The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-21
GOVERNMENT BY IN'"NCTlUN

The following editorial is 1iom the peu
OF j. F. VOTERS OF LAGRANGE, editor of the
LAGRANGE Journal. and appeared In Thurs
days issue of that paper
Although the question Of States rights
was submitted to the test OF war, the ques
ton has never been definitely settled. and
never Will be. Granting that when the
states that had seeded laid down arms
10 victorious for they conceded the prop
osition that no State i'm the Union has a
right TO seeede from the whole, 1t certainly
VIII not be contended that at the same time
all other questions pertaining to the rights
OF individual States were surrendered A
comparatively new practice has become
In vogue OF late years IN Cur Federal courts
that raises the question OF the right of SOW
ereign states to regulate their affairs in
tnelr own manner, more consptcuously
than even, 1t would appear to the observer
OF events. did the occurrences that led to
the bloody fratrlcidal war thirty-six years
ago. For awhile the Federal courts issued
in1knctions restraining individuals only
from doing certain things. In case of Debs
the lower OF the court was fully illus
trated. The injunction granted upon that
occasion enjoining all mankind from inter-
iering with certain railroad; the COM
plant against Debs and his colleagues
charging them with violating the orders OF
the court; their arrest. trial and conviction
by tho Judge who had issued The injuuc-
tion. the fact that jury was denied them.
the affirmation OF the case by the supreme
Court OF the Nation, are all parts OF the
history Of recent events. Since then va
rious cases analogous to the Debs case,
only OF less notoriety, have paved the way
FOR still further extension OF this as
sumed power. While the courts were ex-
tending the doctrines to SO alarming an
extent, The democratic party in conyontion
assembled at Chicago and declared the
tendency Of Federal courts TO arrogate
70 themselves such new and autocratic
towers TO be danger Gus to free Institutions
Inc warning cry OF democracy remained
unheeded and The courts continued to as
sumo more power. And now comes a Fed
eral Judge and eDjoins the sovereign Stats
OF Kansas from bringing Any suit AGAINST
tho Mutual Life Insurance company in thn
courts OF that State 1t seems that this
company refuses to comply with certain
laws OF Kansas. and that the commissioner
Of insurance and attorney general are TAX
ing steps to proceed against the combany
IN the state courts OF Kansas This the
federai judge forbade. Ii simply means
that Kansas shall not settle a matter OF
difference existing between herself and n
corporation doing business within Its bor-
cera. NOW, II the State Of Kansas Of.
$500 "" VIC ShJoiUSu ift the matter Iii,
IN THIS instance, the power OF the State
can be chained by an Injunction from a
FEDERAL court--why can not that court en-
Join the State from executing any other
or all other functions Laws OF a State are
oiten unjust, and often work such hard
ship on certpin interests. that they are In
compatible with the constitution OF the
state or Nation. In that event. thu proper
method. from a standpoint Of free govern
meni, Is resort to the courts OF the State
and the final settlement in the courts OF
last resort In this State q Federnl Judge
has enjoired the railroad commission from
enforcing its new cotton rate Gradually
but surely we are drifting away from cur
mcorines; already citizens are iucarcerated
IN prison without the right OF A trial nv
Jury granted tbem; already are citizens
iorpiddcn the right TO meet in public gath
erlngs In points In the mining district;
out few days ago citizens In those same
mining districts were denied right OF FREE
speech; the sovereignty Of States has been
trapssresstd tron. and already do the
rights Of free people trembis before this
power thst knows no man. and. like an
tocraey. from whence Il ieeitimatelv IA
seerds. fesr no God. The liberties al the
people are never taken by one fell swesn
--hut sradnally. ster by step, rs Green's the
thief ~ the niqht. does despoti SIN ccme
upon an nnwary peo,le In the dir but
not distant future, II the powers Of Ed
cral courts are mt surtsilexi. we win find
THIS r government by Injunction. In which
me sforcesid courts will be the Aesposs.
Sssn 2 miheary 70 carry into execution its