The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1900-02-02

outrsges, which have been perpetrated
on the rights of Kentuckians had
reached every home in the domain OF
the State. Intense interest everywhere
was manifested. Indignant citizens 10
various counties had met at their
county seats and passed resolutions
against the overthrow Of their civil
rights and these petitions we're pre-
sented to the legislators in vain. To
demonstrate to the world that Ken
tucklans were ready to die in the de.
tense of the heritage of their fathers
liberty and freedom-1,2 200 assembled
at Frankfort last Friday and offered
redress for their grievances and
wrongs.
These men were not outlaws, neith-
er we're they parhsans, but they were
freemen, exercising the rights of free.
men in accordance with the constitu-
ton of the United States, which says;
THE RIGHT OF THE PEo-
PIE PEACEABLY ASSEMBLED
AND TO PETITION THE Gov
ERNMENT FOR A REDRESS
OF GRIEVANCES SHALL NOT
BE DENIED THEM"
The constitution of Kentucky is also
explicit on the subject Of redress, which
Gays:
THE RIGHT OF ASSEM-.
BLING TOGETHER IN A
PEACEABLE MANNER FOR
THEIR COMMON GOOD, AND
OF APPLYING To THOSE IN
VESTED WITH THE POWER
OF GOVERNMENT FOR RE-
DRESS OF GRIEVANCES OR
OTHER PROPER PURPOSES,
BY PETITION, ADDRESS OR
REMEMBRANCE
This privilege has been exercised by
some of the best citizens of the State,
in the hope that their servants, in
trusted with the guardianship of their
liberties and rights and the making OF
their laws would heed their demand
for the supremacy of justice. In order
that this assembly of determined men
might not carry with it the odium of a
partisan affair Judge Jere Morton, of
Lexington, was nominated chairman,
but in his absence Capt. Stephen G..
Sharp, an ex,Confederate and the man
appointed by Gov. BIckner to I'll out
the unexrired term of Treasurer Dick
Tate, after which he was nominated
and elected to the same position by
the Democratic party and also an ar,
dent supporter of Mr.. Goebel previous
to the election, was made chairman by
unanimous vote. On accepting the
position of honor, Capt. Sharp ad.
dressed the following pointed remarks
to the assembled citizens;
"Fellow Kentuckians, | am not here
to speak, and hope there will be no
demonstration You are here for bust,
ness, and because you, as Kentuckians,
have right to look after your bust
ness. You have come to petition your
servants that what Is done by them be
within the law and decency.
81 appoint Charles Finley, of Whit.
ley; Claude Chinn of Fayette; Judge
William Catron, of Pulaski; DR..
Thomas F. Berry, of Louisville, and
Robert Kazer, committee to draft
resolutions to be submitted to this
meeting.
"You are not here as conspirators,
nor are you here to intimidate. l
know you are here solely to see that
Justice is done, and as GCd is in heav-
en-, l know that right will prevail"
We fail, in the light of this speech,
to see how men can bow their heads at
the sanctuary and partake of the wine
from the Wholly Grail, and yet con-
denim this body of men as a mob, trait
ors and mountain thugs, but there are
men yet among the living that will do
anything that human intellect can
conceive. Many honest men dismiss.
ed the assertions of Goebel and Black.
burn passively, doubtless thinking
that this Was too daring to expect, and
then voted for the Music Hall ticket.
Such assertions as THE other fellows
may do the voting, but we Democrats
will do the counting" and "You
can't out count me and you can't count
me out" might do for some European
potentate or monarch to utter, but it
will never do in old Kentucky. 1t is
abnormal and freemen will never toll
crate such audacity. 1t is certainly
an assertion from a political noctam>
bulist. The attempt TO make good
these assertions was the cause OF / 200
armed men marching to Frankfort to
call halt to the farcical contest. AL.
though these men have been styled a
"mouniaineer mob" by horse editors.
yet their mission was one OF peace and
order.