The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-25
THE KENTUCKY ANARCHY.
Southern Views Called Forth by the
Frankfort Tragedy.
(From tn. Nashville Am..io.n.)


Just how long the people of kentu:ky
win continue to endure conditions which
make lossibls a bloody and barbarous
scene like that witnessed at Frsnkfort
Tuesday We cannot say, but IL anything
were wanting to arors, the better man
hood of Kentucky, and to cause nm upris-
ing Of public sentiment dsmani ling In
the name Of humanity and civilization
that thsss shocking trsgedie, must cease,
the Frankfort affair is sufficient, for 1t
will stir tho IN ,st letbargio to action, and
open the eyes OF the most case-hardened
10 the lawless conditions which de1antly
and derisively exist On every side.
We do not claim for Tennessee q whit
letter state Of public sentiment on this
score than exists In Kentucky. In both
statss, and in numerous ether stat s.
human life is Dot worth . baubee.
A man walks up to another and shoots
him down, 10 murderer, to put 10
plainly. IN the sight of God aud man,
and yet before the long draw n-out trial
which follows 10 over . maudlin public
sympsthy 10 turned to him. whipped up
ssif-dsfencs evidences Is rung 10 and 10
ninety nine cases out Of q hundred this
murderer goes free. Is this civilization
Is this condition In oonsonance with
the spirit Of communities where there are
churches and sohoolhouses and law courts,
where there are telling and selt-saorido-
Ing men and women, who know NIT
what dsy death and bloodsbed may be
visited upon their hoUsehoidss
- Al a L.. FI.gE 49, ha
other dayf Was there any thiug IN the
CT eering spectators who packed the court
room, In the disgusting scenes OF weak
minded sympathy which gre sted the &C.
quittal OF the accused woman, calculated
to damien the arior OF thos, bent on
taking human life! Was 1t net all an
encoura cement 10 crime?
From all the evidence submitted did
any sane minded man believe tbs woman
innocent or acting In sel'-defencer Did
not all the circum stances, the carrying
Of the pistol the barboring Of hate for
the murdered man. tie knowledge that
sho ives to be dismissed from his sE ploy-
ment, show = premeditatei determination
to XIII himi And yet. when the mooksry
OF verdict was returned, the courtroom
rang with cheers, tue accused rnnted d
dramatic speech, while Justice sat sture-
tied, eta uok lifsless by the shamelsssusss
Of the scene.
Wnht nappeneu IN EuRLan hpout tHo
same timer A woman charged with the
murder Of her three year-old child, born
to her illegitimately, was found guilty,
and, despite protests OF women leagues In
Francs and England. she was executed.
In France . young American killed o
Frenohman, and the veteran secretary OF
the A merican EN- bnssy, MIR. ViSnau, says
unless he 10 insane be will be the first
American ever guiflotined. No balderdash
about eslf defence; unless he ~ an insane
person and q proper sub ect for incaIcsra-
ton In an asylum, the guardian OF
American interests In Paris says, without
qualifying his remarks. he will be guiilo-
tined. Even In land where tfeY have
Dreyf us. cafe they respect the lives of
their citizens.
Why do men In Kentucky, In Tennessee.
In New York-for 1t seems that there,
too, they wantonly shoot esch other o.
oasonally--carryp istolsf 1s 1t not be-
cause Of the miscarriage of justice which
almost invariably follows these casesY
Colonel Coalson. 1t will be noted from
the account Of ths Frankfort saturnalis,
not only had "his gu n ready, but. after
smptying his 3S-calibre quickly bio1sht
n A. into action He was ''dead game"
man. and evidently ready Tor emergenoiss
Men dwell together In oomafupities for
m utual protection. They contribute to
publ, fund to maintain police and
constabulsry, they create government,
and to that government, and TO the laws
1t snacts, they agree TO submit them
selves. Yet, II, despite all this, that
government fails to give protection to
life, the FIRST essential Of all society, 1t
10 a failure. II innocent bystsndsrs can
be slau entered and mown down by the
oonscien osless and oowarily men-ior
brave men will not hazard innocent lives
whatever the provooation-aud no punish
ment be melted out to the offenders. then
government falls and anarchy succeeds.