The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-18
POPULISM IN 1855,

Some wise man said, History repeats it
self" and the wisest of men said, There
is no new thing under the SUM-" Most of
the events which we think without prece-
dent have had their close parallels in the
past, and popular movements or phases of
public opinion which we regard as entire
ly new or peculiar to our time are repro
auctions of something that has occurred
long ago and perhaps many times. Dur
ing the last few years this country has
been experiencing an agrarian and finan-
cial agitation which we now call populism.
Many think this condition Of affairs is
something new, and that we have a new
problem to solve. This is far from being
the case. Populism is but another name
for the discomfort and Hostility of those who
have not succeeded in the world well
as they think they deserve towards those
who have succeeded better. In its essence
populisn is old as the human race. One
of the earliest perils the government of the
United States had to contend with was or
ganized discomfort. The popuism of 1856
was even more dangerous than that of 1897.
1t was an organized expression of all kinds
IL C1ScOnI6nI III N1dSSdCnuS6lIS II CulLllI-
ated in threatening instruction which
became known as "Shayss Rebellion"
Daniel Shays served as an ensign at the
battle of Bunker Hill, and attained the rank
of captain in the revolutionary army. After
the war he caused a deal of trouble. The
Massachusetts Legislature had voted heavy
taxes to produce needed revenue, and be-
from private Indebtedness. Many farms
and homes were mortgaged and a great
many persons were delinquent in their
taxes. The courts were full of lawsuits.
Public meetings and county conventions
called to- consider the grievances of the peo-
pie were sometimes followed by armed
mobs which prevented the courts from sit
ting. Artful demagogues stirred up class
against class, debtors against creditors, as
they do now. The turbulence became SO
great that in September 1856, the Governor
of Massachusetts called a special session of
the Legislature to consider the situation.
The malcontents refused all overtures and
the Governor called out the militia to pro-
tect the courts. Congress, fearing that the
mobs might seize the government armory
at Springfield, voted to enlist 1900 men I'M
der pretext of acting against Indians in the
Northwest. Before these troops were called
out Captain Shays, at the head of about
1000 men, took possession of Worcester and
prevented the court from sitting there. He
did the same thing at Springfield. The Gov
ernor called out several thousand militia,
who, under command of General Lincoln,
of revolutionary fame, marched against the
insurgents The latter were now 1000
strong with Shays in chief command Hop
ing to gain a decisive advantage before the
militia could reach him. he demanded the
surrender of the arsenal at Springfield and
prepared to attack it. After repeated warn
ings and several volleys fired over the heads
of the insurgents the militia defending the
arsenal fired into the ranks. killing and
wounding several. The insurgents broke
and fled and as Shays could not rally them
he joined and led the retreat. General Lin
coin pursued and overlook them after
long forced march. Being overpowered they