New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-07
TIE MERLCIN TENDETTA.

The announcement that another ugly family
feud has broken out in Eastern Kentucky-this
time In Ictcher County-will doubtless invite
renewal of the rather petulant criticisms heaped
on Governor Bradley for his failure to interrupt
nv force the progress of the celebrated Clay
County vendetta All obvious injustice Is done
the Governor In such attacks, and he mas re-
Gently turned on his accusers by showing that
the chief responsibility for the n0n-interrerehce
of the State authorities in Clay County lies not
with the Executive, but with the hehtucKy
Legislature. which has refused TO enact the
necessary laws or provide the necessary means
for suppressing private warfare III the noun
tains Probably as a matter OF fact Doth the
Governor and the Legislature have shown
certain ndspoSltlon 10 use the State troops III
restoring peace in the mountain counties whlch
TO Eastern critics has seemed wholly inexplica-
bic and unwarrantcd. But the policy Doth OF
the Executive and Of the Legislature has been
based on a practical view of the difficulties OF
the situation. which, though II may ignore the
States abstract obligation to enforce ORDER
everywhere within its borders, has yet certain
amount Of common sense wisdom to back II up
The family feud has had for generations
pcc,lllar place in the life Of the Kentucky. VIZ
gjnia Tennessee and North Carolina mountains
IFS SOLITARY tragedies have been pictured with
spirit and fidelity In the stories OF John FOX, Jr
and Charles Egbert Craddock Miss Murfree)
The private warfare Of the mountains Is not
brigandage. 1t is not directed against prop
erty or primarily against public order III IS
simply personal and family hatred seeking an
outlet in the most primitive Of rctribuive forms
Outside the individuals directly engaged in the
feud il involves no peril TO the life of the com
munity. and no disturbance of its simple In
dustries Moreover. the vendetta IS character
lied hy Intermittent activity. 1t may slumber
for months even for years. How, then. could the
presence Of troops transported with great DIM
Guilty and expense into the mountains. ana
maintained there for a fortnight or two. stamp
out this elusive and purely personal form or
outlawry? No open rioting is to be put down.
no private or public property is 70 be protected;
and when the temporary military occupation
ends conditions are left virtually rs they were
before martial law was proclaimed by the GOV
ernOr.
The truth IS. perhaps that these curious noun
tain feuds will cease only with the breaking up
of the rude type of civilization which has held
It's own in the Cumberland ranges for nearly
century. The solitary mountain life with IFS
lack of steady or adequate occupation. breeds
naturally these absorbing enmitics But mining
and agricultural development and the introduc-
ton Of modern habits Of work and industry VIII
gradually turn the energies Of this wild popula-
ton to other channels and afford more suitable
outlets for It's primitive activities and passions
With settled occupations and modes or INDUSTRY
that law abiding sentiment will readily crystal
1ize which will encourage and enable the local
authorities first to check the vendetta ana
finally TO destroy II. Its persistence in these
mountain regions is doubtless serious reproach
70 the States within whose borders private war
fare is still practsed with imprnity. But due
allowance should be made for the difficulties OF
organized military interference. AMI some en-
conragement should be found in the fact that
the conditions which make the vendetta posi-
bic are probably bound to disappear either In
this generation or in the next