The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-11

>6E anomaly OF a dual government IN
IN the state OF Kentucky-two COVER
nors one the victim Of an assas-
" sins bullet. the other strongly for
titled in the statehouse at Frank
fort, usurping the powers OF his office,
with state militia to aid In the execution
Of his arbitrary decrees-in fact. two sets
OF state officers, each protesting against
the existence and acts of the other, and
both claiming TO have been elected by the
legal voters of the commonwealth--ts by
no means a new condition OF administrative
affairs in states OF this republic. Such In
stances have frequently occurred In other
states and Kentucky's position today is
merely a repetition OF history with simply
u shifting of scenes. "Double-ba rreled'
governments have In the past been set up
In Rhode Island. Louisiana and South Car
eltna- United States troops were sent to
overawe the beliigerents and keep the
peace. Thus far the national administra-
ton has not taken a hand In the Ken
lucky troubles.
In many points the causes that culni-
mated In the organization OF n dual govern
ment in Louisiana In 1876 were identical
with those that have brought about the
trouble In Kentucky, The Democrats
nominated Francis T. Nichols for goverg-
nor and the Republicans put up S. b.
Packard for the same Office Tho vote was
tdtffdnStQ bN the election COMMISSION a
body created by the Republicans. This
board declared Packard and his set OF
officers elected and gave them certificates
Of election despite the protests and con-
tests and what-not filed by the Democrats
The Democrats had n recount and de-
clared Nichols elected The Republican
legislature met In the state house az Baton
Rouge, and the Democrats, refusing to act
with them, met at ST. Patrick's hail. Two
legislatures were organized. each declaring
the election OF the respective party cam
dldate
Both governors and their coterie OF state
officers were inaugurated at the statehouse
and st. Patrick's hall respectively. coili-
sion between the two was partly prevented
by the presence OF the federal troops. A
congressional committee was sent to the
state to investigate the election and upon
this hody's report turned the fate OF rrest-
dent Tilden and placed Rutherford r.
Hayes In the presidential chair. This COM
mittee held for the Packard regime The
Democratic legislature continued In regu-
lar session to March and was convoked
in extra session until April 2s. Meantime
some of the Packard legislators quit his
body and were admitted into the Nichols
body. On April II the Packard Legislature.
broke up and dispersed. some Of its MEM
bers again joining the Nichols body. others
restRning. Three days later Nichols took
possession OF the statchouse and his adj
ministratiou continued without molestation
as the recognized and legal government.
South Carolina passed through a similar
ordeal in the year OF 1876 d. III. Chamber
lain was the Republican governor and WINS
renoninated for reelection. Wade Hamp-
ton was put up for the office by the Demo
cratic party. II was n bitter campaign
An election board canvasscd tho returns
and gave the certificate OF election to-
Chamberlain. The legislature met nj CO.
lumhia on November q OF that year with
federal troops surrounding the stRtehouse
Sixty-four Democratic representatives APP
piled for admission to tho statehouse. bit
were refused because they did not have
certificates of election from the proper nu-
thorty, and Gov. Chamberlain had
given orders TO admit none without such
certificates. They had certificates from
the supreme court of the state however,