New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-20
HOW KENTUCKY REWARDS REBELS.

COUNTRY PROMOTED TO THE HIGHEST OFFICES
IN The GIFT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
TWENTY-FIVE OUT OF 1wEN1Y-NINE STATE OF
rlcTps. UNITED STATS SENATOR'S AND CON-
GRTssMEN IN THE BFBFL ARMY OR IN OPEN
SYMPATHY WITH REBELLION AT HOME.
lFEoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
LOUISVILLE KY, Oct. 1G.-Southern politicians
invariably deny when talking with Northern men,
that the Solid South is political formation on the
line Of the ideas of Tie beaten rebellion AS an ex-
cuse for their intolerant unanmitv in support OF
the Democratic party they talk of the carpet-bag
poyenments the sectionasm" of the Republic
can party. and the broad National principles"
of the Democracy. Ask them why, II they
are 10 longer hoping to carry out
the principles of the dead Confederacy, they per
sstently prefer for all public offices men VINO were
conspicuous on the rebel side, and they reply that
as all the prominent men in the South went INTO
the Rebellion, the Congressman, Governors ana
Judges elected since have necessarily been men
identified with the Confederacy. They deny that
snch men are preferred because they were reoeis
and insist their present devotion 10 the Union
and their acceptance of the results of the war; This
sort of talk is apt to deceive Northern man IL nc
is not familiar with the real state of politics in the
South. In States like South Carolina, where little
Union sentiment existed and where nearly every
able-bodied men of any social standing joined the
rebel army it seems natural that the present pollt
cal leaders should be taken from the former active
rebel class Thus it is not easy to disprove IN such
State the assertion that there ia no preference tor
rebels because they rebels. The case is differ
ent here. Kentucky did not join the Coniederacy
She sent many thousands Of loyal men to the Union
armies The men who left ner soil 10 join the reDei
forces were by the very theory of the rebel
lion traitors to their State. Lee and jackson
and Wade Hampton CLAIMED That their para
mont allegiance was due to Their respective
States and not to the United States. They drew
their swords ct the bidding of their States but the
Ken.uckian who went into the rebel army drew MS
IN defiance of his State. The principle upon which
the Vlrginian and the South Caronan Is honored
At home as patriot condemns the kentuckian who
ioined the rebellion He was traitor to both
State and country. And yet these double traitors
are the men whom tine Democratic party in Ken
tucky delights to honor to-day The chief quahhca-
ton for Office in this State is good war record Oh
the rebel side.
When was here with President Hayes's southern
excursion party three years ago. was told that few
men succeeded i'll getting Office in Kentucky, no
matter how actively they might support the Demo-
cratic party unless they had been i'll the rebel army
| thought the statement little exaggerated at the
time Hearing it repeated the other morning IN
a group OF gcnllenIcu ol politlCdl piOhii-
nence and thorough knowledge Of Kentucky af-
fairs and ind0rSed by all who were present said
Let us 20 into this matter little more in detail
Have YOU list of your State officers and Congress
men?"
The list was found. One of the gentlemen said:
81 never went over il name by name TO fix each
mans position during the rebellion. but venture
to say that my general statement Will prove
correct. and that nearly all OF them were either
rebel officers stay-at-hOme rebel SYM
pothizers. For while after the war ended
a few Unlcn Colones and Generals who
belonged 20 old kentucky families and called them
selves Union Democrats. managed to get elec ted TO
Office, but they were soon dropped OUT. ana the
reLel element got full control of the party"
An examination of the list by the aid OF the recol-
ections of all present at the conversation tall were
native Kentuckians except MYSELF resulted in the
following notes explaining the war record OF the
men who now hold high executive ana )udlclal
offices in Kentucky or represent the state III Coh-
gress:
Governor Luke p. Blackburn Succeeded rebel
General in tue Office, was himself secret agent OF
the COnfederacy was charged with attempting ~
introduce yellow fever and smallpox lnt0 Northern
citIes dnrng the war by shipping infected clothing;
when running for the Governorshlp he scorned
notice the charge or tnc loIlhuapie pTools pio-
duced to sustain II. - - -,
Iieutenant-GoyeInor James L. Cantrill was
rebel colonel. w :;
the rebel army as officer Rank not ascertaned
Auditor OF State, Fayette Hewitt Adjutant-Gen-
e'Ii TraasnTer a james W. Tate an old official not in
Acknowledgement, r. W. Hardin; was in tho
Sdintant-General. J. p. Nichols, a rebel captain.
Register OF the Land Office, Ralph Sheldon, rebel
captain in the force commanded 6y Morgan; was
IN the raid through Indiana and ONO.
superintendent of Public instruction, the Rev.
j. ID. Pickett. chaplain in the rebel army.
Commissioner Of Agriculture charles w. bauihah,
"A stay-at-hOme rebel.
rebel officer; Charles Rochester, a rebel sympa-
thizer who went South during the war; Charles u.
KOnConit a young nan-t00 young 10 take part III
Iud%es Of the Court of Appeals-M. X. COfer, col
thzer; I. +. Hargs, rebel oncer, rank not known
r II. Hines captain in Morgans cavalry; was III
the Indiana and ONO RAID ~, -;
rebel; j. s. Williams, Confederate Brlgader.
Representatives in Congress-O. Turner, aIeOei
synipathizer; James a. Mckcnze. rehel oincer
John W. Caldwell rebel colonel; j. Proctor
Knott Adjutant-General of rebel forces IN Missouri
and afterward staff officer at large for the Conted-
"racv Albert s, Willis a Young man, not in either
army j. G. Carlisle, rebel sympathiZeT' Styl9d
colonel but not in the army; Joseph I; ,. black
burn a rebel captain of gueras; PhllIp Il.
Thompson. ir rebel officer; T. Turner, Union
man al the opening of the war. but rebel sympa-
thIzer afterward: Elijah G. Phister. Union man.
This is "a significant list. Out of twenfy-nine men
chosen to the highest positions within the gft OF
the Democratic party i'll Kentucky, there IS only
one who made a record on the Union side which ~
rnne,nhered to-day Eighteen were in the rebel
army and seven were open sympathlZers with the
rebellion although they did no fighting Two were
TOO Young when the war broke out 10 serve on
either side IL cannot be truly said that all these
ex.rebels have been placed Office because
there are 10 men of ability in the state who were not
ON the side of the COnederacy during thewar lhere
is NOT a county in Kentucky that does not con-
tain numbers of worthy ana prominent citizens VINO
were faithful Union men. Nor can IT be sald that
&. 4. of Ger
acter who have made their way TO the front IN pub
lie affairs. Most of them are by no means persons
of commanding talents. Few would ever nave peeh
thoughf of for office if they had not been able
To boast of their services 10 the Lost Cause
Why does Kontncky, which stayed III The Inlon,
thrust aside all her citizens who were lalthIul 10
I.ri,r hnr u moi