The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-18

at is not wrong to destroy that which
itself is wrong" is the aphorism used by
Mrs. Nation to justify the violent pro-
ceedings now in progress in Kansas. The
Nation epidemic has covered the whole
State, and is extending into other West
ern States. Sporadic cases, as yet gen
orally of mild type. are beginning to
make their appearance here and there
in the is-Mississippi country and there
may be outbreaks in many parts of the
country before the movement wears it
self out.
If the effects of such a general revolu-
tionary spirit and action could be con-
fined to Kansas or the prohibition question
but little permanent harm might accrue
But the doctrine taught by Mrs. Nation,
and which has been eagerly accepted by a
large number of people, as appears from
press dispatches from all over the coun-
try, is susceptible of indefinite and dan
gerous generalization. and application to
all sorts of subjects, 1t inculcates the
principle that anything-any habit or
custom, or practice of modern society
which faction, a sect, or fanatical
solidarity may choose to consider
wrong" is subject to destruction at the
hands of such self-elected censors; and
that those who suffer in life or property
through the destruction, are morally not
entitled to redress.
Mrs. Nation decides that no man has a
right to take a drink Her first husband.
not being capable of controlling his appe-
titles, took, or was driven, to drink and
died drunkard. Accordingly, many years
after the sad event, the inconsoIable
widow, who has married again. takes up
her cross of eobble stones and hatchet
and proceeds to smash saloons. Almost
Immediately the whole female population
of the Commonwealth takes fire, and we
have Bleeding Kansas" again-Kansas
bleeding at the nose.
What is to prevent some other woman,
in some other place, whose first husband
died tobacco chewer, from organizing
hatchet crusade against the cigar and
tobacco shops of the nation? Or. if some
body's former mate happened to die of dis
appointment because he corld not get a
note discounted at the bank, what is 10
stop his weeping relict from organizing
all the women in her community, in a
dynamite crusade against banks in gem
eral? Suppose that circumstances should
dispose some of the influential female
societies to consider the aggregation of
the nations wealth and opportunities in
few hands, as what Mrs. Nation calls
wrong" That eminent leaders reason
ing would certainly justify the applica-
ton of lawlessness, mob violence, and
murder if necessary to the trust evil
As we have once before argued, the out
break of lawlessness in Kansas, serious
as it is in itself. is chiefly perturbing in
that it is symptomatic of a spirit of I'M
rest, discomfort. and readiness to appeal
to Judge Lynch on slight occasion, which
is to be detected in many ways and in
many directions. among the less favored
masses of the Union. A singular illustra-
ton of this leaven working among the
people is furnished in a startling case OF
highway robbery committed in New York
on Saturday by two highwaymaids aged,
respectively, eleven and eight years
These small Dick Turpns, who were poor
and totally unable to attain to any of the
good things they constantly saw in lavish
abundance around them, suddenly reached
the communistic conclusion that the mo-
nopoliZation of the silks, jewels and candies
Of the period by a comparatively few rich
women was wrong" So, the first person
they met, who to them seemed to belong
to that wrongful class, they smashed"
and relieved OF purse containing several
diamonds and some money. 1t behooves
monopolists and oppressors to beware
when the babe and sucking is desperate
enough TO take to the road