The sun., 1900-02-09
Kentucky.

Two years ago, lacking a fortnight, tho
Louisville Courier-Journdl now "A straight
out Democratic partisan thus described
the foundation on which has been built up
the existing situation Of political outrage
and chaos in Kentucky:
Tho people may we'll stand aghast before the
revolutionary election bill which has like some
dread monster. suddenly emerged from the fast
nesses passion and error through which the Legis
lature has been threading its tortuous way II is safe
to say that the annals Of free government viii bs
sought in vain for anything approaching IT i'll shame
less eflrontery and unconcealed defornlity
In all the force bills neditsted by the radicals
Congress during the dark days OF reconstruction
there we're discernible some pretence and pretext
sons lingering memory OF Republican instincts
and traditions. Even in the plebiscite, Of LoUls
NAPOLEON there WAS the outer display Of = Just
electoral process and purpose. This force bill
gives the voters Of Kentucky not a ray ot
hope. 1t makes no claim or show OF fairness.
In one word. and st fell swoop. Kentucky is to
become tho subject Of q triumvirate which 4. to
decide Who shall hold ONCE and who shall not
Nominally the people are to be permitted still to
through the form OF election. They are to be per.
mittsd still 20 vote. The ballot box il not actually
abolished. But the triumvirate is in each and every
case to cast up the returns and determine the re.
suit.
senator WILLIAM GoEgaL is the reputed author
Of this bill Tho measure with which he has linked
his name, and for the time being identified his for
tunes. il Of sweeping vicousness and farreac hing
evil But, like CESAR that vas ambitious he wants
to be Governor Of Kentucky. and he sees. or he
thinks he sees . ready chariot to bear him thither
in the electoral bill that years his name.
"Woful though not irretrievsble mistake; for,
granting that With the machinery Of this bill in his
hands his ambition may be, probably will be graft.
fed what should II proft him IL be gain the ruler.
ship Of the universe and lose his own soul, and
along with 1t his good name a. the slayer OF civil
libertyF
The extraordinary accuracy Of this pre-
diction is now known to all. The Gonbcl
law became the means by which the Demo
Gratis Of Kentucky could steal the Govern
orship in case they could not come by it
honestly. GoEBEL was the candidate for
whose benen. it was to be applied. lie
has been shot and killed, but his substitute
is ready to take all that might have come
to him, in the person of BECKHAM who.
running on the same ticket, was defeated as
the candidate for Lieutenant-Governor.
The Go.bel conspiracy, or the Demo-
cratic conspiracy, extends beyond the
Democratic party's organization. The
Chief Justice Of the Court ~ Appeals,
HAsELRIss, swore in GoEbLL as Gov
ernor, and the Clerk OF the Court of
Appeals, SHAcKILroIp, aiterward swore
in BEcXIAN as Governor, when neither
GoEBEL nor BECKHAM had any more title
to tho Office than the Chief OF the Frank
fort Police or the notorious JACK CHINN.
In spite OF the fact that Governor TAYLOR
has done what he his done for the purpose
Of preventing the final robbery Of the Ken
lucky Governorship from his party, we
offer NO defence for him. He has exceeded
his constitutional powers. But what is
to be said Of the politicians who pretend to
sanctify the crime about to he committed
by calling the dead GoEBEL q martyr,
and to regard the enduring rights and
wrongs Of the case as changed by his
murder?
6oEBEL's substitute is alive and ready to
profit by the fraud, Even in the dark and
bloody ground of Kentucky, assassination
has never yet washed foul law clean or
spotted moral right.