The Portland daily press., 1900-02-06
FROM REPUBLICANS.
Statement Issued Setting Forth Thei
Side of the Case.

Statement Issued Setting Forth Their
Side of the Case.
frankfort, Ky, February 45.-The fol-
lowing statement in regard to tine position
taken by the Republicans In the present
controversy over the govsrnorship OF
Kentucky was made today by one in the
authorits II the Republican party with
the full knowledge and personal approval
of Governor Taylor who heard every word
and the interview may be regarded there
fore as officials
"The legislature was oonven ed at Lon
don under plain constitutional provisions
1t cannot legally aut anywhere else and
all attempted acts done BY any rump
LEGISLATURE any where else would to void.
"The matter must be amicabiy settled.
or there is no surrender. The Republican
majority is beyond question. The eonsti-
tuition provides that the one receiving the
greatest mum Der of votes shall be governor
and by that declaration we propose to
stand. Tue Republicans were denied .
trial, denied a bearing. They were de-
prived of their rights at the ballot box
and also at every election tribunal in the
stats. notwithstanding all that, they
won, and every honest man In Kentucky
knows this to be true. Liberties OF the
people must be upheld, under the law II
possible, but the liberties Of the people
must be upheld. No partisan court has
the right TO tie the hands Of the chief ex
eoutive OF the stats and any attempt to do
so will be disregarded. The lives and
liberties of the people are In part en-
trustsd to ths obisf executive. Is is as
much his sworn duty to protect thrse
liberties against fraudulent Judgment
written to overthrow the will Of the peo-
ple as IL Is TO protect them from the In
yasion OF forsign foe.
GSome criticism has been made against
us because the rump legislature was not
allowed to assemble. 1t was certainly In
ounhent upon the authorities that nc
such afsembiage of men should be al
lowed, oct of which might grow further
riot and strife. When the Legislature wss
adjourned the whole city was convulssd
and in q frenzy. Both sides were ready
for desperate acts. Threats were heard
4 everyvhsre, The contest committee de-
he'd the counsel the right to argue And
erything was in chaos and excitement
No one who was not pressnt and on the
ground can comprehend the great danger
10 life and property If the leg islature had
met amid this excits msnt and attempted
TO carry into effect the partisan decision
of the committee. 1t would doubtless In
such moments OF passion have acted a:
hssily fnd as sindictively as has the con-
yent,on. Mr.. Goebel's partisans would nj
once have set up the claim and title to
the governors office. Anarchy and con-
fusion would have rsigned among the
militia. Divided and torn by strife, an
inevitable conflict would have engued
This would have converted the city into Q
yeritable mob. But the legislature wal
adjourned to the sixth of February. Thi'
gave an opportunity for the storm to pas
and passions to cool. No set Of men wers
tit to sit In judgment upon the very ques
items that had brought about the fearful
condition at the time the legislature wa'
demanding the right to act. What wa
the plain duty of the GOVERNOR Could Il
have been anything else than In some
heroic way to prevent further bloodshed
and ruin. This was done by giving tint
for the scber second thoughts Of the reo
ple to assert themselves"