The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1900-02-09
THE KENTUCKY AFFAIR.

The situation south of the Big Sandy seems
practically unchanged. Although Goebel is dead
another has been substituted and Kentucky has
two rival governors and either two legislatures or
none. The democratic members fearing military
arrest are either in hiding at times or in session at
different places and times as occasion offers.
What is to be the outcome is mere conjecture. The
situation is fraught with serious danger. what an
hour may unfold no one can forsee. The ambltlon
OF one man has lnlamed the passions of passion.
ate people. William Goebel desired the governor
Ship His ambition matured by high expectations
suggested revolution of the election laws ana
they were changed. Their administration drifted
by design into the hands of his friends and partl'
sans His nomination followed and then the
election The result was unfavorable, but still ms
homes rested in the assurance Of safe deliverance
by the election board. These though intensely
partisan were not dissuaded from conscientious
fahfulness to their public trust and declared
against their friend. Not content with this public
repudation of his title and fretting more under a
feversh desire long cherished contest proceedings
began before subservient legislature of which
Goebel himself was member aud president of one
branch. By them, in defiance of facts and under
the forms Of law, but devoid of justice, he was
he was not elected when the assassins bullet inter
rupted. OF the man, solely as man. we do not
DEAL His public acts are of public concern and OF
these there need be no concealment. With faith
full adherence to truthfulness it may with propr
CIV he insisted that the whole disturbance in
kentucky is directly attributable to the persistent
and ardent ambition of one man to be its governor
by the popular will, if attainabe under the pre-
tense of an election but, if not thus then by violent
disregard of the popular will as expressed at the
POLLS There are none whose judgments or thought:
are pure aud balanced and free from partisan bias
who, while they deplore his death by the means
used do not also condemn any course by whomso
ever procured which seeks 10 set at naught the
will of the voter when he declares himself upon
any public question upon the choice of his of
fetal representatives. Our governments, state
and national, are based upon the fundamental righ
of the elector to give public expression to his de
sire aud when that desire is expressed and prop
ery ascertained, that it shall prevail without re
straint or limitation The Kentucky voter by hi:
ballot under a vicious election law devised COR
special purpose. nevertheless chose William Tay
lor as governor and that choice should have beer
respected and declared conclusive against all othe
claimants. The ambitious cannot learn too soor
that popular suffrage can not with mpunity be dis
regarded and ignored. There is nothing more rep
rehensible or dangerous than meddling with tn
sacred right of the ballot. This is the method b,
which the public may speak and the only method
and its voice should not only be hear but whel
heard, obeyed.
That there was no proper determination of tn
popular choice has been persistently urged by par
tsan journals ON the ground of armed interference
at the polls at the instance of the retiring gov
ernor This is charge which none but the sus
piclous would accept without conclusive proof. N
such interference was used contemplated, no
was there any show of power beyond what wa
deemed prudent and preservative OF order in cas-
of threatened interference By the rabhle. 1t ma
be safely asserted that not ten men in the Who'll
state who desired to vote were hindered IN the dis
charge of that right by any authority of Governo
Bradley or under his procurement. 1t is very cas-
to make a poor excuse when abetter one is no
available
Governor Taylor, deeming his title to tn
office beyond question, has sought to assert an
maintain what was committed to him by dull
ascertained majority OF the popular vote and il
doing SO deserves the support OF all persons with
out regarl TO party ASSOCIATION.