Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-02-06
Gaaaasa1a pi1nt.
TUESDAY, FEB. 6, 1900.
Published weekly and entered at the Post Otfics
at Wausauas second classmatter.
Kentucky.

has sometimes been bestowed less
worthily elsewhere. Be that as it may
his death will have some of the best re-
suits of martyrdom, for it will give to
the people of the nation an insight into
Kentucky politics, and an object lesson
as to the pros and cons of the political
contest in Kentucky that every citizen
will benefit himself and his country by
learning. We might have to go back
to the year 1856 to discern some of the
causes which led to the assassination of
Goebel Kentucky, Virginia and Ten
nothingism. The Knownothinglsm
spirit is not yet dead in the South,
which was its chief home Goebel had
not what is called in Kentucky 'blue
blood" He could not trace his ances-
try back to that stream of humanity
that overlooked from Virginia into
Kentucky about the close of the last
was enough to found strong prejudice
against him among the aristocracy.
He was the head and front of the oppo-
sition to the efforts of the Louisville and
Nashville r. r. Co to control the politi-
cal machinery of the state. That made
for him powerful, relentless and soul
less enemy. He was follower of the
new born Democracy. That was
enough to emphasize the prejudice of
the Kentucky aristocracy against him
on account of his German blood. These
strong obstacles he had to contend
against in his own party and in railroad
circles. Then there were, besides these,
his political opponents to overcome
the republicans. What elements the
latter party derives its chief numerical
strength from, we may only have sur
missed before, but now every one knows.
No one will feel more disappointment
and disgust than respectable and law
abiding Northern republicans at the
astounding, to them, revelation which
the events of the past ten days has made,
showing the lawlessness and ruffianism
of those who claim the name of republi
can in Kentucky, and the directly oppo-
site character of their adversaries, the
supporters of tioebel First came a
thousand ruffians armed to the teeth,
and took possession of the city of Frank
fort. The railroad company furnished
them free transportation and provi-
stoned them amply for seige of the
capital The democrats might have
met this unlawful show of force with
a similar one, but did not Next came
the assassination of Goebel This was
followed by proclamation from Tay-
Tor, acting as governor, proclaiming
marshal law, on the ground that a state
of instruction existed. The only in
surrection existing was the one evoked
by himself and his political associates.
He first produced the occasion, aGd
then made use of it to do the thing, he
desired, namely to institute a military
government and thus prevent any legal
steps being taken to determine his right
to hold the Office he claimed and in
which he had, in legal way, been tenn
porarily installed, upon the face of re-
turns claimed by his opponents to be
fraudulent, but sufficient to give him
the governors place until the legislature
should investigate and decide who had
been lawfully elected After proclaim
ing military law he had the state militia
take possession Of and guard the state
house, court house, opera house, and
every hall in the city where the legisla-
ture could meet and the soldiers with
fixed bayonets and loaded rifles pre-
vented all attempts of the legislature to
hold meeting at the state capital. He
then applied to Presindent Mckinley
for recognition as the state executive
and Federal troops to enforce his un-
lawful and highhanded proceedings.
Fortunately for his party the president
ignored the request.
In these days when there is too much
disposition to consider party as of more
Importance than the public veal, and to
unquestioningly surrender well ground
ed personal convictions, rather than en-
danger party success it is an encourag
ing sign that very few republican news
papers have attempted to apologize for
or defend this wanton and lawless be-
bsvior of their party leaders in Ken
lucky.