The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1907-09-18

fairtninded Republican viii admit that
Il WAS, the most turbulent period in
the commonwsalth's history with the
possible exception Of the time Of the
Civil war. In place of the bread they
promised you. they gave you stone.
Instead of the new era" Of peace and
prosperity, about which they prated so
much In the campaign, they establish
ed q red carnival of military usurpa-
istration had not been In power three
months when the Republican COVER
nor called into active service the state
militia and placed II In control of the
General Assembly of the state, then
in session. There was absolutely no
necessity for such an arbitrary and
unwarranted exercise of power. II
was an unconstitutional effort upon
the part of one branch Of the govern
ment to in,imidate and control the ac-
ton of a coordinate branch. A mem
Der of the General Assembly could not
enter the capitol without the permits
sion Of military enicer. The whole
purpose OF II was TO force the election
OF a Republican to the Uoited States
senate.
In numerous other instances was the
same fragrant use made of the militia,
and in the state election OF 1899, when
w. s. Taylor was the Republican NOM
inee for governor this same Repub-
lioan governor in his desperate desire
to aid in Taylor's election, called into
active service state troops in the city
of Louisville on election day in order
to intimidate and influence the voters.
During that entire administration law
lessness and crime we're rampant
"Night Riders" and Clay County Re
called.
Republican leaders now try to re-
fleet upon the Democratic administra-
ton by referring To the Breathitt coun-
ty troubles, and the reports about the
might riders" Let them go back to
the time when they were in control
and refresh their memories about the
toll-gate raiders, and feudal wars in
some of the counties. Let them read
the messages OF their governor to the
General Assembly to see his lurid pic
lures Of lawlessness and crime at that
time. II II was not fair 10 hold MIN
responsible for the toll-gate raiders,
the Clay county feud and other sim
liar outbreaks, II certainly is not fair
to hold Democratic governor respon-
sible for the Breathitt county and
other such troubles. One of the chief
reasons for which the Republican gov
ernor in 1897 called an extra session
of the General Assembly was to get
more power to stop lawlessness in the
state.
Dark Record Of 1see-1eoo in Kentucky.
Then, in December, 1899. with the
use of the military at the polls, fraud
ulent tissue ballots in many counties,
corruption and force in the election,
there came into temporary power Tay-
Tor and his bloody cohorts. Confront
ed by his Democratic opponent with a
constitutional contest before the Gen
eral Assembly, he filled the state cap
ital with an armed and desperate mob.
Realizing the hopelessness of his case,
he became reckless and murderous.
From a window in the executive build
ing, not forty feet from where he sat.
awaiting the fatal sound,
there was fired the shot which struck
down in mortal agony the man whom
he could not defeat in a legal or con-
stitutional way. Almost instantly
armed troops, kept in concealment
ready for this awful event, swarmed
into the capitol grounds, took posses
sion of the buildings under orders
from the Republican governor, guard
ed all the entrances, and drove back
the civil officers who sought to enter
and arrest the murderers.
And yet they tell us II is persecu-
ton to attempt to bring to trial the
man who directed all these move
ments, who admits that he was only
forty, feet from where the fatal shot
was fired and prohibited the civil Of
fcers from coming In to make a
search! 3D..
He suspended the writ OF habeas
corpus. He issued his proclamation
adjonrning thellegisiatnre to London
without, the slightest authority Of law.
HI. bad his lawless soldiery using their
ba yonets to, drive the, senators and
from their halls and
chase them through the streets OF
Ftafikfoft TIE lot of felons, forcibly
them from meeting any
where until, for the safety of their
lives, they were compelled to secretly
ieaye, the capital and go TO the city OF
louisville, !. where they might hold
their sessions. He sent HIS adjutsnt
general with 'iawfess mob to the
Capital hotel, Where owfiiiam Goebel
lay SUFFERING with che Sssonies OF his
cruel wound, that by thsir .boisterous
and the grounding Of their
arms upon the brick pavements they
might disturb the last hours of the
dying man. He made It necessary for
the Court OF Appeals to abandon their
and seek safety In the city
OF Louisville. He made II dangerous
for any man. woman or child to walk
upon the streets Of the capital city.
And yet this Is the man. now a fugi-
tive from justice, who VIII return in
4 trnnnh IN Kentucky with n nardon