The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-31
ASSASSINATION OF MR.. GOEBEI.


ASSASSINATION OF MR.. GOEBEL.
For nearly a year Mr.. Goebel, who was
assassinated under the shadow OF the capt.
tol of Kentucky yesterday, has been the
centre of the most bitter political CAM
paign and contest this generation has
known. He was nominated for Governor
IN 4 convention that was the stoimiest
in the history of Kentucky, and received
during the campaign the most violent OPP
position that any man of this decade has
known. After the election, the ensuing
contest. in which he was the leader.
brought him the malignant hatred Of
thousands Of Kentuckians. From the be-
ginning To yesterdays assassination he
never lost his temper, never became oX-
cited, but was as calm and placid 10 all
appearances as If everything was TO his
Fixing. He spoke, it is true, with severity
and harshne-s OF ms opponents, using
the strongest language of d'nunciatioa
that could be employed, but he did this
as quietly as when he spoke in terms Of
approval There are not wanting those
who, remembering how years ago, he
killed 4 political opponent and that he
was ready 10 defend himself at any
time, will say: ''TIe that lives by the
sword shall die by the sword
Neither Napoleon nor Caesar was mere
ambitious and masterful than the Ken
lucky newsboy whose rise 10 i position
of power is one OF the narvels Of ali who
do not understand the American spirit.
His resolve to be Governor was his life
passion. After he had won all the pre-
liminary fights in the Kentucky State
Convention, his opponents, beaten at ev-
cry point, sought to break mp the CON
ventiom in a row and prevent a nonlna-
ton. He was equal to that last stand
and enforced order by marching in a cor
dom of policeman who commanded peace.
When ballot was taken, he had ara
nominee. Who else but Goebel would
have resorted to armed police 70 W2'est
victory that could be obtained an 10
other way?
Then there came bolt. In il were
some good men who felt that he had not
fairly Won the nomination and that has
methods ought 10 be rebuked. They
were put to the front, but the money
and brains of the revolt against Goeb@
was furnished by the louisville aud
Nashville railroad. That corporation
hazarded everything ON his defeat. Why
Because, as State Senator he had cham
pioned fellow-servant law in the inter-
est of railroad employees; because he mad
supported a abroad Commission with
power 10 fix rates, like we have III North
Carolina, because he had compelled them
tesray tax on a fair valuation; because
he had vigorously denounced and exposed
the railroad lobby that hung about the
capitol to influence legislation; and be-
cause he stood deiantly and aggressiyely
against railroad domination of politics and
| legislation. Other men had taken these
positions without winning the eternal
hatred OF the, railroad, but they were
men whom the railroad thought they
could win over or men lacking Goebel 5
resource and vigilance. They knew that
they could neither cajole. bride or brow
beat Goebel, and that he would carry out
his policy if he lived. 1t was that knowl-
edge which made the big railroad corpora
tior resolve to destroy him. What other
man than Goebel, opposed by the Rep,lb-
lican party. the boilers, the railroad cor
poraticn, every trust in existence and IN
limited money could llave made the fight
he made?
The apparent result Of the election
showed his defeat He began a contest.
The Election Board decided that Taylor
had a majority of the votes aud declined
to go behind the returns. What man
less determined than Goei>e. would have
pursued the matter further: Nothing
daunted by the adverse decisions, he be-
gan his contest before the Legislature
and had succeeded in showing that but
for the presence Of troops at the polls
in Louisville and TISSUE ballots III the
big Republican counties the returns would
have made him Governor. Only two
days ago, upon a vote regarded by all
parties as a test vote, Mr.. uoebers pol
icy won in the Legislature, and just as
he SAW success ahead of him this placid,