New-York tribune., 1876-10-02
KENTUCKY POLITICS.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept 2o.-ihe current opinion
OF Kentucky politics in the North is, | think that
there is practically only party hcre-a fierce and
Sntolerlpt Democracy Of The Conf dcrit Y Roads
tyne identical in sentiment and purpose with the
ax-rehels of tho States further South. This opinion
ia onl, partially correct. It is well founded far
rs the characte ter of the of Kentucky Democrats
is concerned They are less recORced to the suits
of the war than the people Of the rebel stat 3, be-
cause they never went through tho huniliating but
wholesome school of reconstruction, and their deyo
ton TO what they term the cau,0 OF the South
amounts to a fanaticism. The best recommendation
for Office is still service in the Confederate army
and the Generals ColOnels and Majors who FL the
county Offices and tie Legislature treasure the COM
snissons signed by Jefferson Davis as though
they were patents Of nobility, There is in this
lack OF logic eminertly ch aractorstic Of Southern
ways Of thinking, foI rs Kentucky did not seccde
according to the State Rights theory every one Of
her citizens who joined the rebellion was a traitor
to his State to which re owed paramount allegiance
IL there were any consistency in Southern reason
ing such men, false TO both State aud country,
would be political outcasts, but they have been the
leaders of the Democratic party here ever since they
came back rom the = he incorr' ctneSs OF the
prevalent Northern view of Kentucky politics does
not therefore consist in misap3rcbension OF the
temper of the Democracy but in failing to recog-
healthful and growing Republican organization. /
an surprised at the evidences Of tho rapid advance
The Republican party has made here, at the excel
lent material of which 1t is composed, and at
tie confidence of its leaders that it will in
a few years have a majority Of the votes
in the State, and thus conquer the very
citadel Of Bourbon Democracy.
The first general organization of the parry
in Kentucky was not effected until 1865, when
- f,r l.pp
1870. tine colored people voted and there
was an aggregate Republican vote Of $4,000
In 1871. Cen Harlan made his first canvass
for Governor. and received $4,000 votes the
Democratc majority whics had been as hlgl rs
10000 coming down to $4,000. Next year Gen.
Grants vote was little $4,000. The next IN
,ortopr election was that of 1875 IA Gubernatorial
canvass only occurs once in four years herei Wheh
Cen Harlan again took the field stumped the whole
State speaking in 50 Counties, and in spite OF the
inAuence of the backset suffered by his party
Throughout the North the year before received over
10000 votes. If this is not breaking mp a
marty bv rapid and constant accretions where
can an instance be found3 OF these
10000 Kentucky Republicans it Is safe
to say that 65,OO0 white men. There arc
probably 80 900 negro voters in The State, but rom
10000 to $4,000 are never got out They i've n
counties where the Democrats are IN such large
majority that the Republicans have never been abe
to effect an organization. The remainder stand
steadily by the Republican party for the same reason
that tho people of their throughout the sonth
do-because it gave them freedom and citizenship.
The strength of the Republicans does not, how
ever lie in the sections where tho cOloTed people are
numerous but rather in the mountain region IN the
eastern and southeastern part OF the state. from
the Ohio River clear around TO the point where tho
Nashville Railroad crosses the Tennessee line. The
Inhabitants of the entire Appalachian chain, from
the Pennsylvania border to where il is lost In The
wayelike hills Of Western Alabama. were opposed
to the slave aristOcIacy before the war, were
Unionsts during the rebellion and have been Re
publicaus since. This element forms the backbone
of the Republican party in West Virginia Virginia,
Kentucky, Tennessee Georgia ard Alabama. lt Is
especially strong in this state and controls about
score of counties arranged IN solid pnaanX two or
three counties deep with q single break about mo
way of the limo. 1horc bcs.Grs two isolated
counties in the western end OF the sate-Cuusilan
and Warreu-whs.e a large black element joins with
about an equal force Of white Republicans to give
the party a majority. All the rest Of the State is
Democratic, but tnoTe very Few Democratic
counties in which there are not a number OF inen OF
influence identified with the Republican organ,-a-
zion and controlling a respectable minority vote
With such leaders as Gen. Harlan, eX-Attouey-
General Speed and Secretary BristOw, the kentucky
Republicans are able TO hold thoir own with
their antagonists on the issue OF character
and ability. They cannot be sugnaiHrd
as carpet-baggers because nlnety-nne out
of every hundred are natives; nor as scalawags and
plunde-eTs because they have never had control OF
the State Government and their politics cannot bo
attributed to greed for Office In Tat respect the
boot is on the other leg in Kentucky. i man
wants office and public career be must be a Demo-
crat and he has no motive to be Republican save
one of principle. Only one of tho Congress districts
is carried by the Repubcans-the IAth, now repre-
sented by Mr. White, and that has to be fought for
Robert Boyd is the candidat- ,his year, ana against
him the Democrats are running Mir. Turner whose
record is a notable exception 10 that OF the ctndi-
dates Of his party in Otner districts, for hc was
colonel in the Union army. The Republicans are
also eontesting the adjoining With Dis, ct with
some prospect of success Their nominee Is w. o.
Bradley, who is opposed by Judge Dun nau the pres
ent member.
The temper Of tho Kentucky Democracy is still
bitter and intOlerant. 70 bo "a Republican is to
side inst the South" ana 20 be guilty of treason
to ones section. Thus MT. Brsto,g is told by The
Courer-Journ of this city that he has lost stand
ing at hOIne' because ne made speecl al lndanap-
oils The other day-a very moderate toned speech,
too entirely free from violent partlsa ship But It
was a Republican speech, presenting the issues upon
which the Republican party goes bo ore tho country
in tho present canvass, and 50 thIs representative
Southern newspaper proceeds 10 robuke him
for "arraylng his own section Of the cOun-
try against the North" and, with uue South
ern intolerance, at once attributes unworthy
motives to him. The essence Of Kentucky