Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-31

~ Aa''f -
The shooting of William Goebel, dem
ocratlc candidate for governor of Ken
lucky last fall, Is most deplorable and
good citizens everywhere will hope that
the perpetrator of the cowardly crime
will receive the punishment he deserves.
1t has been appreheudcd that the con
test over the g~overnorship. which ought
to have ended with the decision of the
board Of elections, which gave the GER
tiicates to the republican candidates on
the face of the returns-a decision UNI
~questionably fair and iust-would be
marked by bloodshcd. Nowhere is par
tisan feeling stronger than in Kentucky
and 1t was reused to the highest pitch
when Goebel and his adherents deter
mined to disregard the finding of the
election board and carry the contest to
the legislature. The board, composed of
democrats, was created by Il law which
Goebel himself had framed, and while
this law also provided for appeal to the
legislature the refusal of Goebel to
abide by the honest decision of a board
Of his political partisans was eXasper-
ating to the republicans as well as to
thel thousands of democrats who had
voted against him.
This feeling was manifested when Il
large body Of armed men went to
Frankfort, apparently with the inten
ton of overawing the legislature, and
subsequent events showing the purpose
of the legislature TO overthrow the de-
cision of the election board have in
tenSified the feeling. With the popular
passion inflamed as it has been by the
course of Goebel and his supporters, it
is not surprising that an attempt has
been made. to take the life of the man
chiefly responsible for the unfortunate
situation, nor will there be much sym
pathy for him except among those
whose political interests might have
been advanced by his success. Goebel
has shown himself to be entirely uu.
scrupulous and therefore dangerous as
a political leader. During the guherna-
torial campaign his personal character
was shown to be anything but credita-
~ ''' VI 'NIilpNlh', Io
attach some Importance 10 personal
character would not vote for him. The
election law which bears his name was
denounced by democrats and repub-
leans alike as an outrage spon the peo-
pie of Kentucky and a disgrace to the
state. His nomination as candidate for
governor was obtained by trickery.
fraud and violence and his campaign
was Il of the most brutally conducted
in the history of Kentucky, whose pO-
litical contests are not notable for OBJ
servance of the amenities. Such a man
has no great claim to sympathy, ever as
the victim of an assassin. There is
something of retribution in It.
But the deplorable circumstance is
very likely to lead to more bloodshed.
The passion of which it is evidence will
be embittered and feuds engendered
that will demand more blood. 1t is to
be ap%prehended that this shooting has
greatly increased the peril of the situa-
ton, which before seriously menaced
the peace of Kentucky. The partisan
animosity which has been somewhat re-
pressed will, it is to be feared, now get
beyond restraint and violence for IA time
hold sway. 1t is the danger that other
lives will be sacrificed to the madness
of political hate that makes the shoot
ing of GOebel deplorable. Had such a
crime occurred almost anywhere else it
might reasonably be hoped that the
effect would he to lead men to reflect
upon the peril Of giving free course to
their passions, but in Kentucky "A differ
ent result is to be expected.