The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-05
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
MONDAY. FEBRUARY 5, 1900.
The Taylor Insurrection.


between the constitutional authorities of
the State and Taylor's bandits should
come so soon IL will be on the initiative Of
the judicial and not Of the Legislative and
executive branches of the government.
AS readers of The Times are aware.
Taylor. the insurgent leader, on Saturday
again openly defied the constitution and
law in refusing TO recognize writ of ha-
beas corpus commanding him to produce
in court, the process server of the Cir
cult court. whom he had kidnapped and con-
fined after the successful service upon
him OF Judge Cantrilrs first order. Le-
gally considered, this refusal TO obey the
writ of habeas corpus was, technically,
perhaps. as lawless an act as even the at
tempt to dispense the Kentucky Legisla-
ture by force and arms. At ali events. IL
WAS one which creates direct issue be-
tween the Bluegrass Aguinaldo and the
courts Of the Commonwealth, and as the
latter are presided ever by men of strong
force and energetic methods he will not
be allowed to wait long before he will find
himself compelled to decide between sur
or resistance 10 posse comitatus.
Taylors evident intention is to pro-
long the situation, hoping that finally be
may secure backing through soma action
of the Administration at Washington or Of
The Federal courts. II be ever had reason
for hope of such interference il has been
completely shattered by his own reckless
acts of rebellion and outlawry. But he
still seems TO be under a monomaniacal
impression that President Mckinley can
be induced 20 ignore his insurrection and
treason and support the usurpation he
has based on those offences merely be-
cause of his Republicanism.
II was with such a belief still lingering
in his mind that, on Saturday. he tele-
grsphed Senator Deboe, begging that
gentleman TO see the President and get
him TO send a commission or commits
sioner TO Frankfort to Investigate" or to
do something or anything which should
seem to carry recognition of his attempted
usurpation of the governorship. BY the
time he heard of Governor Goebel's death
and the succession of Lieutenant Cover
nor Beckham, there is reason for beliey-
ing that he also knew from Washington
that his outlawry would not be counten-
anced by the President of the United
States.
On the whole, the clash may not be pre-
cinitsted today. The forces of law and or
der may not be ready to proceed to ex-
tremities. Every effort VIII certainly be
made by the legal government to avoid
armed conflict and the bloodshed which
unuuestionably would ensue. OF course,
If the bandit leader should attempt 10
carry out his threat to seize and carry
members of the Legislature to his noun
tain fastDess, fighting would begin at once;
but we cannot believe he will dare that I'M
less. indeed. his mental condition is hope
less or he is driven to further acts Of mad
ness by the ignorant and desperate assas-
sins who surround him, and who in fact,
ray be in position and temper to force /
him into course of conduct that, left 10 !
himself he would hesitate to adopt
Assuming that Taylor will not force the |
hand of constitutional authority today, the |
current conditions may be prolonged until |
after the hearing on Judge cantriIl's tenn |
porary injunction at Georgetown on Tues |
day. II ought to be taken for granted |
That II any doubt as to their duty re- |
mains in the minds of the militia officers |
now on guard at the State House. II will /
be dispelled when the injunction is made
permanent as under the State Constitu- /
Lion, ii is bound to be. On that thetory the /
two infantry regiments and the battery
should at once retire. leaving Taylor |
without armed force other than his noun
tain bandits. He would hardly risk at
tack in such circumstances. and bloody |
encounter might be avoided.
But, even supposing that all the militia. |
with their three rapid-fire guns. should de- |
eide TO stand by Mr.. Taylor; in case
il should be decided by the courts that |
armed resistance to their mandates must |
be overcome by the sheriff and the posse
comitatus. military men familiar with the |
city OF Frankfort Will hardly doubt that |
the instruction can be promptly sup
pressed If the direction and details of the /
movement by the peace officer and his dep
utes are placed in the hands of a compe-
tent professional soldier like Gen. John |
q. Castleman or Col. Bennett H. Young /
There are certain reasons of strategicsl
nature for thinking that Taylor's military
position in the State House Square is not
as impregnable as he and his adherents
seem to imagine. Its ienabillty will be
weakened somewhat with the cutting of
OF water and gas. Otherwise the subject is
not one proper for discussion In advance
Of the fact.
The week opens with Governor Goebel
dead and Governor Beckham recognized by
ihe government and lawful authorities OF
Kentucky. On the other side is Taylor, en-
trenched in the State House grounds. from
which he has violently elected the State
Legislature while in session. and fully
recognized as such by him during his brief
tenure as de facto Governor. He has at
tempted 10 disperse that Legislature and
threatened TO carry II by force into moun-
tain ambush. One more of his bandits
have murdered the Governor OF the State.
lie has kidnapped and held a citizen depu-
t;ssed 10 serve a court process upon HIM.
iie has prevented execution OF a wri. OF
habess corpus ordering him 10 produce
thai citizen before a judicial tribunal. He
has defed n judicial injunction. There .
may be extremes of outlswry and treason
10 which ne has not yet gone; but he has