The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-14
BLAMEs L AND N. r, r.

lltlCal CTlSiS, rays tIc OtdthC VI o'i tho
trouble on the Louisville and Nash.
vile railroad ae writes as follows ::
The head and front Of our present
troubles in Kentucky, at once the
source and the resource Of the revo
lutionary proceeding by which Re
publican government has been for the
time being struck down and mill
;ary dictatorship set up in ita place.
is the Louisville and Nashville Rail
way Company.
In the recent State campaign it
supplied material resources IN scch
abundance as to draw Cit ali the
dangerous elements OF society and to
put into activity ali the forces OF
political adventure The two lead
ing parties to the contract were IS
nothing by comparison with It's si
gantic machinery for corru u2sing the
election The hotdes OF desperate
mountain men VINO were precipitated
upon the State capital could never
have got there except through is
agency.
1t is at this moment tie backbone
of the movement to transfer the State
capital from the city of Frankfort, its
lawful abode, TO the little village OF
London. in Laurel county, situated
upon one of It's branches in the heart
of the vendetta region, whose turba.
lence has for years disgraced the
State. 1t is believed that the with
drawal of it's support from the de
facto government would stop dan
gerous and lawiess proceedings.
Six months ago. foreseeing some
thing OF this situation, the editor Of
the Courier Journal wrote earnestly
to the financial head of the Louisville
and Nashville Railway Company to
protest against its intrusion into our
party affairs. having in vain sought
to dissuade Mr. Milton B Smith, it's
local president He was then. and
has been TO. thirty years, the friend
Of that great corporation. The fnan-
cier (whose name is mentioned
showed my letter the courtesy of
submitting it to the executive board,
and did Mr. Watterson the honor to
send him copy of Its deliberations,
embracing the reasons of Its refusal
to consider mis- appeal in the affirm
ative.
The sole purpose oe the Louisville
sod Nashville vas at every ccss aod
hazard to defsa. ste election OF Mr
William Goebel to the GoVeroorship of
Kentucky. Mr.. Goebei wss nao of
aaiu peached purity of private life aed
OF conceded professional ability
During teo years service as seDa-
ter il the State Legislature no acs of
his. excepting wass is Known as the
Goebei election law, had brought the
least reproach upoo him. Cor say uo-
olesn dollar bad ever beeo charged
agains, him. although money bought
Legislation has often flowed as free as
water at Fraokfors Bet in come way
he had given desd!y offerce to the
management Of tie Louisville aud
Nashville. aod this management felt
that it must destroy hin
It has cer,aiely done this But. ip
dciog il, it has brought upon 'ae people
Of Kentucky tne ocaIculable wrong
aud the dire Disgrace Of traaeac;ioas
unexaupled in the history Of repuo!i
Gao eovesameo,. There is DO: al this
moment, o1r eas there 5eec at aoy no
ment, the least disorder. or menace Of
disorder, except such as has enanasad
IRON the haod Of the de facto Gov.
Taylor
Tue moua.sic men were brought to
Frankfort, if aos oy bis express cau
mand. yet by and With his knowledge
aod cocseot. Their presence 10 Ffaok-
fort could have but one meaning and
purpose, aud. as ii to argc both
their meaning and their prrpos., eone
of them, who cave been arrested by
the local police for carrying conceaed
weapons and for disorderlg conduct,
were. in advacce Of trial, psrdooed By
the de fac,o Governor.
The shot that killed Mr.. Goebel vas
fred from au upper window OF the exc
cu,ive ofioes, which swerned with the
armed adoereDts of tie de fscto Cover
nor Admission TO this building was
at oace decisd the civil authorities a
Gordon of troops was thrown about it,
aud there. under the pretepce of being
10 state of siege, the &c facto Gov
eruo- has ever since held himself g
voluntary prisoner, though surrounded
bv the State militia, called out By t!n
self. and issuing thence proolamstious
disbaudlog the General Assembly and
transferring the seat Of goVernmeo, of
the Common wealth
All this while the contestants before