The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-02-09
THE SITUATION IN KENTUCKY.

The situation in Kentucky is not SO
alarming at present as it was few
DAYS ago. 1t is needless to say how
ever that this is entirely due to the
coolheadedness of the Democratic
leaders. Never since the war, has
there been such a piece of high hand
ed business as Kentucky has seen
since the Republican Governor, Tay-
lor, was inaugurated. 1t has been
said that nothing like it has ever oc
Cured even in the rebellions of the
half-civlized South American Repub-
lies. The Constitution which Taylor
swore that he would uphold and pro-
tect, has been ruthlessly cast aside
and bristling bayonets have taken its
place. The civil law has been alb
solutely defied, and when legal writ
was attempted to be served the
Courts officer was arrested and now
has the promise of a court martial
hanging over his head. The dignified
action of the Democrats alone has
prevented bloodshed. They have
followed out the dying wishes of their
leader, Governor Goebel, who. just
few moments before life was extinct
counselled his followers and adher-
ents to keep cool and bow to the
majesty of the law.
1t has been said that unfortunately
in this world, the people fail to dis
cover how great and good man is,
until he ia dead. This has been the
case OF Mr.. Goebel. The people of
the eighboring States have been
taught by the newspapers that he
was man absolutely without con-
science, who would stoop to do any
thing to accomplish his own selfish
ends. We were told that he had framed
an election law which was calculated
to aid him in making himself the next
Governor of Kentucky, despite the
wishes of the people. He was also
pictured as a red handed assassin.
These statements were SO Industrious
circulated by his enemies, whom
we find was originally none other than
soulless corporation, that the peo-
pie at large had really believed them.
Let US now examine the facts. His
last words on his death bed when his
life blood was slowly ebbing away by
the bullet of an assassin, whom very
few doubt is one of Taylor's mountain
GERS, now guarding the State House,
show that he possessed not only a
conscience but a respect for the law,
even if those who were sworn to en-
force it had connived by pretext to
prevent the arrest of the murderer
Take the famous election law which
bears his now honored name. 1t was
not his law at all. He did not origi-
nate it and always doubted its prac-
ticability. 1t is said that he had con-
fided to some of his friends his in
tention to recommend several import
ant amendments which would repeal
the most obnoxious features. It is
true that he did kill a man once but
it was done in self defence and any
other person would have done the
same thing if he were placed in like
position.
1t was sad blow to the Republican
party when they gained temporary
control of affairs at Frankfort. As
the leading newspapers of the coun-
try put it: They have lost the
electoral vote of the Blue Grass State
this year. One short week has turned
the drift of public sentiment which
was strong in favor of that party, in
the other direction"
The people now have their eyes
open and they have been opened at
the point of the bayonet.