New-York tribune., 1900-05-23
AT 1T AGAIN.

The people of Kentucky, having just emerged
from dull state of protracted litigation over the
possession of the GOvernorship with depressing
prospects of escaping civil war and of being
morally constrained to attend to their private
business, are promptly enabled to fix their
attention upon the county of Clay, where the
Deputy Sheriff lies at the point Of death in
consequence of the accurate craftsmanship OF a
gentleman bearing the Hellenic name of Phipot.
If the lamentable condition of the Deputy
Sheriff-who, by the way was anonymously
baptized FeliX-were due TO a merely personal
antipathy on the part of the individual who
brought him down, the incident would be of
trivial Importance from the Kentucky point Of
view: but that is far from being the case On
the contrary, the entire Philpot family is
involved, nasmuch as the shooting was done in
behalf not of the particular Philpot who did it,
but of another scion of the same stock. This
magnanimous conduct will make an irresistible
appeal to all in whose veins there runs drop
Of Philpot blood, and correspondingly incense
host of willing performers at all ranges who
proudly answer to the name of White The
Philpots and Whites will not have been on the
warpath more than fifteen twenty minutes
before the scent Of gore will assail the sensitive
nostrils of the Bakers Howards and Griffens
who will instantly begin to converge upon the
Sheriff. while additional ramifications are con-
fidently expected to ensue. Thus Kentucky
which seemed about TO be condemned to the
canker Of long peace, is suddenly delivered
from that dismal fate and halls with Joy the
continuation of good old times
What luck some men have! Here is Beckham
for instance, Governor of Kentucky by the will
OF the Legislature and the acQuiescence of the
courts not to speak of the artificial elimination
OF Goebel, with a valid title dating from the
very day on which the Phlpots went into action
We do not understand that Beckham, like the
war horse Of the Scriptures. is personally going
forth TO meet the armed men, but he has smelled
the battle afar off and is contemplating the
propriety Of taking a hand in it through the
agency Of the militia. At the beginning. there
fore, Of his de facto administration Reckham
without any actual merit on his part is invested
with an invaluable chance to promote the gayety
of his beloved Commonwealth and achieve great
personal popularity. For, in the first place the
Philpots, Howards, Grffens, Bakers and Whites.
though they invariably enter upon the familiar
diversion of extermnating one another with
remarkable animation, Will doubtless welcome
an opportunity to increase the number of their
targets; while, in the second place, citizens of
Kentucky who so unfortunate as not to be
allied with those illustrious and sanguinary
families, and are therefore usually deprived of
reasonable excuse for joining in the pursuit
Of pleasure in Clay County can easily get into
the fight by enlisting in the militia Or. if the
services Of so many should not be required.
those who are left at home will at least have
the pleasure Of knowing that the reputation Of
the State, lately somewhat overcouded. is being
restored and enhanced in a truly impressive
manner.