The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-05-05
THE KENTUCKIAN.
Even the Gentlemen of the blue.
Grass Region Are Careless
of Human Life.

John Gilmer Speed, granddaughter
of the poet Keats, and himself a Ken
tuckian by birth and breeding, con-
tributes timely study Of "The Ken
tuclxian."
When take up my morning paper
and read in great headlines: Duel to
the Death, or some other lurid an
nouncement to IKE effect, shudher
and say to myself: Kentucky again
Pretty nearly always-almost seven
times in ten-my forebodings are ac-
curate. Then read of congressman
killing constituent, colonel killing
a lieutenant, an ex-minister to for
collector, and 80 on through the whole
horrible list. / must say, however,
that in most instances these private
uuarrels which lead to murder are
among the moultaineers, who are in
no sense the kind of Kentuckians
whose characteristics J. am discussing.
The mountaineers of Kentucky are, to
a great extent, the descendants Of the
convicts who were sold into. slavery in
colonial Virginia, and escaping from
the plantations, fed into the noun
tains, where they have continued from
generation to generation wild and
semi-savage people, Mt once ignorant
and defiant of law. Before railroads
penetrated these mountain businesses
to bring out the iron andcoal and tim
=. - -
feuds. When we did we were not dis
turbed by them. We paid no heed to
these people and their quarrels, but,
unwisely perhaps, left them to their
own devices, upon the theory that the
more they killed Of one another the
better off the world would be. News
paper extravaganza Of statement is re-
eponsible now for making each of
these seencounters between mountaineer
outlaws appear to be an affair between
Kentucky gentlemen. 1t is not ac-
curate, but insomuch as Kentucky
gentlemen do not behave with self re-
straint, the result to their reputation
Is In that degree not undeseryed.
Even the gentlemen of the blue
grass region are careless of life, and
there is no city. and few villages, in
which there does not walk free some
man with human bloodupon his hands.
l will not say that such men enjoy the
entire confidence and respect of the
whole community in the same measure
that those do who have been blameless
in their life. But acquittal by jury
does, in the opinion of many, reinstate
a man completely, not only IN his 10
litical rights, but in his social priv
ileges; Only just now we have had as
candidate for governor one who had
killed his man. 1t is quite true that
very many of his own party revoltedat
the idea of having for the chief execu-
tive os the commonwealth a man who
had taken the law into his own hands
to the extent Of killing a fellow-man.
The fact, however, did not appear to
make him an entire impossibiiity, as it
10 doubt would have done in almost
any other state in the union. / need
lot go on giving proof Of the humiliat-
ng fact that in Kentucky, even among
hose who hold political and social po-
ition, there Is singular disregard Of
he sacredneSs of human life. II Is q
-esult Of their peculiar evolution, and
he penalty must be paid until that
EVOLUTION goes a step or so forward,
md makes of the Kentuckian some
hing different from what he is to-
Law. Century.