New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-27
IFNTTCKY L1WLESSNTSS.

The most serious feature of the Kentucky law
lessness which has been startlingly displayed of
late s the failure of all attempts to get justice adj
mnstered Though the courts. In the fonr counties
which have for some time been virtually given up
10 anarchy the only result OF an appeal to law an
acauitta of the accused usually In the teeth OF the
evidence In a very aggravated and perfectly clear
murder case Just tried this shameful verdict was
reached. aud as If to put the prevailing contempt
for the law beyond all question, the prosecuting
attorney appeared not 20 conduct the for the
people but to mako n speech on behalf OF the de-
fendants concerning whose guilt nobody had the
least doubt But there has ceased TO DO any regard
for law In these parts Of Kentucky. IL IL rare to
find an official there who is not partisan of some
one of the many bands engaged In carrying on
vendcttas. and il he is such partisan he will only
use mis- position to help his side OF the quarrel.
MANY suggestions have been made with a view To
introducing reform but none Of them reckon with
the impracticaDliity of the people of tho anarchic
region.
In the liht Of the facts It is nonsense for any one
20 pretend that there Is apprcciable law and
order element IN the counties referred to. Nothing
can be palmer than that IL Is the absence OF such IN
element which makes improvement so difficult
The only possible inference from the circumstances
ia that the majority of the inhabitants OF these
counties believe IA tho vendetta thoroughly. aud
are not civilized enough 10 entertain any horror at
the reckless and continued waste OF human LIE
going on around them. Perhaps one OF the strong
est evidences Of the prevailing barbarism is the
utter absence of any chivalrous feeling among
th, nurte rotis bands that go Strengthening one an-
other II and down the country. The assassination
of women and children is indeed. seldom
practised by real savages though IT IL not little
significant that snch atrocities were coinmitteu
often by those mediueval knights who are commonly
referred 90 rs noble examples of chlyary. In
Kentucky there is no doubt plenty Of the pretcncc
of chivalry and there is also far too much of ITS
real brutality and ferocity In the feuds now
being pursued with so much vonom aud persistence
little children have been shot do from behind
hedges and women and 30 ing girls have had no
exemption accorded them because Of their sex.
Naturally under such circumstances, and In such
n social state, tho women become rs fierce and
boodthirsry the mon. At this moment one OF
the feuds Is being managed by young woman.
who takes OF gives counsel rs TO mldnigat raids.
incendarism. sieges, ambuscadcs, aud all the ex-
citing episodes of tho vendetta. In fact all ages
and both sexes are involved and there every
where to be developed hardness. cruelty
pitilcssness. worse than savage. lt Is clear that
this condition Of social disruption cannot be
amended by working 40 ely on the anarcho ele-
ments themselves. and that tho want of law and
order element in the community makes 1t very hard
to lad a leverage to work with. Ii autocratlc
power could be applied, perhaps tho best and
quickest cure would be obtained by deporting these
Kentucky savages, separating them thoroughly
and planting them, 80 separated. in distant and
civilized communities As that course is impossible,
the tar moro tedious aud doubtful one OF allowing
them 10 work ont thor own civilization VIII PROB
ably have to be pursued. But rs tdey are very
evidently going from bad to worse continually
and as every fresh murder deepens the existing
fcuds. 1t rs quite as likely as anything else that
they will Kill one another oil pretty thoroughly,
and that the destiny of tho anarchic counties VIII
be determined through their settlement by men OF
a better strain and tendencies