The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-05-22

IlNlalu III lNHNiu 10 AlAt NidllhN Oh the
various candidates in ;hiS primary
canvass, thinking that it was a family
dispute. and should be settled H. yri-
vateiy rs possible, hut Is the friends
Of Mc,srs. Smith and Cox have been
presenting their respective claims, and
investigating the records OF each with
the view of arou>ing the preiudiceS ol
the people in order that political cari-
tai might be gained, We deem it not
imprudent 10 say something in regard
10 the claim, Of Mr.. Hooker, who,
with such native modc>ty, Is making
the canSass for the Democratic nomi-
nation for the same oilicr--the Coauty
Court Cierk-hip.
- far IL Mcssrs. Smith and Cox
are concerned, We have naught against
them rs gentlemen, and our object is
not TO dispalagc them, nor do We in
tend To iuin la the hue and cry about
the town charter and .scil-out. ."
These they are discussing themselves,
ard rs Mr.. iiockcr does not seek To
ride into position on the downfall of
these gentlemen, We will not deal IN
these things, but simply ask the voters
OF the county 20 give MIR. Hooker a re-
specttul hearing. aud not allow the
sensational harangue OF his compCll-
t..rs To draw their attention from him,
thinking that lie j, not in the race.
In The first place, he saws in his speech
e. that he does not hold that he has
any peculiar claims upon the people.
lie comes simply rs a citizen OF the
county. claiming not to be martyr
10 his country : cause or party's inter-
est, but possessing the requisite con-
siilutional qualifications. he simply
asks TO be entrusted with this public
service, pledging himself 10 be respon-
Sihle for the faithful discharge Of the
duties of the same. What more can
he promise? What more would YOU
have him promise? Ii he will be
responsible for the faithful discharge
of the duties, what more can any
other man do? DO you say he is too
young? lie is constitutionally old
enough, and what would years add to
his intellectual capacity, without eX-
peucnce IN the business. and how can
he have m opportunity to test his ca
paci,y if YOU always go on the princi-
pal that experienced men must fiji
offices. Must young r.en be told that
they must wait until middle age be-
fore they shall have an opportunity to
do anything? Will YOU tell YOUR
sons who are laboring to qualify them
selves for citizenship that they must
lie upon their oars and slumher on
until youth and vigorous manhood
have given way to middle age before
lhry can expect TO be shown any IA
vors in this country? or is not youth
the time they need encouragement
and succor? For remember, if this
principle is plausible in regard To the
Offices which the people want filled, is
it not plausible in regard TO school
and every other vocation
II does seem that in this age of youth
full rccklessnes> and dissipation, the
young man Of industrious, energetic
habits should have the encouragement
Of the people. Do you ask is he quail.
fled We answer that he has a fair
English education. and general knowl-
edge of county affairs, and what more
did any clerk Of the Ohio County
Court know before he had experience.
Capt. Cox was not an experienced
clerk once. yet he has served the
county as deputy clerk. and as clerk f.
to the satisfaction of the people, and |
with great credit TO himself. The |
people might have objected 10 Mr.. I
Smith on the same grounds, when he |
offered as a candidate for Sheriff, ]
saving that he was Young man. and |
had never been sheriff, yet they hon
7red him with the Sheriffship, and for
IwO terms he filled the position to the |
entire satisfaction of the people, and |
10 his own honor. Had the people /
put him down when he was aspiring.
.implv because he was young man
md had never been Sheriff, he would |
vet have been disqualified |
either for the Sherif>hip or Clerkship. |
so if you expect to have young men |
qualify themselves. you should en-
'ouIaae their youthful exertions.
Do you ask if he is n Democrat !
We learn that he has always voted |
Democratic; and it is evident that it
ras rot for "pay," but for principle,
rom the fact that he has never been
In ofiice-seeker. and had not so intend
ID until recently, when. upon the So
icitalion of some friends, he concluded
o ask The Democracy to recommend
lin TO the people of the county for
heir sufira e. Finally, you may ask,
where is he from and what he has
,een doing? We answer that he was
,orn and raised in the Centertowm
district, This county, brought up on
he farm. engaging in all the duties
md labors of farm life until he
cached his majority, after which,
Hxious TO acquire an education more
Extensive than could he obtained in
he common schools of the neighbor-
rood. he has since been alternately
eachimg and going 10 school, 50 as 10
Nc able to pay his way to the higher
of learning. Mr.. Hooker
Irges no peculiar claims. prosecuiss no
i,arges, but ssys in his public speech
= that he would scorn TO ride into
he Office on the dement's and short
omings of his competitors, but only
Ipon his own merits and upon his own
apacities he asks their suffrage. He
ounds no bug1e for himself, aud it is
ertainly not presumption for young
nan To aspire to an honorable position
nd To n useful life. Then. as ;he
iher two gentlemen have just been
IGNORED with two terms each of the
est offices in the gift of the people Of