The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-07
Compromise in kentucky.


AS the only alternative to civil war.
the Republican supporters Of Gov. Tay-
Tor. Of Kentucky, have advised submits
sion to the Democratic theft OF the gov
ernorship. and the probability is that
the matter will be settled on that basis.
1t is probably better that this should
be done than that the state remain d.
vided into two hostile armed camps,
with an inevitable bloody conflict to fol-
hitting the questions to the civil courts
of the state for determination was nat
urally put entirely to one side 1t is one
of the peculiar infamies of Kentucky at
present that the courts are as bitterly
and corruptly partisan as Is the legis-
lature. and no one seems to have ques-
toned that they would. as a matter of
course. uphold any action which their
fellow partisans in the legislature might
choose to take. This was unhappily H.
Illustrated when the chief justice of the
court OF appeals dragged his judicial err
mine through the filthy mud of Ken
lucky partisan politics. In descending
from the bench to administer 20 the dy-
ing Goebel the oath OF office as governor
OF ~ state; knowing. as a citizen. that
Goehei had been defeated at the polls.
and knowing. as a lawyer, that the leg
islative conspiracy to declare him
elected had not at the time been con-
summated. Any notary public could
have administered the oath: but the
Judge of the highest court took upon
himself the duty for the sole purpose of
showing that he was prepared to in
dorse and sustain the conspiracy against
free government and 10 notify the peo-
pie of Kentucky that the courts were
no longer a bulwark against the usur-
pations of the legislature.
Happily. at the present time. the mat
ter is purely domestic concern Of the
people of Kentucky, and involves moth
ing save the internal government OF that
state II the people of that state are
willing 70 accept the settlement arrived
at, no one from the outside can crltioise
the wisdom OF their DECISION. II is TO
be hoped however, that when they re-
cover from their present partisan de-
bauch. and come sufficiently to their So
Der senses to realize fully what the
events OF the past few weeks really
mean. and the attitude IN which they
have put their state before not only
the people Of the United states. but Of
the whole civilized world they may be
impe}led to some attempt 70 purify their
domestic politics.
There must. ~ necessity. be a very
large share ~ the Democrats OF ken
. lucky Of honest sober Judgment, who
cannot lu cold blood. excuse or palMata
the crime which has been perpctrated by
their party leaders a crime Ia its con-
sequences the most Infamous and demon
aliring which can be perpetratcd against
the people. under the forms % free gov
eminent \ reckless and constituencies
minority has deliberately oyerriden the
VIII Of the people. "a expressed at the
polls, and has been enabled 90 do this
because confident that an equally con-
scieneeless and partisan judiciary would
sustain them. The only manner ia
which kentucky can save herself from
having this disgraceful precedent thus
established become the settled rule FOR
the conduct Of elections in the future. is
~ letting the sober common sense and
common honesty o. the community dnd
expression IN RELOCATING 70 private life
every man who made himself conspic-