New-York tribune., 1900-04-17
4 KENTCCET VIEW

Kentucky Republican complains that The
Tribune has discussed the political situation in
his State from the point of view assumed by
the Goebel Democracy, in ignorance Of "the
brutal treatment he has received from the IN
famous Legislature and the Goebel Democrats
generally" If we had reason TO suppose that
this understanding of our comments on the
subject referred to not due to an individ-
ual's inattentve reading of The Tribune we
should regret that we had failed to say clearly
what meant to say. Our opinion OF the
Goebel law has repeatedly been expressed in
manner sufficiently emphatic. 1t agrees per-
fecty with the opinion set forth by Colonel
Watterson two years ago, as follows:
But the Goebel bill will never be enacted into
law. The Democrats of Kentucky have not sunk
so low as that. There is limit even to the fury
of factional passion. There bounds set upon
the prosperous rapacty of sectional leadership
The people cannot have gone completely and
incurably mad There is yet grace left in
the manhood Of Kentucky to rise in its might
and TO say TO this wicked attempt TO steal its
birthright Of freedom in open day and before its
eyes. II forbid"
Colonel Watterson was wrong at that time in
one respect, he has since been wrong in
others. The infamous bill was enacted into
law, but the people did rise and rebuke its au-
thor and advocates by electing Mr. Taylor to
the Governorship His majority was large but
II was not large enough to deter the GOebel
Democracy from setting the machinery of the
law at work 10 cheat the people of their choice.
Possibly no majority would have been large
enough for that, so long there a G0ebel
Legislature with power to reverse the popular
verdict. AT all events, the LPgisla ture pro
ceeded to perform that outrageous act and the
Court Of Appeals. two Republican Judges as
spntng. has declared that it cOntrived to ac-
complish its object in accordance with the re
quirements of the statute. That question has
been carried TO the Supreme Court of the United
States. which, if it accepts jurisdiction, may
reach different conclusion. In the mean time
as il appears 10 us, some advantages Of posi-
ton. in moral sense at least, have been I'M
necessarily conferred upon the Kentucky
Democracy. and have felt constrained to
criticise the conduct which has brought about
that result
We have not doubted Governor Taylor's sin
cerity in attempting to maintain possession Of
the office to which he was elected Less for his
own sake than for the sake Of the honest ma
jority of voters whose viii had been defied he
bound to exhaust all the legal resources at
his command in defending his position 1t is
because thought that in more than one in
stance. his judgment being at fault he put him
self in the wrong and exceeded his authority
that regretted the course he took His wis
doln, as IL mas seemed TO U.s. has not always
been equal to his courage and it is natural to
Infer from various incidents that he has him
self regretted certain acts of which the conse-
quences may be unfortunate. But we hope that
! the paramount issue will not be confused and
| obscured. The honest voters of Kentucky owe
| ii TO themselves and to the country 10 register
| AT the polls an overwhelming condemnation Of
the conspiracy to steal their ''hrfhright of free
! dom. such mistakes as Governor TAYLOR may
have committed are trivial in comparison with
! the monstrOus uSurpatOn attempted but not vet
accomplished by his adversaries.