The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-02-06
a roLIrIcAL AssAssINArIoN.
(clncinnati Enquirer.)

will adequately describe the dreadful
shock to the public caused by the
shooting of the Hon. William Goebel at
Frankfort, Tuesday. Indignation and a
sense of outrage are terms too mild to
express the feelings of all orderly men.
no matter on which side Of the Kentucky
contention they may have been. AS the
Enquirer said of the recent Colson trag-
an ameliorating circumstance. That,
though, was a personal quarrel, and did
not involve politics. The murderer of
Tuesday was cold-blooded and deliber-
ate, and it will be impossible to disas-
sociate his awful work from the violent
and unlawful opposition to the claim of
Goebel for Governor. The Enquirer has
had very little to say since the election
of the merits Of the contest. 1t has moth
ing to say on that point now. 1t has
been content to allow 1t to rest with
the legislature, where it lawfully be-
longs
Even those who have ben radically
opposed to the claim of Mr.. Goebel are
bound to admit that he has been pro-
ceeding in proper and lawful manner,
and has not sought to intimidate or to
infame public opinion. There was a
quiet submission to the conclusion of
the election board that it had nothing
to do but count the vote as certified,
whether it was honest or fraudulent and
give the certificate to Taylor. He was
peaceably inaugurated and recognized.
Then the contest was instituted in the
legislature.
Not so much can be said on the other
side. There have been frequent threats
that no matter what the decision of
the legislature might be Goebel should
never have the office. 1t has been tele
graphed on several occasions through
out the country that partisans of Mr..
Taylor have declared that Goebel ought
to be shot, and there has been painful
ter of repudiating such infamatory
sentiments.
Not only that, but the state has been
subjected to the disgrace of large
crowds Of mountaineers camping on the
public grounds of the state capital,
armed with Winchester rifles and re-
volvers, and openly proclaiming their
intention to protect Taylor in the office
he holds, regardless of the action of
the regularly constituted court. The
presence of those ruffians has been
tolerated by the present state authority,
and the forebearance of the friends of
Goebel has been remarkable. No militia
has been called out to disperse an
armed and irresponsible mob. Not only
that, but it is well known that the
suited and urged to send troops to
Kentucky to assist in the seating of
Taylor at all hazards. There has been
even consideration of the quickest
means of getting United States soldiers
on the ground.
1t is time for the whole truth to
be told. That is not an occasion for
mincing nor yet for inlamatory treat
ment of the facts. The present reign
of blood in Kentucky is the outcome of
the stealing of the electoral vote of the
state in 1896. Agents were sent from
this very city of Cincinnati to engineer
the corruption, and they were all too
successful. Too much has been ac-
complished by fraud, and it would be
idle and unpatriotic concealment to
gloss over the present purpose to add
intimidation and force to fraudulent
methods. So shocking an act as the
assassination of William Geobel must,
for the sake of the good order of the
community be traced to its original
cause. There it is. 1t is in their regu-
lar political methods that have prevail
ed in Kentucky.
Decent men of both parties will de-
plore the dastardly means used to dis
pose of the claims of Mr.. Goebel. All
law-abiding citizens will see the dis
grace that attaches to the state of Ken
lucky. That he who has been laid
low by assassination was brave man
all will acknowledge. Those who have
encouraged extreme measures will now
have their own consciences to deal
with. The law can only punish those
who We're directly concerned in the
conspiracy and the murderous work it,
self. All the offices in Kentucky are
not worth the price that has been paid
by those who are responsible for the
work of Tuesday.
William Goebel was man of strong
convictions and unhinching moral and
physical courage. All honest men will
despise the coward who did not give