Semi-weekly interior journal., 1883-08-03
The State ELecf,on.

ting from the various official report
made since 1860, advancing one tabl
only 10 withdraw IL and substitute an
other when il is shown how untenabl
are their concl usions.
They complain because of the neg
lect Of public education, and when !
is shown that the taxation for publ,
schools Is increasing steadily the,
point to this increase as an evidenc,
Of democratic extravagance. Tbey
assert the State debt is increasing, bu
when il is shown that the debt is pait
promptly at maturity and that th,
means TO meet every possible obliga
iion Of the State are amply provided
they assert that this is impossible be-
cause the assessments are less, and
consequently that the income Of the
State from taxation is less than in
1865.
The republican campaign is one OF
fuss and feathers; ii is campaign
founded ON bold assertions, which are
contradicted by the very authorities
to which appeal is made.
Fortunately the republican party
has never been in power in the State
OF Kentucky. Its leaders compare
the present with the war period, but
the men who then controlled the State
were Union men, and the Union par
ty was made up Of the old wings and
democrats. When the war was over
these men formed new party alliances;
some joined the republican party, but
the great majority have ever since
followed the fortunes OF the democrat
ic party, and the policy which distin.
guished the State during the war has
been changed in no essential particu.
lars since, except, as we have stated,
we are dealing much more literally
with the school system.
We do not deny that abuses have
crept in; we have not failed TO point
to these and TO urge the Legislature
10 reform them. Our assessment
system needs TO be radically changed.
Ii allows too great latitude TO local
officers. and serious injustice is the
consequence.
But we bold that these changes and
all changes should be inaugurated and
carried out under the direction of the
democratic party. The democrats
understand better the necessities ofthe
case; they are more in harmony with
the progressive spirit Of the day; they
are less welded to past abuses, less
given TO extravagance, more consider.
ate Of the people than are the repub
licans. In twenty years the republi.
cans Of Kentucky have failed TO ad-
vance any policy or to formulate any
definite proposition for the improve
ment of affairs in this State 10 which
they can point as a party measure.
Their record as the party in opposi-
tion is the most barren, the most con-
the most absurd ever made
by any party,
Compare it to the record of the
democratic party in national affairs.
No student of history since the war
fails TO see tina: the influence of the
democratic party on the course of leg
on the formation of public
has been immense, forcing
The republican party time and again
10 abandon many of its most cherish
shed plans, and at all times modify.
ing its most obnoxious measures. This
IS real opposition, and the importance
'f work of this character cannot be
over estimated.
We have had nothing of this kind
rom the republican party in Ken.
lucky. II has no force, no vitality,
40 power over public opinion. Its
allure has been complete. The dem.
'crats have practically had no oppo-
Iition and the republican leaders
themselves have seemed TO be content;
hey have managed to keep the party |
10 small that, counting the negroes
'ut, as they do, there have been al. |
most enough Federal Offices to go
round. The only thing that dis.
urbs their harmony is the fact that
his "almOst" is not altogether sufh.
lent to satisfy the white Ohice-seeksrs.
Why should such miserable fail.
Ire as the republican party in Ken
ucky expect TO be intrusted with con-
rol of our State aiIairsS Their can.
lass is itself a farce, false pretense.
I is made not to affect public senti.
nent in Kentucky, but to manuiact-
ire ammunition for use at Washing.