The evening times., 1899-12-04
In Old Kentucky.

What in Europe would be called a state
Of siege prevails in the pleasant city of
| Frankfort. KY. in ordinary times the most
peaceful village of the green, except when
some gentleman feels like shooting a Judge
CT wearing of the ennui of the sober soli-
| tude in some equally innocent way. But
| now the grass in the cracks of the side
walks Is ground down under the tread OF
more CT less martial feet, aud lines CT bat
tie solid and determined are to be en-
| counteTed in front CT every bar in the
State Capital. Why is the forum crowd
| cd? What means this stir in Rome"
I It is all because the Republican Cover
nor Of Kentucky entertains a natural de-
sire to be succeeded by a person of his
own political color. and intends TO inau-
eurate and seat The Hanna eubernatorial
candidate, whether the constituted politi-
cal authority shall declare him elected or
not. We do not care at This time TO dis
euss the merits of the case between the
Hannaites and the GoebeIitcs. The ami
mosities and equities of Kentucky feu6s
| are not easy to arrive at by ordinary means
of transportation. What is interesting in
the present situation is the fact that Gov
ernor Bradley, who hitherto has had little
use for the sauguinary and unframed feud-
lists OF the Eastern Kentucky Mountains
has row discovered the value of their
military rroclivities and training. and is
importing them in guerrilla bands by the
train load for service against the fellow
citizens whom they would exactly as soon
shoot as drink with. Hence. Frankfort is
an armed camp. The arsenal is loaded
with arms and ammunition, the result it is
said, of Ohio patriotism and neighborIy
feeling. and the mountaineers, now only
supplied with two revoivers apiece, are
expectantly awaiting the issue TO them of
the Mausers and dum-dum bullets so nee
essary on an occasion OF the kind that is
expected.
According to our dispatches from the
seat of war, there are to be two Inaugural
tions between now and the 18th instant,
the last day allowed by law for such cere- |
monies. Both may be peaceable, although |
nobody looks for such dull and unsatisfac-
tory proceedings. On the contrary the |
gentle swish Of eviscerating bowie Knives, |
the celebrating crack of six-shooters, and |
the sonl-inspiring bang of the useful VIM |
chester are locked for to cheer the fuss.
The sin and shame of such state of af- |
fairs is that it bids fair to come in the |
middle Of an cyerstocked sensation mar |
ket. During the next ten days we antici-
pate the most interesting news of slaugh-
ter in Natal and Griqualand; and in Wash
ington, the conversion of the House OF
Representatives into an executive slot ma
chine ought to furnish some excitement.
Yet all these elements of intellectual ex-
ercise and enjoyment seem destined to
be eclipsed by stirring narratives Of ann
bushes. throat and abdominal cutting. riot
and highways slippery with the gore of
.pufhck gentlemen" in Kentucky. Why
,ould not these adversaries postpone their
until the advent of the silly I.
season, when the yellow press has to hunt
md wait and weep for something worth
scare head on the front page? II what
ne fear should come to pass, while it is
n progress even Aguinaldo might be
aught up tree perfectly disguised as a
,lue-based monkey, and no one be the
wiser. 1t is perfectly obvious that to i'm
'ose new civil war on situation already
overloaded with blood and wounds, is in
elicate. If there were not SO many Ken
uckians in town looking for Offices, we
hould be tempted to call it indecent.