The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-06-23

gress, and every dollar of which was
deposited in the sinking fund-and the
surrender of the States stock in the
Green and Barren River Navigation,
which was costing the State large sums
annually, and adding nothing to the
sinking fund. The injustice of Mr..
SAMUEL's estimate will at once be APP
parent when we state that the turnpike
stock quoted by him at nearly five mil
lions of dollars was in reality worth in
the market but little more than two hun
dred thousand dollars. Auditor SMITH
corrected this error of his predecessor,
accompanying the correction with a full
and satisfactory explanation Of the de,
probation of the value of the turnpike
stock, which was wrought by the con,
struction of railways that superseded
turnpike travel and traffic. Governors
STEVENSON and LESLIE had made sim,
liar explanations to the Legislature
General HARLAN is aware of these facts,
yet in his harangues he studiously neg.
lects to give them publicity-carefully
conceals them from his auditors. This
is an inexcusable blunder on his part
one that lays him open to the grave
charge of disingenuousness.
The truth of history and General
HARLAN's declarations from the stump
again come in conflict when he treats
of the deficits in the revenue, and as.
serts that they began when the control
of the State government passed into
Democratic hands. This is untrue in
point of fact, and the gentleman knows
it, for the first deficits occurred in the
years 1865, 1866, and 1867, when the
State was dominated by HARLAN's par
ty, and he himself was one of the officers
of the State. Were we to initiate the
uncandor of HARLAN, we would insin.
uate that he and his compatriots stole
and pocketed that money;but we willnot
take him as an exemplar. The true
Explanation of those deficits will be suf
ficient to acquit the Democratic admin
istrations of the State of the wanton
and unfounded charge of corruption in
office he prefers against them. A few
strokes of President LINcoLN's pen de
stroyed nearly one hundred and ten
millions of dollars worth of taxable
property in Kentucky, from which the
State derived revenue of 1926, 629.
This large amount of revenue thus sum
marily cut off, left the amount collected
from the people insufficient to meet the
expenses of the government. When
the Democrats assumed the control OF
affairs, this deficiency in the revenue
was portion of the legacy left them
by their Radical predecessors. The
paramount question now was, What
shall we do to remedy this thing? TIC
increase the taxes of the people in or.
der to make up the deficiency was not
to be thought of. Neither would it dc
to borrow the necessary money and thus
increase the State debt. Fortunately
General HARLAN himself, as legal ad.
wiser of the preceding administrations,
in learned and strong opinion, had
blazed path out of the woods of EN-.
barrassment. There was an abundance OF
money in the sinking fund to meet all
deficiencies, pay every debt owed by
the State, and leave a heavy surplus on
hands. That source was drawn upon, the
deficiencies met, the State Indebtedness
paid off, and to-day Kentucky stands
among the sisterhood of States enfan.
chised from debt. And it was by act.
ing upon the advice General HARLAN
gave Radical administration that the
Democracy were enabled to place her
upon this proud eminence of superior
ity. Even in his laundering General
HARLAN is forgetful of his own record,
and in this matter stumbles fairly and
squarely over himself.