The sun., 1897-12-06
BRFANIsM I'm PRACTICE.
The Ruie OF Mob Law EzistinE Hew~ n
Kentucky.

given toltho spirit OF lawlessness throu ghout tho
state. and the indications are that tho winter
campaign by both the mob and the militia will
be interesting.
The tollgates on turnpikes still furnish tho
cdSns dctti. Several raids have just been made
by tho depredators in Jessamne and Clark
counties. and the gate keepers havo finally
abandoned all attempts to collect toll. The
county authorities have refused or failed to
interfere. so dominant and threatening IL the
lawloss sentiment.
ltharpens that the Commonwealth has an In.
terest In nearly every turnpike company in tho
State and from this source 1t has derived an
annual revenue of about $4,000. In some
counties the State has leased or sold its interest
Tor mere song. 1t has never received as much
as one'third of tho assessed value Of such prop
erty, and in many cases its stock. with that OF
private holders. has been bought by tho fiscal
courts of the counties for onetenth OF its value.
and even less.
vote has been taken in several counties on
the question Of purchasing or leasing the roads,
and in every instance the vote was in favor Of
the proposition. But when tho proposition to
issue bonds to pay for thcm has been submitted,
In nearly every case 1t has been defeated. The
voters were not willing to pay even tho petty
sum agreed on.
The Sinking Fund Commissioners have Just
held meeting and determined to re-establish
the tollgates wherever there has been such
failure, and call has been made on the county
authorities to enforce tho law, with the assur-
ance that IL thoy, for any cause, do not perform
that duty the militia will be detailed to guard
the gates indefinitely. There is to be no further
compromise with the mob.
The cost of carrying out this purpose will bo
enormous. but the State authorities have deter
mined ON the outlay. Had similar action been
faken In ha hnui forl IN ind ha
rights Of tho State and private stockholders
| might have been effectively and more easily en-
| forced. Now the success of the mob has been so
| general and the spirit of defiance SO extended
| and emboldened that the law cannot be en-
| forced without an expenditure which will far
| exceed the resources of the Treasury.
The disaffected elements claim, with much
truth, that the turnpike companies have violated
| the law by excessive charges and failure to COM
ply with the requirements Of their charters. This
is true Of many of the companies, but the statute
prescribes remedy which the county authorl-
ties have failed to use. 1t appears that In but
very few instances have the attorneys for tho
| Commonwealth or the Grand Juries the
| Judges made the least attempt to protect those
| who are compelled to use the roads from extor.
| tion and other abuses. The lawless method of
redress is now preferred to the legal, and ir is
difficult to tell whether the constituted authori-
tics are now powerful enough to overcome the
| mob element. since the previous policy Of the
| present State Administration has been 30 weak
| and vacillating.
| Nor do the mobs stop at tho demolition Of tho
tollgates and acts Of violence against the keep
| ers. In Bath county they recently visited the
| houses Of several farmers. and after abusing the
owners fired into their dwellings, which con-
tained their wives and children. So great Is the
terror they have excited that no dares testify
against them or even seek the assistance Of the
law. 1t is a significant fact too, that these out
breaks do not occur in the mountain counties,
where bitter family feuds have resulted In 30
| much bloodahed and made Kentucky notorious
for lawlessness, but in tho most thickly settled
and civilized portions of the State-in districts
where wealth and culture are supposed to exer-
else their best influence.
This fact shows that such influences have not
been exercised to suppress the evil. but rather
to encourage 1t. There is no question that some
of the old political leaders who were dethroned
by the revolt against Organism are pandcring
to tho vicious elements, whose violence they ex.
cited by inflammatory speeches against corpora
tions in particular and the money power in gen.
eral. 1t is evidently the desire of these disap-
pointed politicians to keep the spirit alive and
utilize 1t in the next election for all 1t is worth.
Several State Senators were recently elected
whose terms will not expire until after Senator
Lindsay's successor is chosen. But members Of
the lower house are yet to be elected before the
complexion Of tho Legislature can be deter
mined A Governor and other State officers are
also to be elected. There are intrigues and COM
binations forming for these offices without end.
The free siverites. should they dominate the
Legislature, will probably still support Black
burn for the Senate. to succeed Lindsay; but
and it is not unlikely that Goebel OF Covington
will secure the nomination over Hardin, the
Meantime the soundmoney Democrats are at
sea without rudder or compass or even captain.
There ia little probability Of, their organizing
and the question Is where viii the 5000 votes
60 which L they P9ed for H9dman their poml.
cent election Most of them would certain;
ly be polled for Republican in a national
tration has proved 30 inefficient and imbecie
sha and 70 the
party part W and Is support Mckinley sI " against aga Bryan.
Unless the Republicans put up a stronger and
more more sstistsc!ory ticket than they now seem .In
factional hostility to the only capable leadcgl
they have being strong and bitter, they will not
DO Do aoie 40 @ TO command this independent Demo
1t is evident that tho latter must choose
and Blackburn or join the Republicans. 1t is n
question of Bryanisn with financial and social
public order. and protective tariff on the other
Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, tho late nom,
inee FOR Vice President ON the National Demo
cratic ticket, has written a letter in which he
says no cannot support either OF these extreme
parties and favors maintaining the orgnniza
| tion of the National Democracy until they can
merge with an organization which shnl adopt
kindred principles. and until the sober sec
ond thought OF the people shall force ambitious
leaders to return to sound principles OF Govern
ment," all OF which Is exceedingly remote.
The Courier-J0urndi on the other hand comes
out in favor of abandoning the organization OF
National Democracy and allowing II TO dissolve
there being no longer any practical reason fol
| 1t1 continuance. 1T does not DrODOEe ubutf
any part OF Its "loyal devotion to the principle:
OF honest money, home rule, and fire. trade ,
and will continue to antagonize the Republican
party, but II will relinquish all claims to leader
ship In the Democrats party as constituted.
| The Populists and Free Silverites are drawing
closer and closer together In this State, and will
ultimately amalgamatc; 1t will be seen. there
| fore. that the National Democrats are between
tho devil and the deep sea. They must choos,
between Republicanism and Organism or MOI
vote at ALL Whatever tho leaders may, say ol
| do. the masses will mako a choice.