Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-01-19
LAW AND ORDER I'M KENTUCKY.

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We have from time to time taken Occa-
sion to allude to outrages committed in the
Democratic State of Kentucky, which go
in measure unnoticed. I'm other South
ern States, where "Radical' State govern
ments could be held responsible, outrages
have been manufactured-Demo pa
pers have raised great howl, and the
agents of the Associated Press, who love to
pander to the prejudices of the South, took
them up, exaggerated and published them
all over the country. Kentucky being an
intensely Democratic State, no allusion
has been made to the outrages. The Louis
vile C0ariel'Jotrndy has borne with this
state Of affairs, mentioning them when it
could not do otherwise, until it can do SO
no longer, and in its issue of the 18th,
comes out in a pointed editorial on the
subject. Itaccounts for the desperate state
of affairs as follows:
Most, if not all Of the disorders in Kentucky,
may be ascribed to the absence of fear on the
part of offenders that they will be punished.
There is an impression in the mind of ignorant
people that because negroes are excluded from
our State courts they are not able to testify at
all. The idea that there is Federal court pro
vided for them is not generally appreciated
This is Il frank admission. The course
OF the State government has been such as
TO inspire offenders against Federal laws
with just such a feeling, and the reason
these Ignorant people, do not appreciate
the existence of Federal court, which will
accord colored men their rights, is because
the dominant party there has done all that
could be done to infuse spirit of disre-
spect into the minds of the Ignorant peo-
ple'' towards the Federal Government.
After deploring the existence of such
state Of affairs, and pointing out how it
has been brought about, the Corier-Jottr-
nal presents its views of the situation as
follows:
The Democratic party Is responsible for law
and order, for the peace and quiet of Kentucky,
and we cannot afford to carry so much as the
appearance of completely with the villainy
which has disgraced the very neigh borhood of
the State capital. We have been in the habit
of complaining of Federal interference, and so
far have escaped It's most odious forms But
unless we set our house in order we shall have
no right to complain, and will not be able to
avert it. Wesay that local self-governmen is
the best government In the world, because it is
adapted to take care of minute local interests.
But if it does not do this, if, on the contrary it
allows ruffianism TO GO unpublished right under
It's eyes, it brings reproach upon itself and re-
flutes the argument set up in its behalf
If this had been said by Republican
paper, it would have called forth the right
eous Indignation OF the whsle Democratic
fraternity, as being an effort in favor
of reconstruction.
For the benefit of those who may be dis
posed TO doubt the existence of such state
of affairs, we give one of the closing para
graphs of the editorial from which We
copy:
Meanwhile all this lawlessness, which is the
fruit of misnstruction, is going on unchecked
and Kentucky and the party which is response
bic for its well-being are suffering in repute. 1.
it fair 10 ask u.s. as faithful Democratic journal
to be silent in the face of such a condition of
things?"
Let US hope, that under the castigations
promised by the C6rier-Jom1sol, a better
statesof affairs may be brought about in
that State-tile stronghold of Democracy.
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