The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-13

We viii not go SO far as TO say that the
struggle in South Africa has created a
revelation either iu the science or the art
Of war. hut it is safe TO assert that j.; has
already taught many useful lessons; such
as never 10 despise your enemy. to svoid
coming in contact with long range Rrupps
and Creusots. armed only with Old smooth
bures- 10 provide horses if you want 10
ride; and so on. Other recent movements
in one or another part Of the world have
been similarly instructive. When the Jap
anese Government coutemp.ates au curly
demonstration IN Korea OF some other
place. it is said TO be quite surprising to
see how many students" and "labo-ars"
congrcgate in the uoighhorh01d-aU being.
according 90 stories persons capable Of
transformation into officers and soldiers
at moments notice.
Perhaps This last-meL ioned lesson is the
one that has most appealed TO the martial
Imagination OF Kentucky Napolcuns like
Governor Taylor and Col. W c. p Brock
inridge; for they seem to be INDUCING in
the nattery Of imitation. with variations.
OF course. 50 gested by local conditions
and eXigencies. The opinion grows that
the Blue Grass Republicans are rather de
termined upon "a riot and revolution. in
case the legislature and courts of the Com
monwealth should in O. constitutional man
ner. declare their de facto government to
be tainted with rumpness- illegal. null.
void. and nulla bona. Accordingly il is 10
be presumed that threatening violence
they are providing the means and agencies
TO do violence and make it effective Of
their purposes. But while talking blood
in a stentorian tone Of voice. they resent
fully disclaim the least idea Of employing
the militia
It is noticeable. however. that
as certain contested election cases are
about to be considered by appropriate legis-
latiyc committees and the judicial tribu-
nails. IL will be necessary TO call several
thousand Republican "witnesses'' to Frank
fort As these leave their native heaths
hills. and hollows. il is a matter OF common
observation that the quarters Of the neigh
borhood militia are deserted their arms
missing. and. incidentally. also their officers
and men. This attracts attention. princi-
pally because. except IN the Eastern noun
tain counties. the Kentucky practice Of at
tending court in armed bodies. and shoot
ing the judge and States attorney in
case Of offensive partisanship or other OBJ
iectiOnablO conduct has been generally
suspended for several years. The revival
Of thc custom is perhaps desirable. but it
is certainly calculated 20 excite remark
And there is novelty il nothing else in the
idea OF an array OF witnesses. organized in
battalions, and companies, and armed and
commanded in military manner. by colo
nels. majors adiutauts. captains. Iieuten-
ants. and the like
II is not TO be supposed that all this is
being pc-51rmed. under the rose, and like
wise under the nose Of experienced opposi-
the generals. without causing them to
think and perhaps to make counter prepar-
auons. An Old campaigner like General
Jack Chinn. Tor example. would not be apt
to have both eyes closed by the peaceable
sssemblage and parade OF FIVE thousand
armed Witnesses" without suspecting
mischief Nothing would be more natural
than that he should arrange an Offset OF
some kind. We have not heard of any such
action, but it would not surprise us to
hear hat the Republican witness rcgi-
ments we're suddenly confronted by a
brigade Of circuit riders who had come to
the capital TO attend a missionary meet