The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-08-04

committed in Colorado, by both sides,
and no matter how aggravating and
outrageous, are Of little moment in
comparison with the arbitrary setting
aside of every civil law and consti-
tutional right, protection and priyi-
lege. These uSurpatons of despotic
power have demonstrated that q gov
ernOp@a single man placed in the
gubernatorial chair-with the assist
,ance of the state military forces, which
are entirely at his personal and I'M
controlled command, can set aside
both the national and state consti-
tutions; that he can ignore every
court and every form Of civil author
ity; that he can retire through the
threats of his military, every elective
state, county or municipal official whom
the people have chosen to administer
their aHairs and that he can fill the
vacancies with his own appointees.
These acts have proved that the
governor may OF his own motion de-
clare any class of citizens OF his state
or many classes, to be Undesirable"
and with force OF his military. he may
deport them. they. prove that only
such citizens may figure their tenure
in state as safe as may submis-
sively worship at the shrine Of the
governor. They prove that in this
land OF the Free the governor has
really more despotic power than was
ever assumed by a king or the most
despotic car.
These conditions may be new to- us,
and many OF us may not as yet have
absorbed their full portent; but we
must awaken to the fact that the
things here briefly stated have been
done, that the precedent has been es-
tablished; and further, that there has
been no emphatic protest entered by
the American citizens OF other states
who have been spectators AT the pre-
sentation of the Colorado tragedies;
and | want to say, too, to the better
element OF the community OF observ-
ing states that have prevented the
expression OF any objection by the
weight of their quasi approval, that
it is a poor rule that will not act
both ways, and that ii some day the
labOrer wakes to realization OF his
numerical power both at the ballot
box and in the application of force and
applies these same methods to those
who are now applying them to him,
that no matter how fully warranted
their loud protests may be, or how
thier cries OF anguish may rend the
tendrils of an honest conscience, while
they may receive our commiseration,
they will not be in position to de-
mand any sort OF justice.
We are not at this time. cOndoning
or ,excusing, nor have We ever con-
doned or excused any infraction of
the laws by the union laborers of
Colorado; but such crimes as union
Iaborers may have committed were all
punishable under the statutes OF the
state; there were the courts and the
officers ready and willing to perform
their duties in enforcing the laws and
every infraction could have beeu prop
erly punished But such crimes as
may. have been committed by MEM
bers of unions, or all OF them put to-
gether, were of such infinltesimal inn
portance when contrasted with the
criminal acts of Peabody acting at the
dictates of the mine owners union and
the citizens alliance, that they shrink
to such small proportions as to be
scarcely discernable. Members OF the
unions may have committed simple
crimes against individuals; but Pea
body committed the most fragrant
crimes against the nation and its es-
tablished conceptions and declarations
of personal liberty and individual and
collective right We do not plead that
Mr.. Calderhead docs not understand
the situation in Colorado he under
stands it fully, and he also appre-
ciates and understands the blow that
Peabody and his Hessians have struck
at real American liberty.
Then, your correspondent says that
capital and labor should go arm in
arm" and it is sentiment that the
poet may weave many muse about;
and when our thoughts float away TO
q dreamy millennium, We are able 10
tint the stern reality with the rosy
hues of this moral speculation; but
when we come down TO the realities OF
everyday life, we find capital In the
market buying with It's cash'--labor
at the lowest market price; and we
"a rAeAct