The Leon reporter., 1900-02-08
a poL,rlcAl ASSASSINATION.

poLlTicAL AssAsslNATioH.
1t is not easy to employ phrases that
will adequately describe the dreadful
shock to the public caused by the shoot.
ing of the Hon. William Goebel at
Frankfort yesterday. Indignation and
a sense Of outrage are terms too mild to
express the feelings Of all orderly men.
no matter on which side of the Ken.
tucky contention they may have been.
As the Enquirer said of the recent
Colson tragedy in the same town there
is not an ameliorating circumstance
That, though, was personal quarrel,
and did not involve politics. The muir
derer of yesterday was cold .bloo,le,i and
deliberate, and it will be impossible to
disassociate his awful work from the
violent and unlawful opposition to the
CLAIMS Of Goebel for Governor. The
Enquirer has had very little to say
since the election Of the merits of the
contest 1t has nothing to say on that
point now. 1t has been content to
allow it to rest With the Legislature,
where it lawfully belongs
Even those who have been radically
opposed to the claim of MIR. Goebel are
bound to admit that he has been PRO.
ceeding in a proper and lawful manner,
a nd IN srN, dnSn
infame public opinion. There was a
quiet submission 10 the conclusion of
the Election, Board that it had nothing
TO do hut count the vote as certified,
whether it was honest or fraudulent.
and give the ticket to Taylor. He was
peaceably inaugurated and recognized. ).
Then the contest was Instituted in the
Legislature.
Not so much can be said on the other
side. There have been frequent threats
that no matter what the decision of the
Legislature might I've Goebel should
never have the Office. 1t has been tele.
graphed on several occasions throughout
the country that partisans of MIR. Tay.
lor have declared that Goebel ought to
be shot, and there has been painful
lukewarmness on their part in the
matter Of repudiatinR such lmfiamma.
tory sentiments.
Not only that, but the state has been
subjected to the disgrace Of large crowds
Of mountaineers camping on the public
grounds of the State Capitol, armed with
Winchester rifles and revolvers, and
openly proclaiming their intention to
protect Taylor in the office he holds re.
gardless Of the action of the regularly
constituted Court. The presence Of
those ruffians has been tolerated by the
present state authority, and the for.
bearance of the friends of Goebel has
been remarkable. No militia has been
called out to disperse an armed and
irresponsible mob. Not only that. but
it is we'll known that the Federal
authorities have, heen consulted and
urged to send troops to Kentucky to
assist in the seating Of Taylor at all
hazards. There has been even con-
sideration of the quickest means of
getting United States soldiers on the
ground.
1t is time for the whole truth to be
told. That is not an occasion for
mincing nor yet for intlammatory
treatment Of the facts. The present
reign of blood in Kentucky is the
outcome of the stealing Of the electoral
vote Of the state in 1896. Agents we're
sent from this very city Of Cincinnati
to engineer the corruption, and they
were all too successful. Too much has
been accomplished by fraud, and it
would be idle and unpatnotic conceal.
ment to gloss over the present purpose
to add intimidation and force to fraud
ulent methods. So shocking an act as
the assassination Of William Goebel
must for the sake Of the good order
of the community, be traced to its
original cause. There it is. 1t is in
their regular political methods that have
prevailed in Kentucky.
Decent men Of both parties will de-.
lplore the dastarday means used to dis.
pose Of the claims of Mr.. Goebel. ALL
Law. abiding citizens will see the disgrace
that attaches to the state Of Kentucky.
That he who has been laid low by
assassination was brave man all will
acknowledge. Those who have encour-
aged extreme measures willstnow have
their own consciences to deal with. The
Law can only punish those who were
directly concerned in the conspiracy
land the murderous work itself. All the
officers in Kentucky are not worth the
price that has been paid by those who