Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1899-08-29
ATTACK ON GOEBEL.
Greed disappearing Behind a Cloak
to Escape Destruction.


The misunderstanding of the char
acter, both public and private, OF Will
liam Goebel that exists in the state to-
day as deliberately and cruelty planned
months ago, and has been executed
without regard to decency, justice or
truth. A few powerful and special in
terests in the state long ago recognized
his intellectual force and his indomit-
able purpose; they were perfectly
familiar with his public record as a
fearless champion of the interests Of
the people against all schemes of plum
der and injustice, and they noted with
apprehension his rising power and his
extending influence. Greed is never
slow to recognize the hand that will
take it by the throat, and early takes
precautions to save itself and strike
down its foe. When it became known
that Goebel would become a candidate
for governor, there was arranged by
these special interests a campaign of
SANDER and Misrepresentation such as
was never seen or heard in Kentucky
before. It was never intended he
should be nominated, IL by any means,
fair or foul, it could be prevented it
was never intended, If nominated, he
should be elected If by any means,
fair or foul, it could be prevented; it
was ntNtI lul6uutu IuS lJOulSNlllC COu-
vention should be peaceful one IL
Goebel had a show of nomination; it
was never intended there should be
any unity among Democrats II Goebel
should be nominated. These things
were as deliberately settled months in
advance of the convention as was the
fact of Goebel's being a candidate. 1t
is not denied that a great many excel
lent and honorable gentlemen sincerely
believed, and perhaps now believe,
that the turbulency of the Louisville
convention was due to what is called
the Spirit of Goebelism," and under
this delusion may vote against him,
when the real facts are that the word
"Goebelism" was merely coined by a
lot of political buccaneers as a cunning
mask, behind which to plot and de-
ceive and mislead the people. Cen
eral allegations of wickedness are diff
cult to meet and disprove. but every
specific charge affecting Goebel's in
tegrity has been successfully met and
overthrow. He was charged with
being a red-handed murderer; the
facts show he acted in defense of his
own life when in deadly peril. FIe was
charged with being a gambler and the
friend of gamblers; the facts show he
never INDUCED in any form OF gam
bling in his life, and that he was the
most potent factor in the legislature in
expelling from Kentucky the largest
gambler in it, the lottery company. He
was charged with being an infidel; the
facts show that he has been church
member since his childhood and is a
believer in the Christian religion. He
was charged with being libertinei
the facts show him to be one of tee
most decorous men in public life: BE
was charged with being goldbus;
the facts show him to have been the
largest Individual contributor to the
Bryan campaign fund in Kentucky in
1896, and to have performed the most
effectual work for Bryan in Kenton
county in that year. He was charged
with treachery TO Blackburn and with
sinister designs on Blackburn's seat in
the senate; the facts are that he was
ana is Blackburn's most trusted