New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-01
THE KENTUCKY SITUATION

The Governor of Kentucky has taken an ex-
traordinary step. He has adjourned the Legis-
lature and has directed it to meet on Tuesday
next at point remote from the State caDftal
He has done this, he says under the author
lty of the State Constitution, on the ground that
state of instruction now prevails at Frank
fort. in which the Legislature cannot safely or
with proprety continue its deliberations The
Legislature. or the Democratic part of it, seems
inclined TO disobey the Governors proclamation
and to continue its sessions at Frankfort a
course which the Governor is preventing by the
use of the State militia This, we say is an
extraordinary step. 1t may, however, be amply
justified under the Constitution, which gives to
the Governor the power to convene the Legis-
lature at a different place from the capital if
the latter shall have become since the last adj
journment dangerous from an enemy Whether
that provision legally applies to the present case
must be left for the courts to determine On the
face of it the Governor seems to have acted
within his rights. We suppose his statement
that instruction exists at Frankfort and the
implication that that place has therefore become
dangerous to the Legislature are scarcely to be
disputed.
Criticism of the Governor, If made, will prob
ably be based upon the facts that this adjourn
ment of the Legislature will operate to prevent it
from voting him out of office and declaring an
other man Governor, and that the place chosen
for the reassembling of the Legislature is one
where Republican influences are all but omnipo-
tent and may operate as a restraint upon such
action by the Democrats. To this his friends
win doubtless retort that ut worst he is simply
fighting fire with fire A hideous wrong upon
the State of Kentucky has been attempted
under the guise Of law, the law being strained
and distorted out of all semblance of equity for
the accomplishment of an unjust purpose He
is using his authority, he officially asserts, in
constitutional manner, and he is using it for
the purpose Of preventing the contamination of
that wrong. In that he will undoubtedly COM
mand widespread sympathy. Moreover, the ac-
ton he has taken will, il fulfilled, have the
henefcent effect of giving time for the subsi-
dence of the hot passions that have been aroused
by the assassination of the prime mover in this
reign of disorder and for the restoration Of calm
judgment in minds THAI are now swayed only
by furious impulse
Whatever may be the immediate outcome of
the deplorable embodiment into which the State
has been plunged by the wicked Vaccinations of
William Goebel, thoughtful Kentuckians of both
parties will do well to bear in mind the example
Of another State Only q few years ago the
Legislature of the STATE of New.York was
stolen as the result Of deliberate conspiracy
every whit as wicked as that of which Goebel
was the head In Kentucky. Passions ran high,
but were restrained. The defrauded and out
ragged Republicans resorted to no assassination
or violence of any kind They suffered the
abominable wrong in peace. But at the next
election the perpetrators of that wrong were
buried out of sight beneath q yengeful majority
of ballots, and never since then has their party
| been able 10 command majority of the State or
| Legislative vote. We have sufficient confidence
in Kentucky to believe that there, too such ulti-
| mate justice may be done