The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1908-05-12
A Public Calamity.
From Lexington Gazette.

There is a striking lesson for the
people of Kentucky in the demonstra-
ton in the Republican Convention in
Louisville on Wednesday over a rumor
that certain men charged with the
crime of murder had been pardoned.
This murder was actually committed.
There is no doubt whatever that Will
liam Goebel was shot down on the
Capitol Square and that he died from
the wound. That the bullet that kill
ed him came from tire Office of Re-
publican Secretary of State is also a
matter beyond dispute. Every un-
prejudiced person who has carefully
followed these cases from beginning
to end believes that the overwhelming
majority of jurors who have heard and
passed upon the evidence has been cor
rect in the conclusion that the Republi-
can official from whose office the fatal
shot was fired was implicated in the
conspiracy.
The Gazette would do no man an in
justice. 1t would prefer to believe
Caleb Powers innocent, but no action
of Republican Governor. no amount
of applause in a Republican Conven-
tion can remove the facts in the case.
A representative convention of Repub-
licans. convention described by one
of the Republican organs as 1.-The
largest ard most representative gather
ling of Republicans in the history of
Kentucky" has shown that it does not
condemn the blacklist crime that stains
Kentucky's record, but that it is pre-
pared to hail those implicated in this
crime as heroes and martyrs.
We have heard recently much about
lawIessness in Kentucky. Everybody
will admit that there is too little
reverence in this State for the majesty
of the law. We can not be surprised
at the outbreak of mobs or the viO-
lence of individuals when it is possible
for the representatives of a political
party now in control of the State Gov
eminent to present the spectacle ex-
hibited, in LOuivislle on Wednesday.
Men and great party who have never
expressed any condemnation OF the
crime, who have never turned their
rands for the vindication OF the law,
1t on the contrary, have devoted all
of their energies and all of their in
fl renee to a movement to help the
criminals escape the just penalties of
the law, now go mad with joy at the
prospect of the liberation of their
heroes.
The Gazette has no quarrel with any
man who honestly believes these men
are innocent and ought to be pardon
ed, but it is a matter of grave concern
to the people of Kentucky that mere
rumor OF pardon should create such
scene in a political convention repre-
sentative of party organization in
control OF the State Government. 1t
is final and conclusive evidence that
the Republican party is responsible for
the GoebeI murder and for all OF the
efforts to prevent the punishment of
the assassins.
When a great political party thus as
sumes responsibility for a crime and
deliberately uses all of its power to
shield the criminals, those who would
maintain the law and inculcate in the
citizeship of Kentucky a respect for
the majesty of the law must realize
that they are confronted with an
almost hopeless task. 1t is no: only
disgrace to the State, but misfor-
tune, the seriousness of which can not
be over-estimated. That such a scene
is possible in any gathering that has
any claim to be considered representa-
tive of Kentucky. ought to be matter
of profound regret of every loyal law
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