The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-13
REFORM IN TROUBLE.


The C o be some weeks ago advised
its imperialist friends who were disposed
to triumph in the success Of public virtue
and reform In Kentucky that 1t might
It Is worthy of notice that peans Of
rejoicing rang throughout the land when
that election commission decided to grant
certificates Of election to the reform"
candidates in Kentucky. whereas these
days there is not whisper In the way
of comment INDUCED in by the imperi-
allst brethren regarding the progress
Of events.
Reform in Kentucky has fallen in evil
lines. It's chief exemplar, Col. Johnny"
Whallen, stands self-convicted Of an eff.
fort to buy state senator and his vote
for the reform candidate for governor for
the snug sum of $4,000. Self-convicted 1t
is, for the virtuous colonel has essayed
to explain the transaction. His explana-
ton is really quite as remarkable as the
story which 1t is intended to substitute
The colonel admits agreeing to pay the
senator $780, And the senator, he ad-
mits. had thereupon declared his purpose
to vote against the wicked Goebel. But
the colonel was sadly deceived The sen.
ator, he says, told him that he had ex,
pended that amount in his vain endeavors
to promote Goebels interests, and, as his
conscience was then pricking him, he
had come to the colonel with the double
purpose of having his misspent money re-
funded and laboring thereafter In the
cause of reform and good morals, which
meant that he would stay out of the
Democratic caucus, and vote for the Re
publican and anti-Goebel candidates.
It is not surprising under such ctrcum-
stances that our pure-minded Christian
friends should remain silent in such a
crisis. Silence in such case is moro
than golden. With such rules adopted
by both houses of the legislature as will
have tendency to give the worst of it
TO the cause Of reform, 1t may ultimately
become necessary to say a word or two
in order that 1t may not be said of pure
minded patriots such as those who are
daily endeavoring to save the common
wealth Of Kentucky from Democratic
sway. that they resorted to bribery and
corruption for the advancement of their
self-sacrificing aims. But for the pres,
emit, and no doubt for some time to come,
the newspaper advocates of reform and
Christian expansion will feel inapelled to
keep mute tongues in their respective
heads.
Another touching feature Of reform
progress In Kentucky is visible in the as
sumption Of leadership Of the reform
inridge, formerly congressman. If men,
DRY serves Alright, it is not so very long
since this gentleman was under a cloud
with all the strict moralists and reform.
ers who now concentrate their wrath on
the ambitious Goebel. But there can be
no reform without progress, and Col
Breckenridge is evidently one of the
progressive statesmen of Kentucky who
has concluded that the cause Of reform
was in its rising tide in Kentucky and
might sweep him somewhere or other this
side of the White house itself
1t is pleasure to reflect that silence
will not forever endure for the reform
ers. After the Democratic legislative
majority has succeeded in securely in
stalling William Goebel as governor Of
the Blue Grass state and has made Mr..
Blackburn United States senator the OPP
portunity will once more present itself
for all true reformers in Kentucky and
elsewhere to break loose and proclaim to
the world the innate wickedness of Dem
ocratic majorities, legislative and other
wise.