The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-05
HOUSTON, MONDAY, FEB. 8, 1900.
TEN PAGES TODAY.
POLITICAL ASSASSINATION AND THE
RESULTS THEREOF.

RESULTS THEREOF.
The following splendid editorial. on the
situation in Kentucky and the lessons to
be learned therefrom. Is from the Indian
spolis Seminal:
Republican lawlessness seems to have
reached a climax Ia Kentucky. It has
already had serious manifestations. and
The lawless element has grown holder as
Il was eheered on by the republican press
OF the North and encouraged by assurance
OF support from Washington. The char
ac;er OF the Taylor adherents was hrst
demonstrated by the Colson- Scott tragedy.
In this the principals we're all republicans
Of the alleged better class" who had
come to Frankfort TO support Taylors
cause. Then came the invasion Of the
capitol by the great mohs from the feud
counties~-al republicans-with the pur-
pose OF iutlmldating the legislature--who
terroriaed the country along the railroads
by reckless firing OF guns and other riot
Gus acts Now comes the assassination OF
Glebel by a republican. resident Of the
governors county, firing from the window
OF an executive Office when the whole ex-
enuye building was flled with noun
taiucers" T. e.. with the class Of des-
porsdoes who for years have dissraced tho
name OF Kentucky by their bloody feuds
mon 10 whom assassination is profess
sion It is ono moro addition to the
burden Of disgrace to be borne by the
Law abiding people OF our sister state.
which has been piled mp by this class.
and the Sentinel repeats what is has said
before, that the responsibility for this
lawiessnesS is largely outside OF Kentucky,
because the adventurous and desperadoes
have been urged on by the republican
press Of the North.
And this lawlessness has been without
excuse or justification. Whatever may
have been the merits Of tho late. Kentucky
election contest, 1t is beyond question that
Mr.. Goebel and his adherents were pro-
leading in perfectly legal authority TO
hear the contest and decide who had been
elected. as the election board had to de-
Hare who had been elected on tho face Of
the returns. Whether II contemplated an
shuse Of its powers or not may possibly be
an open question, but there can be no
question whatever that tho republican mob
contemplated lGwiessness. for It formally
served notice Of the fact that decision
contrary to Its wishes would be followed
by bloodshed. The only apparent motive
tor the assassination is the anticipation
that the legislature would decide In favor
~ Goebei. chiefly on the ground OF in
limitation at the polls. And that there
was good ground for such decision is
plain from the course that the republicans
have followed during this contest, Tor II Is
notorious fact that the counties from
which these desperadoes came can be re-
lied on to furnish almost any majority
asked of them in an election. Nobody
can very consistently claim that a class
OF men who would openly attempt TO in
tin-idate legislature would hesitate about
intinidating voters.
This spirit OF lawlsssness. this defiance
Of legally constituted authority. this de-
termination to rule with or without law.
10 natural republican product. The
whole tendency OF the teachings OF that
party from the days OF the reconstruction
period has been towards lack OF respect
for law and for the constitution. The
doctrine OF implied powers has been
pushed to the limdt. We have been told
that this Is growing nation, and that
constitution and laws must grow with r.
We have been told that the law OF ne
cessity is superior to any written laws.
On the other hand the democratic party
has pleaded for strict conformity to con.
stitution and to law. In this very period
II has stood the supreme test OF obedi-
cDce to legally constituted powers by sub
hitting 70 the decision OF the high Joint
commission Of 1876, on the results OF the
isaeral election. There could be no more
severe test than that OF the devotion OF
political party TO law and order. The
present awful tragedy ought to be a strong
warning Il the error Of the opposite
course Resistance to law aud to the
legal Authorities, means crime Persisted
3, y means anarchy There can be neither
liberty nor any Satisfaction in life IL mon
ars 10 lake The Law into their own hands.
Apd pr eaects Of iptroduclns this system
ip'o poliiics Is before rs in the Spanish.
american states Of his continent Ameri.
~ POI ieIefats asssFsinstion as i no.
H'is'l weapon Il esnrot sfford ID forset