The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-01
"WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 81, 1907
THE SHOOTING OF GoEBIsL.

The Times so loathes and abhors assassi-
nation and murder in whatever form
that 1t cannot listen with patience TO any
defence or either, whatever the excuse
may be- Never mind what grievance q
g,cople suffer from. never mind what IN
rasion of their rights is threatened. the
assassin's bullet is not the redress to be
,sou-ht. Evils endured and others held
over them may be so intolerable that men
z may be forced to resort to the ultimate
right of men in defying the laws that
be, by revolution. But when revolution is
,esortcd to the fight Is open and above
hoard and If any lose their lives they
lose them where they have an equal
chanco, and they have only themselves
to blame for attacking or defending TINS
or that But the assassin who stcalthily
waylays his victim and sends a bullet
through his heart while he, the assassin.
runs no risk. degrades the cause in which
he assumes to act. and makes honorable
and brave men shudder at the bare men
ton Of that cause.
We doubt if even the most ultra and
calious partisans of the man who shot
Mr.. Goebel will attempt any justification
or excuse of that act. There is something
in the heart of every man, however low
or degraded he may DE. that revolts at
murder by poison or lying in wait A
sympathy for the victim is inevitably
aroused that nothing could have brought
him had he not been shot, and detesta-
tons of the crime extends to the criminal
and envelopes him in a disdain that Is
natures safeguard against any spread
of an inclination to that end.
God forbid that we should speak I'M
kindly of one on his death bed, but there
is a lesson in the political career
OF William Goebel. which should
be impressed, for Mr.. Goebel was the
representative of a class. He was ambi-
tious, and he belonged to that school of
politicians who believe that might makes
right Mr.. Goebel wanted to be Governor
OF his State, and he set out TO secure
the coveted prize by the power of organi-
cation. With him it was not a question
as to whether or not he could win the
s y1OInlnIllon DN MS CtdllIIS 10
{. free vote of the delegates He had the
party machinery behind him, and he en-
ployed ii in promoting his interests. rely
ing upon it rather than upon the free
will of the delegates to secure the COW
etcd prize. Having secured the nomina-
tion by this agency. he relied upon it
again and employed 1t to defeat his oppo-
nents. Failing in this. he again put the
party machinery to work in the Legisla-
ture. and itlwas given out that, although
the Returning Board had declared that
his opponent was elected by the people,
and although his opponent had been Gully
inapguratcd as Governor. the Legislature
would turn TAYLOR out and. put Goebel
in.
Mr.. Goebcl was man of courage and
OF indomitable Will. and there must have
been In him much to admire else he
would not have had SO many loyal
friends iSrt in politics William Goebel
was tyrant, and political tyranny has
no place in democratic government
There have been tyrants in all ages, and
there have been assassins. for the assassin
follows the tyrant as the shadow the sub
stance. Caesar had his Brutus. George
III. his Cromwell'-and political tyrants
OF this age may profit by their example.
1T Is sad. indeed, that this brilliant and
brave young Gentrckian should have
been shot down by a. cowardly scoundrel
An hiding. but If ever a politician OF
modern lines took his life In his own
i hands and invited violent death. that
man was William Goebel. of Kentucky.
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