America 1881: Legend of the West

Since the police were on strike, Nelson and his troops temporarily assumed police duties.

But the procedures for arresting people are more cumbersome.

The current state of San Francisco does not meet the requirements of wartime martial law.

They first have to apply for an arrest warrant from the court to arrest Holly and others on charges of sedition or other crimes.

The governor was unhappy.

These things should be done by the city of San Francisco itself, but now the state government has to do it itself.

But no matter what, as long as California can be stabilized again.

However, just as the governor was gritting his teeth and preparing to regain his position, what he was waiting for was not an arrest warrant, but the news that the state House of Representatives would impeach him.

San Francisco Palace Hotel

It originally belonged to San Francisco banking entrepreneur William Chapman Ralston, but after his death, it became the Republican stronghold in California.

"What does it mean?!"

The governor looked at his hearing notice in disbelief and roared gaffefully.

Sitting around the table in front of him were a group of California Republican Party bosses.

There are state legislators and wealthy businessmen who are famous in California.

They all looked coldly at the furious governor.

"Stoneman, why don't you resign yourself?" said a gray-haired old man sitting directly opposite the governor.

His name is Darius Baker, the current leader of the California Republican Party and the Speaker of the California House of Representatives.

"Why do you want to impeach me?" Governor Stoneman raised his head, his beard trembling with anger.

"You have to understand one thing, it's not us who want to impeach you, it's the Democrats who want to impeach you!" Baker said slowly.

It's okay to use these words to deceive a novice. Although the governor has no seniority, he has been in politics for several years, so he can still understand what these words mean.

The Republican Party currently occupies a majority of seats in the state assembly and actually controls the House of Representatives and the Senate. If the party really supports him, there will be no impeachment at all.

The governor stared at Baker, his eyes burning.

"Stoneman, you went too far this time." Baker tapped the table with his fingertips. "How did you come up with the idea of ​​suppressing the strike through violence?"

"This method is too extreme and has caused public outrage." The old man shook his head, "Besides, you have never discussed it with us."

"The key is that such a stupid plan is made known to everyone." Another state legislator next to Baker took over.

"Do you know what you are facing?" The governor put his hands on the table and looked around. "This strike is different from usual. White workers and Chinese workers have united, and workers and farmers have united. If we don't act decisively, Give them sanctions and the consequences will be disastrous."

"But the fact is that you were the cause of the later intensification of conflicts." Baker's tone suddenly became stern, "Stoneman! What you did in the army is not politically feasible!"

"Politics is the art of compromise, not fighting and killing!" the old man said.

"So you just sold me?" The governor wished he had a repeating rifle in his hand now and could attack these old guys in the house.

No one was present to answer his question.

There is no need, or rather, no answer.

Because it all stems from a transaction.

After the demonstrations, the businessmen who were beaten naturally couldn't swallow their breath.

Except for some who had weak hearts and sold their factories and said they would no longer play, others sought out lawyers and put pressure on the government.

They want an explanation.

At this moment, Holly suddenly stood up on his own.

He stated that he was willing to take responsibility for the violence and was willing to go to court or even go to jail, provided that:
First, the culprit must be severely punished! The Governor must step down and people like him and Brannan must be put on trial!
Second, the demands put forward by workers, police, and farmers during the strike must be protected by state government legislation! Otherwise, even if he is caught, the strike will continue!
The opposition Democrats sensed an opportunity.

Firstly, it can bring a huge blow to the Republican Party, and secondly, it can gain support from the two major groups of workers and farmers.

This gives them hope of making a comeback in the next midterm elections.

They began using all their energy to pressure Republicans to accept the proposal.

After discussions within the Republican Party, it was deemed feasible.

No one among them is willing to take the blame for the governor. Stoneman was originally a helpless choice from the party, and his so-called plan was not discussed with anyone in the party.

Now that public opinion is raging, it would be better to abandon the car to save the handsome man and put a clear distance from him in time.

As for the conditions proposed for the strike.

The stupid Chinese boss became a traitor and was the first to give in.

The most important thing is that after acquiring the California explosives factory, regardless of whether these businessmen are convinced or not, the Chinese boss is now the largest business owner in California.

Since he has set this damn precedent, it will only be a matter of time before legislation is enacted later. It is better to take a discount on his own and win some votes at least.

The road must be walked step by step, and the meal must be eaten one bite at a time.

As for whether the factory owners are willing to implement it, that is their business.

Republicans and Democrats reached a deal behind closed doors.

But the workers and farmers of the Knights of Labor and the National Farmers' Union did not agree.

On the day when Hawley appeared in court, countless workers, farmers, reporters and citizens showed up at the gate of the court.

The whole street was blocked. Holly got off the carriage.

He was wearing a gray cloth worker's robe and had a beard on his face, which made his originally young and handsome face look much more mature.

The mayor's daughter followed closely behind him.

Despite the dissuasion of her father and family, she insisted on accompanying Holly to court.

"I am also one of the leaders of the march! If you want to be judged, please judge me together!" she said.

After seeing Holly appear, the crowd instantly became excited:
"Holly is not guilty! Workers are not guilty!"

"We are just fighting for our rights! Why not put those bosses who eat people without spitting out their bones to trial!"

"We can still fight! We haven't lost yet! We will never surrender!"

People chanted, and all kinds of support came and went.

They waved their fists and signs to express their protest and support for Hawley.

The soldiers who were present to maintain order looked nervous, fearing that things would get out of control again and turn into violence like a few days ago.

At that point, they would have to shoot.

Oliver Dunleavy, the California director of the National Farmers League who was accompanying him, glanced at the excited crowd around him and then turned to Hawley.

He smiled bitterly and said:

"You don't have to do this. One person can resist everything. We can continue to strike and fight. I don't believe we can't win."

Dunleavy understood.

If Holly steps through the door of the court, he may face life imprisonment.

The government and those businessmen will not let him go.

"No, that would be a lose-lose situation. In America, there is no such foundation for the time being." Holly smiled, "It's okay, and I'm not alone."

He looked at the mayor's daughter beside him.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Holly turned around and waved to the crowd, signaling everyone to be quiet:
"Everyone! I have no regrets about being able to fight for my rights with all of you."

"I am very grateful to everyone for coming here today. I hope everyone can continue to maintain the independence and integrity of the union. I hope everyone can unite together and not let the achievements made go to waste!"

"'All men are created equal' is the foundation of our country! It is written in the Declaration of Independence! No one has the right to ride on your head and bully you!"

"Everyone in this country should have their own independent personality."

"Please rest assured, no matter what the verdict is, no matter where I am in the future, as long as injustice still exists, I will keep fighting!"

After saying that, Holly waved to the crowd and walked into the courtroom with the mayor's daughter.

The crowd outside the court was once again in an uproar, with voices of support for Hawley ringing out.

At this moment, four or five carriages suddenly passed through the crowd and stopped at the gate of the court.

A group of people in suits and carrying briefcases got off the carriage.

The person walking in front of them wore gold-rimmed pince-nez and had a serious expression and sharp eyes.

Among the reporters present, someone recognized him and couldn't help but exclaimed his name:

"Clarence Seward Darrow! It's Clarence Seward Darrow!"

Only then did everyone come to their senses.

The person in front of you was the most powerful defense lawyer in the United States at that time.

His name has appeared in newspapers countless times.

He was known for his eloquence, and it was rumored that he had almost never lost a defense case.

People also got off the carriages at the back one after another.

Well-known names were also mentioned:

"Oliver Holmes Jr., Donald Rumsfeld."

These people would be independent and well-known lawyers wherever they are.

But now they appear in California at the same time!

This is a luxurious dream lineup, could it be Holly’s defense team?
When reporters rushed forward to ask questions, the aloof lawyer Danno simply nodded to confirm, then walked into the courtroom with several other big lawyers.

The crowd went crazy again.

And on the third floor of a building not far from the court.

Chen Jianqiu was standing by the window with his arms folded, looking towards the court door.

"Boss, it must cost a lot of money to hire these people, right?" Li Sifu beside him asked in a low voice.

Chen Jianqiu chuckled.

As for money, what’s the point of not spending it? In the United States, lawyers are sometimes more powerful than guns.

He looked in the direction of the court and narrowed his eyes, not knowing whether he was speaking to Li Sifu or to himself:
“Those who carry firewood for the people should not be left to freeze to death in the snow. Those who pave the way for freedom should not be left to be trapped in thorns.”

The Republican Party sold out Stoneman, but it will not sell out Hawley.