The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-09-04
Party BY the Mans Of siatEturn:

lirs Oh AchtucKV. Inc auliilillslla-
ion Of Luke P. Blackburn, as Gov
rnor of kentucky. will cease 10 be
disgraceful, humiliating reality and
Ass into the historical records of in
amy. Four years ago the people of
kentucky, actuatcd by a sentiment
hat obscurcd their Judgment, lc-
slowed the office of Governor upon
Dr.. Blackburn, as reward for his
crvices in the yellow fever epidemic
# 1878. Although he was opposed
II his candidacy by able and capable
ncn, so strong was the tide Of public
opinion in his favor that his oppo-
ncnts were forced off the track before
the convention met and DR.. Black
burn was nominated ON the first bal
lot, with an enthusiastic and univer-
sal shout of acclamaiion. So intent
were his fellow-citizcns upon re-
warding his philanthropy, that it
was not till he was elected that they
began to reflect and ask themselves il
he was capable CT filling the office.
It was known that he was man Of
strong impulses, impetuous feelings,
bull headed obstiuacy, excessive van
lty, inferior Judgment and the pos
SCISSOR of q mind not remarkable for
its strength. Yet the people thought
the old man would try to do the best
he could, and, throwing the vail OF
charity over his numerous faults,
they indicted him into office in a
blaze of glory. lie began his career,
and it is familiar to our readers i'll all
its Notifying details. He announced
in his inaugural address that there
were two classes who need never al :
peal to him for executive clemency-
those who forcibly deprived females
of their virtue and those who carried
concealed deadly weapons upon their
persons< His friends applauded this
uttcrancc. but alas! it proved 10 be
but the boastfLl vaporings of a weak
minded old man. Shortly after he
became Governor, DIR. Blackburn be-
gan TO abuse the pardoning power,
and went SO far in his work Of liber-
ating criminals that the people stood
aghast and muttcrings of disapproba-
lion were heard from every direction.
Ills enemies began TO ccnsure ana
then his friends were reluctantly
forced to admit that the old doctor
was OVERRIDING the pardoning bust
ness. As he continued in his work
of libcrating the worst criminals III
the penitentiary. his friends began to
forsakc, and then to curse him; the
press first demonstrated and then de-
nounccd him: his enemies first
laughed at and ridiculed him and
then openly charged him with cor
ruption. Two years rolled round
and the Legislature, in response to
public clamor, appointed commit
tee to investigate his official actions
and ended by demanding a published
list of the recipients of his clemcncy
After long delay partial list was
produced and the people were APP
pallcd. Hundreds of the basesI
characters in the State, who had been
convicted, some of them, after years
of delay at enormous expense, wert
embraced in the long list of those
pardoned.
lie did not heed the unfavorablC
comments of the press nor the indig'
nation of the people, but as tint
passed he grew worse and worse
Gamblers, convicted prostitutes, IL
legal iiquor-scllers and even rapist'
and murderers were pardoncd he
fore trial, not occasionally, but b,
hundreds. Three years and cigh
months of the old mans term had
expired when The last Democratic
State convention met. 1t assembled
in the same building where DIR
Blackburn was nominated four years
before with such enthusiasm. TIL,
Governor was there, but he did no
receive the plaudit, "wcll done thol
good and faithful servant A pause
occurred in the proceedings of tht
body and a solitary delegate mounted
chair and called for "Gov. Black
burn" Cries of mo-" "no," were
dsregardcd and the Governor ap
pearcd upon tho stand with roll o
manuscript, but so low had he SUM
in public estimation that the cOnvcn
ton, composed of representative mel
from every section of the State, re
! spected not his gray hairs nor Tho
dignity of the office he held. bu
, Kissed him from the stage with hoot'
and iecrs and wells Of scorn. Breath
ing a malcdlction upon the heads o
the people, the poor dcspised ole
man was led away and resumed hi
work of releasing criminals. As hi
term drew near all end he boldly pro
claimed that he intended to pardon
every convict who, III his opinion
deserved clemency. Murdercrs .
the basest and bloodiest character
ravishcrs of innocent children
thieves with hands dyed in crimson
to hide their crimes; burglars VIII
, robbed honest m,n at night; gam
: blcrs who violated the laws of tn
/ land fiends in human shape who ap
piled the torch in the still hours q
, night :cmbczzlers who stole thousand
of dollars from the Commonwealth