Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-04
TWELVE PAGES
TUESDAY. APRIL A, 1899.
HIGH TREASON.

If there had been anything lacking
to fully justify. and demand the decla-
ration of the Democratic party in 1886
against government by injunction" it
would have been more than supplied by
the recent action of the Supreme Court
OF Appeals of Virginia In pronourRing
null and void the act OF the Virginia
Legislature regulating and limiting the
power of courts and judges in summary
proceedings for contempt, and by such
applauding editorials as that OF the
Richmond Times, which goes to the alb
surd. ridiculous and preposterous ex>
IRENE of calling the courts arrogant
contempt of the Legislature, law and
constitution. and Its gross invasion OF
popular right-"A great VINDICA-
T1ON Of Popular Right"
If there had been anything lacking to
arouse the people of the countryside
whole country-to a full sense Of the
situation and Its dangers, and to assure
the overwhelming success of the De-
mocracy and the election OF Bryan to
succeed Mckinley next year by the In
dignant and determined people, nothing
could so adequately furnish 1t as this
over-bearlng and alarming decision.
and the approving and trucking well
come 1t receives from the Hanna and
goldite press.
We, too, could give a hearty and en-
thusiastio reception to both the jul
dicial action and that OF the monopo-
listic press, If we looked only to what
must be their political effect on the free
citizens of this Republic. though in
themselves they are baleful and threat
ening signs of the times as we'll as
dreadful proofs of the imminence of the
perils that confront us.
Happily, certain persons hang them
selves, If only they are allowed suffi
Client rope to do so: and In this case the
rope has been provided in ample guam
tty through the long-suffering patience
of the people, whose endurance has
been mistaken by the oppressors and
usurpers for servile and cowardly sub
mission. But this attempt to erect n
government in this State, superior to
the government of the people and con-
ctituliOHs Sums wv ibi ~ Ia lHC ihol
straw that breaks the cancels back.
And yet here are some of the COM
ments OF the Richmond Times upon
this judicial crime, which is not only
full revelation Of the collision between
money and power and their Identity of
interests, but a remarkable specimen
OF "dry rot:"
"It has always been question in our
mind which provision of the Chicago
platform would have hurried us most
speedily to utter ruin-the declaration
for free silver or the plank that denied
the courts the power OF self protec-
ton. Free silver must have brought us
to q state of dry rot, because there can
be nothing progressive amongst men
unless they have standard OF value by
which they can measure their rights
and duties when making contracts.
Contracts can no more be made with
out fixed standard or value than n
carpenter can build n house without
fixed and interchangeable inch measure
and there can be no progress amongst
men without contracts. Free silver
must, therefore. have ended us as a
progressive people and have placed us
in the category Of dying nations like
Spain.
6ut 10 deny our courts the power to
compel men to respect their authority
Is to turn us over bodily to state of
anarchy. or no law. and We do not see
how 1t would be possible to continue
OUR past as progressive people in such
o condition as that"
The unexampled and unparalleled
progress Of this country for 81 years.
with free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer, is no restraint on the Times in de-
eiaring that such coinage would have