The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1882-05-31

calculated To disqualiiy him for an 81
licient discharge of the duties of IA
Office. Subsequent events have onl
deepcned and emphasized this cOnvic
tion, aud we shall not support Captain
Henry, not merely becau,r he go
drunk, but becaIlac Of his general unfit
ness, AMI in determining his qualifica
lions it is certainly proper to take int,
consideration his habits.
We believe further that the only wa,
To compel conventions to put bette
men before the people for their support
Is To beat the bad ones. The publ,
have seen "a sufficient number of incom.
petents elected Ia the most important
offices by overwhelming majorlties
/ simply because they wore about thcil
! neck, the amulet Of IA Democratic nom
| nation. The wrangle for these numi.
| nations has become 50 disgracefnl and
Office, of the greatest dignity 80 de-
graded 10y the material put in them,
that many men of capacity and char
acler refuse To engage ia the dehasing
contest. The post of honor is now un-
qu'stionably "a private station. DEM
OcratS are alone responsible for this
state of affairs in Kentucky. They
have gone on from bad to worst have
allowed themselves tU he led and con-
trOllcd 10y a selfish and self-asscrling
knot Of intriguers and political iobbers,
who have brought nothing 10 the PARTY
but reproach and contempt. They
have been guided by no principle, and
have recognized no responsibility. They
have turned from the leadership Of
their purest and best men aud enlisted
blindly, like 80 many mcrcenaries, UNI
der the banner of any vulgar adven-
turer, skilled in the arts Of demagug-
ucry and ring manipulation. The time
for reform has come. The work of pur-
ilication-of restoring the party to it,
old position of respectability and honor
cannot bc commenced too early.
The shallowest quack in the land
may sell out the party at will; may be
caught almost in the very act Of he
trayol, and yet, turning with a few
coaXing words Hcroding Hcrod in
his professions -wheedle every fool into
his following.
80 far a. We are concerned we may
point with some feeling Of pride to a
lifelong service to the party, as well rs
an honorable membership. We have
given too many evidences of devotion
Ia the principles of Democracy to have
our loyalty questioned except by the
most shameless and irresponsible of
idiots. We have never attempted to
betray its cause by word or deed and,
measured by the test of sincerity and
sacrifice, we yield superiority to no
Democrat in the land. In the darkest
hour of the party's history, when assas-
sins and traitors were directing their
cursed steel al its hearts, aud the cry
arose that the party was "dead and
ought To die" we remained true. But
We did not get our ideas of Democracy
from the popinjlys Of the press or adj
venturous quacks. We have derived
them from the fathers of the church,
from the regularly anointcd, and we do
not propose 10 submit the mode Of their
proper application to pot-housc ring
of wire pullers or the cliqucs of the
crossroads.
Every thoughtful Democrat must nd-
init that the party needs publication
aud discipline. An example must lie
made, and after thinking over the
whole situation, we don't know but
that Captain Henry would be judi
cious selection. He has, besides, in
vitcd special attention to himself on a
noted occasion, rs it he challenged the
public to the choice. 1t is likely several
lessons will be needed, and the sooner
start in politics as well rs in horse-r,lc-
ing.
1t will he remembered that we urged
the State Central committee To with
draw Captain Henry's name. They
preferred the advice of certain sO-called
prominent Democrats" and deter
mined to retain him rs our standard
bearer The responsibility for the re-
suit is with them, not with Us. We
have done our duty, and now decline
to support their nominee, because we
think both the public and the Demo-
cratic party will he benefited and not
injured by his defeat.-LOuisriUc Post.