal troops to suppress the
Chicago riots we declared that Populism meant
mob rule and anarchy. We said the Populists
wanted freedom Of riot to fix wages, settle debts
or reverse judicial decisions, and on this ac
count we were taken TO task for bigotry. mis-
representation and uniustifed abuse OF our OPP
moments We knew our Interpretation OF the
necessary tendencies Of the Chicago platform
was right. though we did not expect that Nah-
sas would so soon send us jnstifcailoh pu'
here it is in the words Of Mr.. Lamb. OF Enter
prise: 1.-THE people of Trbana withdrew for a
"tme the powers delegated to the officers TOOK
"the law into their own hands. and themselves
executed the law then and there made. Inc
people are always superior TO their agents
'the ofiicers-and If the people see fit to DO IN
themselves things which they usually delegate
"the doing Of to their servants. there Is no reason
'for complaint by The Tribune unless 1t be
'afraid of the people" Now this would seem
too ridiculous for discussion. Yet the poison OF
demagogc oratOry has been so dlnused mat
perhaps this Kansas view OF the nature OF or
ganized government Is worth examining In II
is the spirit OF all riot the spirit that Is always
mlsapplylng the old story Of the somewhat I'M
mannery Roman swaggerers who. asked to
make way in the street for procession or the
representatives OF the people. shouted Dack'
Make way yourselves We are the people.
The Populsts are ever shouting In the face OF
statute and Of natural law Make way We
are the people, They said Chicago CA burners
were 1.-THE people," They said COxeys army
was 1.-THE people" Mr.. Lamb says that the Vr-
bara rufiians who tortured a poor wretch are
"the people
Now. who are "the people In a republic!
Have we got away from our old conception of
a State wherein reigns liberty regulated by law.
the State Of Washington. Hamilton. Jefferson
and Marshall the State which Lincoln ana
Grant upheld in It's unity and authority when
several million persons declared themselves 10
be 1.-THE people and demanded its dissolution!
If so. we are a collection of lawless tribes WIN
out government; for government wnicn Is
tolerant of its own irregular snpersedlre Is IKE
a headess turtle already dead, even II IL doesn
know 1t. If law has ceased OF It's supremacy
and we have nothing left but license, let us see
where we are If two thousand people IN 'r-
bana can resume their delegated powers ana
set aside the law made by the three million peo-
pie of Ohio there Is no reason why the people
of South Carolina should not pass an ordinance
of secession and dissolve the United states.
There Is also no reason why dozen or MT
Lambs neghbors in Enterprise, Kan, should
not resume their delegated powers. declare fhat
life and property are no longer legal rights and
rob and kill Mr.. Lamb. As he Is not AFRAID 10
trust "the people," he would doubtless approve
such n course II II met the wishes OF the in
habitants Of the square mile in which he hap
mems to dwell That Is excellent law for burg
lars tran-wreckers and murderers. III they
want to kill an enemy, or rob a house. or loot
an expresscar. they have only to become resi-
dents Of the place where they wish to operate
withdraw their delegated powers, and execute
their sovereign will at pleasure. They are SUI
perior to President, Congress- courts, police
sheriff and hangman, for these are all their
servants.
From our study Of the Constitution OF this
country and the commentaries Of Its founders,
which in spite of the demands Of 'cormorant
corpora atoms we have sometimes found time
TO read. we have been led to suppose that 1.-THE
people" Of the United States and OF its several
divisions were all the citizens thereof. making
their will known through regularly constituted
channels obeyng the laws constituionally
made changing their government only by de-
liberate and orderly method. maintaining an
army to repel both domestic and foreign enc
mics and Furnishing crime whether committed
by one murderer or by thousand rioters. We
are not afraid of that people. For those who
masquerade in that name TO steal, burn, torture
or kill we believe in the jail, the moose and, II
need be- the Calling gun.