The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1879-03-05
Ilopkinsville New Era.
Hon. a. ID. Niarcunl.


captain in the Federal army during
the late war. Four years ago the
Democracy of Kentucky elected him
Register of the Land Office, and now
he is candidate for reelection. lie
is opposed by one who occupied the
same position in the Confederate army
that he did in the Federal, and was as
gallant and patriotic as he. "rurn
about is fair play and the Confeder-
ate should come in for the next term. -
Flemingsburg Democrat.
y turn about is fair play, but isn't
the plan proposed by our contcmpora-
ry Il very mockery upon that phrase ?
of the seven State officers elected by
the people four years ago six were eX-
Contederates, Captain Marcum being
the only one who had fought ON the
Union side. In the present contest for
State offices there are upwards of fifty
candidates, only two of whom, we
believe. were Federal soldiers. Must
Captain Marcum give way, then, to
an ex-Confederate, and let the follow
ers of the Lost Cause I'LL all the inn
portant offices in the State, notwith-
standing Kentucky sent nearly three
times as many men into the Union
armies Is she sent into the Conlederacy.
Is there any fair play in such II
course? Is it not grossly unjust to
that large body of true aud gallant
Democrats in Kentucky whose con.
victions led them, to uphold the stars
and stripes in the late war?
Having some right to speak for those
who followed the fortunes of the Con-
tederacy, we unhesitatingly say that
that element OF the Democracy of Ken
lucky will put their unqualified con-
domination upon the policy advocated
by the Democrat 1t is illiberal, pro-
scriptive, undemocrat!c and repugnant
to the sense of justice which actuates
every brave, liberal-minded man.
We do not approve of the idea, here
tofore much adhered to in Kentucky,
of supporting 4 man for Office because
he fought upon this side or that dur-
ing the war. That unfortunate con-
ilict has been over many years, and
the man who revivcs recollections OF
it for the purpose Of making capital in
a civil contest is neither Il patriot nor a
good citizen in any sense OF those
terms. More than this, the candidate
who relies upon the fac; that ne fought
upon a particular side is very apt to be
wanting in proper qualifications for
the office to which he aspires. 1t is
ut least py'im: .f-is evidence that he |
does not possess the requisite de free of /
merit. This, however, can not be ap-
piled to Capt. Mircum, for he claims |
nothing whatever upon the score Of .
his war record At the same time it .
should be borne in mind that the fact I
that he was Union soldier should not /
weigh against him, no matter how
worthy his ex-Con!ederate competitor
may he.
Captain Marcum is a chivalrous
man and AS true-hearted Democrat
a as lives in the State. lie
was Democrat when it was danger
Gus for man to espouse the principles
of that party in his section. He has
attested his devotion to the principles
of Democracy rs have few men in
Kentucky. When he returned from
the army the Republicans had.an over
whelming majority in his district. In
fact, it was only here and there that Il
Democrat could be found in that re-
giOn. But he was not silenced by
threats nor daunted by overwhelming
numbers. He boldly took the stump
in the first political contest that came
up, and made gallant fight in behalf
of Democratic principles. Not only |,
did he do this, but he magnanimously
advocated the restoration of Confeder-
ate soldiers to every right Of citizen
ship and privilege under the laws OF
the State. We have been assured by
ex-Confederatcs who lived in his dis
trict that Capt 'UIrcum was the first
man TO take that position on the stump
in Kentucky. He was far in advance
of the sentiment of the time, and evinc-
ed his manliness by an outspoken dee
laration of his convictions of right.
But over and above all this, and
what is much moce pertinent to the
present contest, Capt Marcum has dis
charged his duties as Register of the
Land Office with signal ability and
fidelity. He has devoted himself as
siduously and unremittlngly to the
task of bringing order out of chaos in
the Land Office department, and all
who are familiar with the amount of
work he has performed bear testimony
to the fact that the Land Office is in a
better condition now than it was in at
any time during the past twenty-five
vnars Yet In the flcn of thnsn inhis.