New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-19
THE FIGHT AGAINST GOEBEL.

The ingenious efforts of THE Louisville Cou
rier-Journar to trace the spread of the anti
Goebel revolt in Kentucky 10 the pernicious ac-
tivity of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
have been hopelessly discredited by the showing
made at Lexington on Wednesday by the con-
vention Of boiling Silver Democrats Both the
character Of the nominees chosen for State Of
fees and the spirit and enthusiasm manifested
by the protesting delegates who assembled dis
prove completely the assertion that the move
ment within the Democratic party to defeat
Goebel has no deeper nor more substantial mo-
tive than corporation influence. The men who
composed the convention were drawn chiefly
from the non-oflce holding class. and their pres
,ence at Lexington was due solely to q personal
sense of the injury done the party and the State
by Mr. Goebel's dazzling feat Of larceny at
Louisville six weeks ago OF Kentucky's 119
counties 10 were creditably represented at last
Wednesdays gathering, and the gravity, and
earnestness of the revolt there formally inaugu-
rated were reflected In the nomination of a
Democratic State ticket In orthodoxy Of opinion
and responsibility Of character-in everything,
in fact except technical regularity-head and
shoulders above that originally put In the field
at Louisville.
The record and standing Of John Young
Brown, the new candidate for Governor, amply
guarantee the integrity and seriousness of the
anti-Goebel movement. 1t cannot be dismissed
as the mere vehicle of the Louisville and Nash
vile Railroads settled enmlty 10 the regular
Democratic nominee. Opposition TO Goebel
within the party has three separate and we'll de-
fined roots For one thing, he is a newcomer
In State politics, not native born, with none Of
the affiliations and associations which have
been potent for generations in Kentucky public
life His gradua! advancement at Frankfort,
through methods new and repugnant to the old
school Of Blue Grass politicians, was a constant
source Of chagrin and annoyance to party lead
Frs of the older pattern. His advocacy of the
tricky and partisan election law which now dis
eraces the States statute book further alienated
those elements In the party which have sought
10 retain power only through the full and free
consent Of the people. Finally, by applying to
the recent State Convention those "knock down
and drag out" methods which he had planned to
put into operation In future canvasses Of the
States vote at Frankfort, the grasping Covng
ton boss" repealed from his support all those
Democrats whose sense Of fairness revolted al
so cynical a violation Of political decencies and
personal rights.
Opposition based on such antagonisms Il
bound to be deep seated and persistent. Con
tempt for the political methods so justly de
nounced by the Democratic boilers at Lexing
ton could hardly fail to spread In any fail
minded aud self-respectng constituency. There
are many signs that spirit Of impatience will
Goebers candidacy and all that 1t represents IL
rapidly developing all over Kentucky. At &
gathering OF Baptist ministers at Owensboro OF
Thursday one Of the speakers was impelled &c
express the opinion that Mr.. Goebel should bt
defeated this fall for Governor because of the
scandals attending his appropriation of the reg
ular Democratic nomination. II would suffer my
eight arm to be torn from my body" be added