The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-21

MUTUAL CONCESSION NEEDED.
The present political situation In Ken
lucky is deplorable. 1t is not In any sense
a fitting occasion for partisan comment.
With an apparently determined purpose
on the part of Gov. Bradley to resort to
the militia of the state to enforce his
views of the relative merits of the causes
of the two contestants for the office of
governor, and the avowed purpose of a
certain section of the people to resort
to force for the seating of the Republican
candidate, without reference to the fu-
ture action of either the election board
or the legislature, the situation ap-
proaches closely to one of anarchy.
Instead of exciting an already frenzied
condition of public sentiment In Ken
lucky, as certain Republican sheets are
now doing, it is the duty of all men to
plead for peace and mutual concession.
A worse situation cannot be we'll i'm
agined. The existence of tissue paper
ballots in the Republican interest in GER
tain of the mountain counties seems not to
be open to denial. They could only have
been used for purposes of fraud, and
under ordinary circumstances their pres
ence in any law-abiding community
should secure the discarding of the vote
of the precincts in which they were cast,
or at least Of all such ballots which bear
on their face evidence of fraudulent intent
The practice, moreover, resorted to in
certain Louisville precincts, OF throwing
away the counted ballots. If it IS generally
followed, will render it more difficult still
to determine what in justice should be
done with the precincts In which tissue
ballots were used.
There is no denying that the election
law of Kentucky, which derives its name
from the Democratic candidate for gov
ernor, is sufficiently doubtful in its char
acter to have aroused the hostility of
good men even in the Democratic ranks.
The board created under that law Is not
to be regarded with any degree Of con-
fdence by those who oppose Goebe1's cleo
the legislature is fairly sure, as things
usually go in politics, to be disposed to
give the best of it to the Democratic
candidate
The appeal to arms IS the one feature
of the situation which should give all
good citizens, inside as well as outside
of Kentucky, the gravest concern. When
that appeal is attended by a positive
declaration, on the part Of those
| in command of the state militia,
of their intention to seat their
candidate in any and every event, law
and order are not likely to play any
considerable part in. the settlement of the
difficulty unless the utmost forbearance
is shown by all concerned.
The people of other states are not quail
lied to pass upon the situation thus pre-
scented. Whatever the merits or dement's
of the cause Of the contending candi-
dates may be, 1t is still in the power
of the people of Kentucky to adjust the
difficulty. If men like Henry Watterson
and Gov. Bradley, who, however strong
their partisan feelings may be- are not
personally interested III the outcome, will
come together and devise a peaceful
means of settling existing difficulties, it
will not be too late to save the honor
of the state and its peop1e. Brute force
should have 10 place in the settlement
of such contest. Surely an arbitration
board can be agreed on which will do
substantial justice to candidates and peo-
pie alike.