The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-15
wATreasoN's EuLoeY OF ooneeL.


been SO much of passion and so little
of reason dominating the politics Of
Kentucky the last few years that. in
the presence Of the awful tragedy before
which all true kentuckians of all parties
and all factions stand reverent and un-
covered, it is hard to speak without
misconstruction, impossible to speak
without Misrepresentation. Yet, in the
presence of those troubles that have
come upon US almost unawares, we ven.
ture to ask parley with our bitterest
enemyi and, before he lifts his name
to strikeus down, to entreat him to
pause inst for moment, and then if he
wants to strike, let him strike and let
the strike be mortal. 1t is Of William
Goebel that we wish to speak,
He lies dead at Frankfort. He can
never again speak for himself. We take
leave to speak, not for him. but i'll his
behalf; in the defense Of the good name
which he wished to leave behind him,
now dear only to the bereaved ones of
his own family, though honored by his
polltieai ASSOCIATES; for he lived a alenely,
isolated life; VAS cheek by jowl with no
one; simple student who aspired to be
a leader and a statesman. He was am
bilious. The enlogist OF Caesar called it
a grieyous fault. and grIevously has Viii.
liam Goebel answered. it. But there are
kinds and degrees Of ambition. He
wished to do the state some service.
He thought the best way to attain this
end was to represent the interests Of the
great body Of the people asalnat the
growing aagresrions of the chartered
companies 1t cost him his life. He
has paid the debt. He is gone.
But being student, sustained by the
recitude Of his convictions along with
the knowledge Of his researcher, he set
himself agalnat the aggrRssions of the
chartered sona apanies Ike 9 statesman,
mot Ike IN elnpirist. He did not seek
] whimsical!R Of seol lr,lptl to impose
3 tthelG: but, rather, 70 4(ee t(e
n excess, to restrain them within tt
bounds Of their chartered rights. I
n accomplish task so needfNl and diff
' cult required not merely legal learHin
). and aeumen, but personal courage
!. the first order, because In the capita
n of all our states there are lobbie
. which, when the artiices Of corruptio
i. fail, know how to handle the Applianc'
p of intimidation; in the older states tt
r. machinery is blackmail; in the newe
!. the menace Of personal danger. M
,f Goebel feared nune Of these. He vel
i his way, disdaining them. He did h
# work in their despite. Because Of th
,e he beca4.ea a leader, and the only lea,
Ne or in Kentucky whom corruption an
It corruptionists seriously feared. Tht
% could not buy him and they could n
bully him. They had to cause him
be killed; and like the blowing up
the Maine IN Havana harhor, his deaI
will be the signal for such just retrib
ton to them as came to Spain.
throws fashlight upon the who
subject of the relation of the pub
corporations to the state and to i
people. 1t isas signal to haneat al
: patriotic men of all parties to uni
against the growing danger and mo
oply. ','
IN If William Goebel had survived the
y Rtragical times nothing could have sto
Is the way Of his going to the head
~ e peoples column for physical Al
sky 1al emancipation from the brr
y ID Y Of money. His death unites {
- den Iats Of the United States. All
q US, Maine to Texas, from N
" York Californil, will dip our har
" kerchid in hise blood, sworn to fig
>. the fight\ \et on that line lit takes /
Z. whole Of fhe pming century. That
4. all that we do for him now;
A standing ovef he grave Of this bra
- - and pure, youna\ \irit maligned beyo
recall. bounded > that grave by NJ
"a Who knew bette his We can plee
= e ourselves to do. grief OF aoebe
~ taking of is don kic The Issue
y. vi national.
N William Goebel ws 4 a man to
q, tract the public. He mot a man
d convulse an audience of let the ia
in q roar. But his broth and sist
loved him; and he was sd bod
that, after his mothers de! he K,
her membership Of her churc Alive, q
paid for her pew, as if she n Eels. i
! been still living; He had TIL pisi
tune to be born Of poor, tserRah eFs
: tage. Before he was Ave and TN
BE he was the. Law partner Of thA
:he Governor Stephenson. the very ul\
w Thule Of the patricianism; Of Vire
ne and Kentucky; who, dying, left
l9e his great estate to manage witho,
~ bond; and, later, the Law partne
-. John g. Carlisle, who did little CT
~ to himself and his real friends in,
lOI lucky. when during the late campo
he permitted himself to be quoted
y. seemingly against Mr.. Gosbel, for
W Carlisle knows, and 80 does the e
~ of the Courier-J Journal, Mr.. CARL
,.. y steadiasf friend, that il 1885 Mr..