Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-02-15
Mob-Rule in Kansas.
80 Reason and madness are near allied
And narrow partition their bonds diyiC

server Of human nature. The least
bit of excitement seems to knock
many minds off that equipo:se which
should always direct and control hui
man incentive. In this, man is like
the brute creation, following a leader
blindly, though he may lead on to the
most unreasonable exploits that end
in eternal perdition.
1t matters little what may be the
motive, SO long as the psychic int1u-
ence permeates the masses, whereby
the prevailing influence of the few be-
come the spontaneous action Of the
many. The visit of the Prince OF
Wales to this country half a century
ago, and the return OF Dewey from the
Philippines, afford abundant evidence
OF the subordination OF reason, during
times of great popular excitement.
An instance was afforded nearer home,
in our own beloved Tacoma, during q
visit Of a noted warship, not long ago,
when, as his accidency related, the
populace event wild" over the ships
mascott-a goat.
1t was hardly anticipated, however,
that Mrs. Nations hatchet would pro-
duce like effect, even in prohibi-
ton State like Kansas. 1t was sup
posed that community having
enough votes to embody prohibition
in the statutes, would have had votes
enough to elect men to enforce it by
lawful provisions. But it seems that
the conservatism which prevails when
Reason has sway, has been over-rated.
Saturday last, a crusade against the
saloons began in Holton, KS, and the
first saloon raided was that OF Mrs.
Hicks, woman, and not only the
liquor, but all the furniture of her So
loon, was destroyed. On Sunday, the
"good work" was resumed after ser.
vices in the Methodist church, (so
says the associated dispatch, my
touchy brethren) and the liquor that
had been seized by the sheriff and
stored in the courthouse, was fcrcibly
taken and turned into the street
while the bar fixtures were burned.
At Topeka, Sunday, a meeting was
held OF 5000 persons, at which the fol.
lowing ultimatum was adopted, ad.
dressed to what this craze has denom-
mated "the joints:
"To those illegally engaged in this
Illicit business We have to say that the
long controversy of the public with you
must come to an end. You have openly
and persistently defied our laws; you
have made yourselves the agents of even
greater criminals, outside Of the State,
who have supported you in your unlaw-
full traffic; you have introduced the most
corrupting and demoralizing factors and
influences into our local politics, and for
years you have scorned all appeals and
warnings that have been presented to
you by the virtue-loving portion of the
community. Now we feel that the time
has come when we must speak to yon
peremptorily. You must stop this law.
less business at once. We hereby no
tify you that we must have satisfactory
evidence that all your illicit goods shall
have been removed and shipped from
the city before 12 o'clock noon, Friday,
February Is. Upon the strict obser-
vance of this demand we shall insist,
and if it shall be disregarded we will
take whatever measures are necessary
for its rigid enforcement.
IF q long outraged public shall be
compelled to resort to the fundamental
rights of self-vindication against crimi-
mails and their abettors. the grave con-
sequences to evil-doers which may re-
suit from such return must rest with
the defers and nullifiers of our laws and
the Instructors of our governmental
machinery. The jointists, and the who
rent property to jointists, and the men
who have been violating their oaths in
tolerating crime-these are the disturb.
ers of the peace, and not the wronged
public, which, as sovereign, has both the
right and duty to see that it's will and
Judgment shall be respected"
The nature Of the threat of adopting
whatever measures are necessary for
rigid enforcement" may be inferred
from q sentence in the succeeding
paragraph, in which "a resort to
fundamental rights" is threa tened
with the possible result Of grave con.
sequences to evil-doers, nullifiers Of
law and INSTRUCTORS Of governmental
machinery" What does this threat
forebode if it be not bloodshed? Who
is it that deliberately proposes to
nullify all law to ostensibly vindicate
ono statute which has not been judici-
ally shown to have been violated? II
anybody is killed, it will, of course, be
laid at the door of the other fellow,
notwithstanding it is written that
he who draws the sword shall
perish by it.
Mob rule presages warfare of more
serious nature. 1t has been upon
such small beginnings that nations
have become embroiled in dire con.
fiict. The power behind the law-mak-
er which formulated the statute
, should be placed behind the officers
charged with its execution, and they
be held to strict accountability.
That is logical, lawful and patriotic
way of enforcing the popular will, and
an appeal to force weakens the move
ment of much of the will which had
crystalized public sentiment into law
that was not approved by respects.
BILE minority.
TACOMA, strange to relate, kicks on
the Errnsimer according to the City Of
Distiny and her bottomless bay "the
greatest marine wonder of the ape"-
double-headed shark. 1t may be.
however, that it is the evident SCOOP