The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-21

The grand jury Of Franklin County.
Kentucky. Is reported as having indicted
William S. Taylor. for a short time de
facto Governor Of the State. as an Access
sorry before the fact to the assassination
Of William Goebel. de jure Governor al
terwsrd recognized as such by the oonsu-
tutional authority while on his dying bed
The fact Of the indictment has been so
long and so widely discounted that il viii
create no surprise in this country, though
it is probable that it will produce some
small sensation abroad
We are sorry. because Of the opening 1t
will give enemies Of our nation and OF
its institutions TO sneer at and revile both'
that it has been deemed necessary by
the Kentucky authorities TO take this
step in order to vindicate outraged jus
tice. But no man. no matter what his
position or the intimacy Of his relations
with the rulers and managers OF the
Union. must be held immune from the op-
Grafton Of law and the action Of the
grand inquest at Frankfort is certain TO
be endorsed by all honest Americans. if
the circumstances are as they are re-
ported in our dispatches from the blue
grass capital yesterday.
Although. as was natural enough, the
Republican members OF the grand jury
opposed and voted against the indictment
Il is stated that they admitted the evil
dence involving Taylor to be as strong
as that upon which they had approved OF
the Indictment of his companions This,
if true. and we see no reason to doubt
it. will have the effect Of preventing par
tisan argument that Taylor is being vic
timized for political effect.
His indictment is another step toward
the final scene Of one OF the darkest dra-
mas in the history Of crime in America
Whether Taylor was a party to the MUIR
der of Governor Goebel or the general
assassination conspiracy or not. there is
no longer any question that certain Repub-
liesns in Frankfort did plot to dispose
Of the Democratic majority in the Legis-
lature by shooting down members in their
seats. and did conspire TO assassinate the
legal Governor Of the State on his way TO
the State House. The latter crime was
committed as planned. Some Of the con-
spirators have turned states evidence,
and their testimony duplicates Taylor. The
whole miserable story is a blistering COM
mentary upon what a political faction
which has lost its respect for constitution,
law. and decency. will do to maintain itself
In power Kentucky Republicanlsm has
been demoralized by examples Of the bru-
tai means used to carry elections in Ohio
and other pla .es Of late years. and has
placed the popular construction upon such
phrases as good politics" and sound
business methods"
Taylor appears TO have left Washington,
but il is not thought likely that he has
started for Kentucky in existing circum-
stances Perhaps he may be headed for
Indiana or possibly he may have assur-
ances OF protection which would make
retirement in this locality equally as com
Portable as fight TO the arms Of Governor
Mount The fact remains that the man
who claims TO be Chief Magistrate Of
great American State. is under Indictment
for completely in the murder OF the man
who really held that high station a few
weeks ago. What will the world think and
say of it,