The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-31
Regarded by Politicians as Evidence
that the Blue Grass State still Lin
gers I'm the Lap of Savagery.
REGRET. AT THE WHITE HOUSE
SORROW EXPRESSED BY PRESIDENT
M'KINLEY AND CABINET.
standardized Blackburn Bitter
Against Kentucky Republicans
Comments of Col. w. j. Bryan.
,ecial to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-The news Of
the shooting of William Goebel, Democratic
State senator and candidate for Governor
of Kentucky, was great shock to public
men of all parties and shades of opinion
in Washington. The fact that the actual
campaign had passed without bloodshed
had led men to hope that the pistol had
been eliminated as a political factor even
in Kentucky. that dark and bloody ground
where the vendetta survives in all its prim-
tive horror and barbarism. The shooting of
Goebel suddenly dispels that illusion. In
diana's southern neighbor still fingers in
the lap of savagery. 1t seems like mockery
to speculate on the political effect of the
murderous deed of the assassin, but that
IL will recoil on the Republican party of
Kentucky is the fear of all who would like
to see that State remain free from the grip
of the Goebel-B Blackburn Populistic Democ-
racy, which appears to be closing upon 1t.
1t would be strange, indeed, If the Re-
publican party in Kentucky should suffer
from an act made possible only by thirty
years of misrule in that State by the
Democratic party. These reflections force
very face OF this terrible deed, which
seems the more terrible because it stands
almost without a PARALLEL in our history,
and is only conceivable as possible in one
State-that in which it was conceived and
executed.
The news was received at the White
House while the Cabinet was in session. On
reading the bulletin. the President ex-
pressed his sorrow and remarked that it
was a great calamity. He was much dis
tressed at the news and so were all the
members of the Cabinet. All agreed that
it was most lamentable occurrence. After
the Cabinet meeting adjourned each of the
members expressed theif deep regret that
the political difference in Kentucky had
brought about bloodshed. The President
had kept well informed as to the situation
in Frankfort and knew that public feel
ing was running high with danger of dis
turbances. but the possibility of the shoot
ing of one or the other of the men promi-
nently engaged in the contest had never en-
tered his mind.
The news was received at the capitol
with deep regret. A great many senators
feared that there would be a bloody out
come account of the bitter feeling that
has existed before and since the election,
and which has been growing in intensity
daily. In the House the news spread like
wild fire and was for a time almost the
sole topic of conversation. The report was
received first with incredulity, and after
confirmation with amazement. The men,
bers gathered in groups TO discuss it and
there were everywhere expressions of hor-
ror that the bitter political contest which
has waged in Kentucky had eliminated in
an attempted assassination.
There is not the slightest disposition on
the part of the administration to interfere
in Kentucky affairs even in view of the
lamentable events of to-day. In the words
of a member OF the Cabinet, Kentucky will
be left to manage her own affairs. There
will be no federal troops sent into the
State, except upon a call from the Legis-
lature after the regular constitutional
method, and the officials here regard the
possibility of such call as too remote to
be entertained In the event that troops
are needed the government would be
obliged to go as far as st. Louis for them
The nearest post to Frankfort is Fort
Thomas, where there are only four COM
panies Of the Second Infantry. at Chica GO
there is one battery of artillery and four
companies of the Fifth Infantry; at Col
umbus barracks there Is one company of the
Seventh Infantry, and at jefferson bar
racks one troop of the Sixth Cavalry Not
| all of these could be spared at one time
| even if wanted