The Portland daily press., 1876-07-17
New York Times COrrespondence.l
The Rebel Spirit in Kentucky.
The Enihusiasm Of the TiIden Supporters
manifested in Hostility TO the National
Flag-They compel its being Lowered
SWhni a Democratic Victory wouId Do
for Ken nfucky Republicans

AS an evidence of the intensely loyal char
acter OF the supporters of the Tilden-Hendrcks
ticket in Kentucky want to call the attention
OF your readers to this incident: Carlisle is the
county seat of Nicholas county, Ky, and is
situated on the Paris and Meigsville Railroad,
in the heart of an intense rebel population.
They ratified the nomination of Tilden and
Hendricks with wild demonstrations They
were for peace and good will, for the millenni-
um that would be here when the hated Radi-
Gals were defeated. AS result of the demon
strations and the hopes aroused by the Demo
cratic nominations the uncomfortable element
at this ''peace party gave premature exhibi-
ton of their feelings iu this manner: On the
evening of the Sd of July large number of
flags were hoisted by the Union people in Car
Isle, among these conspicuously the regimen
tai flag of the old Seventh Kentucky Cavalry,
commanded by Col. Leondas Metcalfe, who
died during the war. The widow of Col Met
calfe married Mr.. Brewington.a merchant in
Carlisle, over whose business house this flag
was hoisted. The rebels, stimulated by bad
whisky and prospective hope of victory in
November allowed their real feelings to come
to the surface, and cOngregating together, raised
fierce howl of derisiOn, ard finally demanded
that the flag should be taken down, supple
.menting their demand with threats of burning
the house if their wishes were not respected
Mr.. Brewl2gton, to protect his family and
property, had the flag taken down. Then this
same rebel crowd, flushed with their victory
had flag made, eighteen feet long, and would
have holsted it had not number of ex rebel
soldiers directly interfered, telling them of the
consequences to the Democratic cause if they
permitted such an exhibition to be made at
such time.
The excitement continued that night until
the evening of the 4th, when, stimulated by the
patriotic recolections of the day, as advocated
by the Union loving Courier-J Journal, tie chief
advocate of the TIlden reform peace ticket, they
congregated in mass and began to yell and
cheer for the Confederate flag and finally for
the Southern Confederacy. This patriotic fer
vor found vent in fierce and vile denunciations
of Col Metcalfe and the flag of his regiment
and the Union men of the place, although in
minority, and disiking a conflict, became
aroused, and a number of them rushed to the
scene of disorder. Among them was James
Blair. gallant young fellow, a member Of o
pronounced Union family aud brother of the
Republican candidate for the Legislature from
that district As he neared the fierce crowd
shot was fired, but he pushed on, and another
shot was fired, from the rear of another man,
which struck Blair through the body. The as
sasin turned and ran, pursude by Blair, who
soon fell from exhaustion. He was taken to a
rOom, where he fingered until the next day in
the afternoon, when he died, a victim to the
intolerant rebel spirit which pervades the Ken
tncky Democracy-a brave, fearless man, muir
dered by the unreconstructed rebels who COM
pose the Democratic Party of the State but
not word in condemnation by this ''loyal
patriotic, Union-saving Tilden mouth-pece,
the Courier-J0urnal."
A word about Col. Metcalfe; He was tho
youngest son of former Governor of the
State. He was brave, impetuous gentleman
who denounced rebels and their sympathizers
on every occasion. About the time he was or
ganizing his regiment in 1862 rebel, and cele-
brated as duellist, insulted him In public
speech, and the reply of Col. Metcalfe was SO
bitter that the duellist challenged him. He
accepted, and chose carbnes, the same
weapon with which his regiment was armed
They met and Col. Metcalfe killed his oppo-
nent. He was accordingly hated by the rebels
In that section most bitterly, and although he
died before the war closed, his flag had sufi-
cient in it to arouse the internal rebels when
ever it was thrown to the breeze. Allthis, Mr.
Editor, in the Stare where its chief newspaper
prates about the 'era of peace,' ''the patriot
ism of the Democratic Party" and assumes TO
dictate to the loyal people Of the country what
they shall DO to make this country great pros
porous and happy"
Do you people of the great loyal North know
what victory for Tilden and the Copperhead
Hendricks means? 1t means for the Republ-
cans of Kentucky and the South brutal ostra-
cism. 1t means violence aud outrage. 1t
means what rebels have repeatedly said, when
they are victorious, "You must leave the
State,--yOu white and black"
Let the people know that temporizing is
mistake; that peace is put afar off in the event
of Democratic victory. Let the couserva-
tive elements who live in safety and peace in
the NORTH, understand what we know all too
well. that this talk of rebel submission is the
merest .pretense. The Democrats have rallied
at the ''bloody shirt until repeated murders
and outrages in the South have lost the horror
that should accompany the recital to the North.
The bloody shirt" with all the term i'm
plies, is horrid reality. and you had better
realizelit now than six months hence
In few days you will see excuses and pal
liatons made for this murder in Carlisle of a
Republican by an unchecked rebel mob on the
4th of July, but solemnly assure you that the
truth is given above, and it is only one instance
of the ''indiscretion" of the peace-loving DEM
Ocratic party-.he party that hopes to rule this
country and win inside the Union what they
lost outside. KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN.
LOUISVILLE. July. 10, 1876.