The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-04-28
Goebel Assassination ont of Politi cs.

There will be varied and divergent
views regarding the action of Governor
Wilson, of Kentucky, in extending par
dons to former Governor W. S. Taylor,
former Secretary of State Charles Fin
ley and others, accused of participation
in the conspiracy which led to the as
sassination of Senator William Goebel,
afterward declared to have been elected
governor.
An unusual and peculiar feature OF the
case is the granting OF pardons TO men
who have never been tried and convict
ed, hence who are. in the eyes OF the
law, innocent.
Ordinarily the use Of the pardoning
power under such circumstances, even
though legally permissible, could
scarcely be justified, for the law estab-
lishes in the interest both of society
and the accused person himself, a meth
Cd whereby his guilt or innocence must
be determined.
Failure to invoke that method not on
ly deprives society Of its right, but
leaves cloud uoon the life of the man
who is the recipient of such question
able ciemency.
AS rule, therefore, every person
reasonable charged with a crime should
be required to submit to the test by
which his guilt or innocence might be,
with fairness and impartiality, judically
proven.
But the conspiracy which led to the
assassination of William Goebel was un-
ique in the history Of crime. 1t was a
political crime on either side of which
there was intense partisan alignment;
in Kentucky opinion relative to this
case, there was no middle ground.
1t is probably true, therefore, as Gov
ernor Wilson says, that fair trial for
Taylor and Finley would have been i'm
possible: that before a jury of Goebel
sympathizers they would have met with
certain convictions; and before one Of
anti Goebel views they would have
found as speedy acquittal.
Conceding that, whatever the .ev!-
dence, guilt Or innocence should be de-
termined by legal trial, the chances are
that these men could not have been con-
victed with the evidence in hand: be-
fore u fair and impartial jary.
Governor Wilson's clemency did not
extend to those who admittedly partic-
lpated in this conspiracy or who, by con-
elusive evidence, were shown tc have
been parties to it.
In the light OF logic and the facts,
therefore, it would seem that Governor
Wilson has done Kentucky 4 service in
thus clearing the records of this ceplor.
able case
Left in statu quo. though nearly a
decade has passed since Senator Goebel
was wantonly shot down, it could only
have served to keep alive the fires of a
political prejudice and hatred which
would have been manifest in every state
campaign until death removed the men
about whom the factional strife center
eG.
Taylor and Finley would have been
au issue in years to come as they have
been since their flight 10 Indiana, and
yet they could never have been brought
to trial for a crime with which their
connection was at least doubtful.
With the case thus disposed of thev
will disappear in the vortex OF oblivion
which claims chose to whom puelic in
terest no longer attaches, from whom
the spotlight has been turned off.
AS an issue to which there could
have been no final solution they have
been eliminated from the politics OF
Kentucky.
Therein, at least, the Blue Grass
State is fortunate.-Atlanta Constitu-
ton.