Suddenly, in the silence that expected the storm, we heard the sound of
bugles from the direction of the railroad station, and at the head of
another army--a body of Federal soldiers ordered from Fort Logan by
President Cleveland, at the frantic call of the Committee of Public
Safety--a mounted officer rode between the lines of militia and police,
and in the name of the President commanded peace.
The militia withdrew. The crowds dispersed. The police and their
partisans put up their guns, and the Beast, still defiant, went back
sullenly to cover. Not until the Supreme Court had decided that
Governor Waite had the right and the power to unseat the Board--not
till then was the City Hall surrendered; and even so, at the next
election (the Beast turning polecat), "Bloody Bridles" Waite was
defeated after a campaign of lies, ridicule, and abuse, and the men
whom he had opposed were returned to office.
I had eyes, but I did not see. I thought the whole quarrel was a
personal matter between the Police Board and Governor Waite, who seemed
determined merely to show them that he was master; and if my young
brother had been shot down by a policeman that night, I suppose I
should have joined in the curses upon poor old "Bloody Bridles.
Pages:
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171