Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-09-03
The Anti Monop press of this State

The Anti Monop press of this State
and the Democratic press of every
other State, is terribly distressed at
the confused and deplorable state of
things existent In South Carolina,
under the administration Of Gov.
Moses, who has been chosen by the
people of that unfortunate State as
their Governor. And they say he
pretends TO be a Republican and
therein lies the sole cause of the col
icy troubles of the am. papers.
They have no tears to shed over
poor, degraded, suffering, schoolless,
churchless, rowdy-ridden, thief
haunted, lawless, Democratic Texas,
80 intensely Democratic, (and that
means the same as Anti-Monopic)
that not even Van Bennett could stay
there. General Ruin, democratic,
governs In Texas, and Moses in South
Carolina. That makes the difference,
you know. It's all in the answer to
the question: "Does he call himself
a Democrat or a Republican? or is it
a democratic or Republican State?
But let us look into the condition Of
another State far enough north to be
happier, but even more intensely
democratic than Texas. Kentucky's
oldest inhabitant cannot remember
that he ever heard Of any other than
Democratic rule in that State. The
Courier Journal is one of the most
creditable institutions in the State
and Is noted for its honesty, indepen-
| dence ;and fearlessness. Here is a
glimpse of the picture it paints rep
resenting the condition of the Demo-
cratic State of Kentucky:
"The law against the carrying OF
concealed weapons is dead letter.
Every coward and bully goes armed.
Every case of manslaughter goes un-
punished. Every case of shooting
with intent to kill passes by as an
amusing episode, provided there Is
no funeral. Even the most atrocious
| cold -blooded, deliberate, malignant,
dastardly assassinations have left no
| mark on the statute books except the
| mark of acquittals purchased by
money or intimidation. Red-hand-
ed murderers occupy places of respon-
sibility and trust. There
arc at this moment fifty cases of ho-
mocide on our criminal docket,
which ought to be recorded rs mur-
der cases, where the defendant is at
large on bail, with the least possible
danger OF an adverse result. There
are Ave hundred cases Of petty shoot
ing, with intent to kill, that will
never come to trial. In
a word, there is no security for life,
because no law for those who take it,
in Kentucky, and has not been this
many a year"
Now is the Republican party-are
President Grant and his administra-
tion responsible for this State OF af.
fairs in Texas and Kentucky? The
people in Iowa are enlightened and
honest as a rule; the great mass, OF
all parties, are moral and upright
and they generally choose honest
men to represent them in official po-
sitions. They sometimes are de.
ceived, and find after 1t is too late
that they have chosen rascal to
some Office. That fellow, when they
have found him out, .hey dispose of
as soon as they get a chance at him.
We are not greatly troubled in Iowa
with such disorders as curse most of
the Southern States; and simply be-
cause we have more enlightened,
moral, and christian population. If
there are bad rulers and bad govern
ment in the Southern States-if the
men chosen to Office by the people
are generally bad, itmust be because
there il moral rottenness and igno-
rance among the people who select
such men. If they like such men
and such ruling, and choose them in
preference to better, why not let
them have their choice, since we
cannot help it. They choose their
officers and we choose ours. We
have no more right to interfere with
their affairs than they with ours.
The people themselves are to blame
and not the party. The party is of
the people, and is what the people
make it.
After Gates speech at Centerville
a few days since, Capt. Fee asked
permission to reply, but was refused
by Gates, who said he had challeng-
ed Judge Sampson, and as Sampson
would not resign his Office to make
the canvass, he would not meet any
one else. or course Gates is just the
man to claim credit for having chal-
/ leuped Sampson to make the canvass