Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-06-24
Who Are the people!

mana, Uhl0, and Z. j. Lamb OF Enter
prise, Populist statesman construct
ed on the Topolobampo plan, wrote
the paper about it, intimating that
the Tribune is ''afraid Of the people.
The result is that Mr.. Lambs argu-
mentatve hide is hanging on the pa
pers fence. An editorial discussing
his letter appears in a recent issue.
1t says: Notwithstanding his some
what broad insinuation that the Tri-
bune is afraid of the people, helps
plumber labor, delights in bribery,
despoils producers and sprinkles
hearthstones with the blood of the
fraternal gnest slain at midnight, we
are right glad to hear from Mr.. Lamb.
He settles question on which we
have been seeking light" After re-
ferring to some Of Mr.. Lambs pecul-
lar arguments, the same ones used by
Coxey and by Bryan in denouncing
the interference of soldiers in the
Chicago riots, proceeds to puncture
the demagogy thus:
Mr.. Lamb says that the Urbana
ruffiians who tortured poor wretch
are "the people," Now, who are "the
people" in republicP Have we got
away from our old conception Of a
state wherein reigns liberty regulated
by law, the state Of Washington, JET
ferson, Hamilton and Marshall, the
state which Lincoln and Grant upheld
in its unity and authority when sew
eral million persons declared them
selves to be "the people" and demand
ed its dissolution9 Ii so, we are a
collection of lawless tribes without a
government; for government which
is tolerant Of its own irregular super
cedure is like a headless turtle al
ready dead, even if it does not know
it. II law has ceased of its suprem-
acy and we have nothing left but
license, let us see where we are. If
two thousand people in Unbana can
resume their delegated powers and
set aside the law made by the three
million people 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 no reason why a
dozen Of Mr.. Lambs neighbors in
Enterprise, Kas., should not resume
their delegated powers, declare that
life and property are no longer legal
rights and rob and kill Mr.. Lamb. As
he is not afraid to trust "the people"
he would doubtless approve such a
course ii it met the wishes of the in
habitants of the square mile in which
he happens to dwell. That is excel
lent law for burglars, train wreckers
and murderers. If they want to kill
an enemy, or rob house, or loot an
express car, they have only to become
residents of the place where they wish
to operate. withdraw their delegated
powers, and execute their sovereign
will at pleasure. They are superior
to president, congress, courts, police,
sheriff and hangman, for these are all
their servants.
From our study of the constitu-
ton of this country and the common
taries of it's founders, which in spite
of the demands of "cormorant corpo-
rations" we have sometimes found
time to read, we have been led to sup
pose that "the people" OF the United
States and of its several divisions
were all the citizens thereof making
their will known through regularly
constituted channels, obeying the
laws constitutionally made, changing
their government only by deliberate
and orderly method, maintaining an
army to repel both domestic and for
egn enemies 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, if need be, the
Calling gun.