New-York tribune., 1889-11-05
a CRY FOR HELP.


Henry Watterson, of "The Louisville Courier
Journal" was at the head Of ZOO unarmed
Kentucl1ians As we have had no advices to
the contrary. We take 1t for granted that the
Colonel is still in command OF this army and we
feel that it is our duty to inform him that while
he has been at headquarters entertain
ing the Star-eyed Goddess of Reform,
or otherwise employed, his have
all sneaked of to the armory and armed
themselves with repeating rifles. Every man of
them, Colonel, every individual man in that
glorious erstwhile unarmed host now has maya
zine rife with the magazine bulgng or double
Barreled shotgun, with load so big that the
last wad is tied on the muzzle with string.
While you have been working and studying
at headquarters, planning a brilliant campaign,
your men have slSulSed off in the underbrush and
put great six-shot revolvers in their belts and
long, polished, razor-hke knives down the backs
of their necks. And day before yesterday, one
of your lost men came into u small town in the
southeastern part OF the State with heavy gun
under each arm. revolver tied on in front and
another behind and old piece OF a scythe two
feet long and with corncob handle in one boot,
and bulldog with red eyes chained to the other
leg He said he belonged TO the law-and-order
party and was looking for the man who said he
was quarresome Colonel WattersOn. awake and
quell the mutiny in your ranks
We thus call on Colonel Watterson, not only
because he is as be himself has said. at the
head OF this great army, and therefore it is his
duty t. do what he can to keep it from shooting
itself, but also because we feel that we need help
in our missionary labors in Kentucky. We believe
we can say with all modesty that we have
done what we could We have fought the fight
,1oI 1nIpn hay
borne the heat and burden of the day. but we
feel that we cannot keep up much longer, and
we cry out TO Colonel Watterson to come up and
help us in the good nght We now see and are
free TO admit that take the State as whole, we
are steadily losing ground. Still, we are willing
70 labor on but at the same time we need help.
As we have SAID repeatedly, we are in favor of
a united kentucky rather than a Kentucky with
each man behind q different rock; we want TO
sec krEtucSy all behind one rock, with the hands
of her noble sons gtasped in raterna clasp rather
than clutched tightly around the pistolgrip stock
Of the impetuous, fratricida Winchester rifle
With Colcnei Watterson By our side we shall
renew the ieht strengthened and refreshed.
As we sid before we are willing to admit
that we are falling behind on the work in Ken
tuclxy We underestimatcd it, We believe we
can say without seeming to boast that we dld
much coed In Rowan County. but while laboring
there the trouble began in Harlan county
Promptly we were found where '!uty called we
abored with County Judge Lewis striving 70
convince him that writ Of mandamus couiu
M, issue from shotgun; we tried 10 show Will
son Howard that lie wos guilty of contempt OF
co,rt il, firing at the presiding judge with buck
sbOt but while we worked with Harlan. the
Hstfelds and McCoys broke out with an eclat
them with unabated enthusiasm, but no sooner
haa we done 80. than Harlan County doubled its
,i,lonce. we turned back to Harlan, and the
u,,6elds and McCoy drew in the Brumfelds and
IN, Halevs; we turned once again TO the Hat
Golds and McCoys and Judge Lewis sent for more
| ammunition and Wilson Howard went over into
vrcinia for recruits. We stopped to snatch a
| moment's repose and the news came that the
| trubfe was spreading to Tennessee. the Green
family. in Hancock County, having begun again.
| and. most sad to relate the Browns and Whites
| With whom they were formerly at war, being all
| e,,ermlnated the Greens were killing one an
other: James falling by the hand Of Cousin
! HAMPTON Is it any wonder that we pause and
| call on Colonel Watterson for help'
But we are of the belief that with the Colonel
| ,rns,ad our united efforts will be crowned with
mccess. The hour is dark but this means the
more glory in snatching victory from the Jaws
| Of defeat The hour is dark, OF course; the pale
air of Harlan County is pierced with long holes
| by the 44-calibre bullet; the slow but earnest
| controversy between the Hathelds and McCoys
sounds. at a distance, like boy rapidly drawing
lath along picket fence Even Old Man Iol-
liver has inserted notice in the local paper say
| ing that the man who has been telling around
| town that he is irritable is liar and horse
thief There is little light in the darkness, to
be sure, but with Colonel Watterson by our side
we viii gladly plunge with renewed vigor into
the thickest of the fray These Kentuckians
must be unarmed before the dome is shot off the
State House. The Star-eyed Goddess of Reform
must no longer find II necessary to keep behind a
tree. Colonl Watterson, we listen for the inspir-
ing note of your Bell toned Bngc of Better Day
| The Republican State ticket is clean, Its
|