The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-03-27
The Legislative Race.

NoW tiidt We nave Calu1udte IOr
the Senate, the question arises, what
are we going to do about candidate
for the Lower House? The SouTH
KENTUcKIAN favors and counsels the
nomination of candidate who can
poll the full strength of his party and
stand some show of election. If
man can be found who-can poll the
vote Esq. Peay received in 1881, and
in addition the votes of the colored
men who will quit the Republican
party on account of the slaughter of
Wyatt Watt by white Republicans,
the Republican candidate can be de-
feated.
We believe such man can be
found in the county, but caution
must be used in selecting him. He
must be man whose record is good
as a Democrat and whose fealty to
his party has never been doubted.
We want no wish-y-wash-y business
in the race. We want no tacit en-
dorsement of milk-and-cider candi-
date in the vain hope that we can
slip up on" few Republican votes.
We want straight-out, consistent
Democrat, who has even held aloof
from disorganizing schemes and who
will make the race only as the unani-
nous choice of the party. When
such man is found let the Democra-
cy as with one voice call him to the
front, place their standard in his
hands and bid him carry it forward
to victory, or honorable defeat.
In order that the Democratic nom
inee may stand some show of cleo
ton, he must be man who is will
ing to let the turnpike question re-
main as it is. Mr.. Brcathitt will
force the issue upon any man who
will oppose him, unless his opponent
be man who occupies the same po-
sition in regard to the question as he
does himself. This troublesome mat
ter was settled by the last Legislature
and every fair-minded man in the
county, whether he favors or opposes
the bill, ought to be willing for it to
be settled finally by the people at tie
polls. 10 nominate a man who will
suffer this question to be raised will
be suicidal on the part of the Demo-
cratic party and result in his defeat
by from 1000 to l,500 votes. Nomi-
nate a man who will not sacrifice
party success to test a local measure
and you take from the Republican
nominee his only issue and force him
to stand upon the rotten platform of
the Republican party, which the pco-
pie every where repudiated last fall.
1t need not be a friend of the turn
pike bill, but merely a man who is
willing to let it rest as it is and let
the vote of the people decide it in the
end. The measure is not a political
one, and to bring it into the canvass
will do moret to disrupt the Demo-
cratic party than twenty ordinary de-
tcats. The colored voters almost to a
unit will favor the bill and at least
one half of the white Democrats,
most of whom will vote for Breathitt
before they will support a Democrat
who would attempt to have the law
repealed. Numbers of good Demo-
Gratis have already said as much and
in behalf of the party we wish to warn
the Democracy not to nominate q
man who will bring this issue into
the race. He will not only bring GER
tain defeat upon himself, but will be
a lightweight for Esq. Peay to carry
and will weaken his chances for cleo
ton to the Senate.
There are men in the county who
will make the race and stand an ex-
ccllent chance of winning. Let the
Democracy look around them and
choose one who will 90 in to win
and who will represent the party and
not a clique or faction. We shall
watch with interest the developments
of the future. 1t would be better, far
better, to have no candidate than to
nominate one who would disrupt the
party and probably defeat our candi-
date for the State Senate.