The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-07-28
REPUBLICANIsM IN KENTUCKY.

REPUBLICANISM IN KENTUCKY.
We are gratifed to learn that efforts are ma
king to organize Free State or Republican
party in Kentucky. Now is the time to begin
Both the old parties in that State are stepped
to the eyes in corruption and subseryiency to
Slavery. There is no longer the shadow of
reason to prefer one to the other, or to choose
between evils, where the incest casuists could
not determine which party is most thoroughly
abandoned. Until the present year, there was
difference. The Opposition had the merit of
conservatism, at least, while the Black Democ-
racy, true to its instincts, was unreservedly
committed to the extension and perpetuation of
Slavery, without regard to the means to be EN-.
ployed. But at the opening of the current
campaign for Governor and for Congressman,
the Opposition. composed of OLD Line Wings
and Americans, stole march upon the De-
mocracy. The latter had been disposed TO
countenance non.intervention with Slavery in
the Territories. Whereupon the Opposition
committed themselves unreservedly to the ultra
Southern demand Of slave code for the Terri.
tories. The Democracy were dumbfounded
by this opposition ruse, and for time seemed
to lose hope and confidence in themselves but
it was not long before they rallied, and came
up to the mark set by their opponents.
With as little regard to consistency or to
truth as the Opposition, the Democracy of
Kentucky now demand slave code for the
= ~
difference between them and their unprincipled
antagonists; and every Conscientious man in
the State, who is unwilling to degrade himself
to the lowest level Of Mississippi or South Caro-
lima niggerism, must rally under new standard.
The time is auspicious therefore, for the in
auguration of the party of Freedom in Ken
lucky. 1t should be wisely and we'll done, so that
all honest opponents of Slavery in the State
may unite in its support.
We learn from the Free South, published at
Newport, that weekly meetings are held at that
Office, and that earnest efforts are being made
to organize party for political action through
out the State. The editor of that paper has re
ceived numerous letters from the different coun-
ties, responding heartily to the movement and
we have received a circular from Newport, an
nouneing the nomination of Republican
ticket for Congress and for the State Legislature
in Kenton and Campbell counties.
The ticket is as follows:
REPUBLICAN TICKET.
For Congress-. r. Whittemore, of Campbell
county.
For State LegislatUe-Abner Williams, A. P.
Harrison of Kenton William II. w. Luke, of
Cam pbell.
Every friend to Freedom and Free Labor in
the district will vote for this ticket; and al
though we have no reason to expect its success,
we trust it will receive a respectable vote in the
counties above named.
We have not recently heard from Mr.. Clay,
but we cannot doubt that his gallant and gen
erous devotion to the cause of Freedom will
prompt him to undertake whatever his mature
judgment sanctions as practicable. The intense
Pro-Slaveryism of Kentucky at the present
moment is not real. In the neck-and neck
race of the demagogues for power, they appeal
to what they deem the dominant interest in the
State but when the dust and smoke of the hat
tie clear away, it will be found that Slavery is
not the only or perhaps the chief concern of
the people. There must then come a revulsion
of feeling. Men of common honesty will be
sick and Disguised with their disqualification !;
and we predict that the result of momentary
madness, folly, and recklessness, will be a re.
turn to reason, and to a clear perception that
Freedom is the true destiny of Kentucky. The
efforts of Atchison and Stringfellow (names, by
the way, now almost forgotten) to introduce
the spirit of South Carolina into Missouri have
been followed by just such reaction as we now
predict for Kentucky