The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-06
snArrLE, TUESDAY, FEBRuARY ..


A curious instance Of moral perver-
sion Ia seen In the claim Of the Ken
lucky Democrats that in all their pro-
,ceedings leading up to the attempt to
scat Goebel as governor Of Kentucky
they have proceeded within the law:
and that consequently no shadow OF
wrong doing rested on their attempt to
act aside the will of the people as ex-
pressed at the polls The crime is not
a crime so long as the forms Of the
Jaw were observed. The same excuse
would justify every betrayal Of the
peoples interests by a legislative body;
would permit presidential electors to
cast their votes for the nominee of the
party OF opposite political faith: would
warrant partisan majority In legis-
lative body in unseating every member
Of opposite political belief. and would
justify supreme court In disregard
Ing the law and the facts. and render
Ing a decision In the pecuniary interest
Of personal friend. Under no con-
ceivable form Of government can all
power be surrounded with such abso-
lutte checks and safeguards as to pre-
vent It's ever being abused. Something
must be left to the honest discretion Of
Tho servants of the people. When that
power and discretion are abused II Is
none the less a crime against the peo-
pie because there has been no express
violation OF the statute law.
But In the case In Kentucky there
has been more than an abuse OF discre-
tipn; there has been an absolute usurp-
alton OF power never contemplated by
law. The constitution OF Kentucky pro-
vides for the election Of the governor by
the people. The partisan majority In
the Kentucky legislature proposes TO
ignore this constitutional provision and
elect as governor the defeated candi-
date for lieutenant governor. This act
Is revolutionary. II ia deliberate viola
ton OF the constitution OF the state and
OF the oaths Of office OF the men who
contemplate this step. That II Ia TO be
done under cover of law which per-
mits the legislature to decide election
rcoutests does not excuse II nor pafliate
the crime against free government
which is contemplated. The law never
contemplated, nor could Il provide
against. a deliberate perversion OF It's
intent 20 warrant an unconstitutional
usurIsation OF power. any more than /;
could contemplate and provide against
a deliberate perversion ot the law anl
an ignoring Of facts by the supreme
court OF state or Of the United States
20 advance the pecuniary interests OF
one party to litigation for reasons per-
sonal,to members of the court
That GOV, Taylor Is the lawfully elect
ed governor OF Kentucky no man who
has followed dispassions,ely the pro-
ceedings in the case can doubt. That
he In stiil governor every unpremdlcsd
lANNrl must AIHttNs ~ A&tiA kAh AAN
revolutionary conspiracy 10 unseat him
there must b. legislative act which
has not yet been consummatea. Tha;
secret caucuses Of the Democratic mem
bers OF the legislature. held in guarded
back rooms. from which the public
ana the minority members were exc.ud-
ed. do not constitute sessions 81 the
legislature requires no argument TO
prove Every proceeding Of such a eau
Gus is absolutely void. and has 40 more
validity than the originally adopted
method Of attempting to legislste by cir
cuiating a paper on the street. and hav-
ing Il signed by members OF the lesls-
iature.
The position OF Gov. Taylor is pecu-
liar one. is surrounded by many dim
culties. and It is difficult, TO say what
y shs, proper course ser him to pursue.