The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-08-09

promote Mr.. Spald!nS solely or MANI
ly because of being Catholic should
have been provoked into resentment"
and again, "whilst the Catholics of
the district are substantially a unit for
Spalding, Protestants are divided.
What conceivable object could the
writer have had in view, m embody-
ing these statements in his card, I'M
less it was to "provoke" still other
friends into resentment" and induce
them to vote for him for the reason
that Catholics arc alleged to be sup
porting me. Like cluses produces
like effects. If the facts stated "pro-
vOked some of his friends into resent
ment," the knowledge of those facts,
conveyed through Mr.. McKenzie's
card, would most probably produce the
same effect on others.
Ifreligious prejudices ought not to be
appealed toin aid of political aspirant,
is it right for an aspirant to make
statements that inevitably provoke
those prejudices ?
The consequences of sucn agitation
will rest with him who furnishes the
food on which it lives.
But it is due to the Catholics of The
district to state that they are not unit
for me in this race. Several promi-
nent and most influential Catholics in
Daviess county and elsewhere are sup
porting Mr.. Mckenzie. And it is
further due to them to state that none
of those who support me. so far as 1
know, are influenced by the fact that
l am Catholic.
By far the largest number of Cath
olics, in this district reside in Daviess
County. Their past conduct negatives
the idea that they arc supporting me
because of my religious views. Some
facts will establish this Judge Geo.
w. Triplett, County Judge of Davies
county. Baptist, was elected over Mr.
Ed. Berry, prominent Catholic, and
at the election received more than two
Catholic votes to Mr.. Berry's one
Thos. c. Jones ran for County Court
Clerk against Mr.. Joseph Thomas, a
Catholic, and received by far a larger
Catholic support than was given to
that gentleman; and Mr.. John G. Nc
Farland ran for Circuit Court Clerk
against Mr.. Thomas with the same
result. In March last went to Da-
viess county to solicit support in the
canvass for Congress. At that time
Hon. Clinton Griffith, a Protestant,
was thinking of becoming candidate.
The citizens of that county, Catholic
and Protestant, declined to commit
themselves to me until Mr.. Griffith
should decide whether he would run or
not.
Such having been the former course
of the Catholic voters, the fact of their
now favoring my pretensions must be
explained upon other grounds than
that of coincidence of religious views.
1t is probable that they were "provok-
ed into resentment" by the knowledge
of the fact that my religious opinions
were, from the onset made the pre-
text of opposition to me by not few
persons in the community. But the
fact that nearly all the native Catho-
lies of this part of Kentucky sprang
from the old Catholic communities of
Marion, Washington and Nelson coun-
ties, (where my father was reared and
where very many of my relatives have
always lived) and are bound to my
family by associations of neighborship
and ties of blood and marriage is of it.
self sufficient to account for their
preference for me over a total stran-
ger, as my opponent is. The exis-
tence of this state of case has been re-
cognized by Mr.. Mckenzie in his joe.
ular offer, in our public discussions, Of
handsome reward for the photograph
of any man in Western Daviess coun.
ty who is not related to me.
| have never asked a man to vote fol
me because of my religious views. o.
course, / have not introduced, "fo
mented" or encouraged the agitation
of this question. There is not coun.
ty in the district in which the Catho
lies comprise one-fourth of the voters
and it would be the sheerest madness
in mo or my friends to introduce
question into this race which woulC
inevitably rebound to my injury.
f have everything to lose and nothing +
: gain by such a course. But the agita
, ton of this question is very wrong
Tho Catholic vote Of the cOnntry wa