The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-30
KENTUCKY POLITICS.
The Gree Trade" Child SmOthered in the
House of Its Friends.
Special to the indianapolis journal.

The ''Free Trade" Child SmOthered in the
House of Its Friends.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
LOUISVILLE, April 29.-The result of the
county conventions held in this State yesterday
to select delegates to the State Democratic con-
vention, to be held at Frankfort on May T. was
surprise to those having the Mcdonald boom in
hand, 1t was said by the managers of the In
diana statesman that Kentucky would be unani-
mously for him, but instead these county con
ventious have proved his strength infnitessimal
as compared with that of Tilden, who holds a
place in the hearts of Kentucky Democrats sec
ond only to the memory of some of their own
dead but not forgotten leaders of long ago. The
old cry for 'tariff reform" went up almost unan-
imously clear along the line, but the name of
Mcdonald was not by any means the one by
which the Democracy hoped to get into power
and work this essential" reform.
Briefly summarized the result of those conven-
tions is this: Nearly fourff of the delegates
to the State convention are sent without in
structions, but with preference plainly expressed
for ''the old ticket"-Tilden and reform-with
any good man for second place. and that man is
very seldom mentioned by the name of McDon-
aid; these delegates will not permit instructions
by the State convention for any candidate,
less it be Tilden and the Mcdonald boom will
be killed, so far as Kentucky is concerned, in its
incipiency
This result, made only too appraent by Mon
days conventions, has proved severe blow to
the accoucheurs of this new prodigy who is to
carry the South like a whirlwind, and revolu-
tionize the North taccording to McDonalds or
in, a;fr bo 4ba -
securing also defeat for the
proposed tariff for revenue only"
pill which it is intended to administer to the
State convention. The conservative element of
Kentucky Democracy has grown wonderfully in
the past few years. and it will be power in the
coming convention whose influence will be
sensibly felt. This element does not indorse
The extreme ree-trade views of Messrs Waiter
son, Carlisle, Morrison and others, and will
deavor to prevent the adoption Of a resolution
committing the party to any such imbecile plat
form secured defeat in 1876 and 1880. 1t is
not for this reason alone, however, that the con-
servatives will oppose trade plank, but be-
cause they are fair minded and sensible enough
to consider the commercial interests of the
country before party fealty The State is pro
crossing too rapidly under the present tariff
laws to make a change radical as
proposed either safe or advisable and
therefore they will oppose it with all their
strength-whethers successfully or not remains to
point to a victory for them.
Figure any way you may, free trade defeat
in the matter of presidential preferences is in
evitable in Kentucky The State convention
will not instruct for Mcdonald, will be wasting
wind if it instructs for Tilden, and none of the
other candidates now before the people for whom
they could instruct represent the extreme free
trade faction. Thus it will be seen that in the
home of its birth, and under the very eyes of its
paternal progenitor the tariff for revenue only"
baby will be disowned and an outcast.
The question as to which of the Republican
candidates for the presidency will secure the
vote of the Kentucky delegation to Chicago
seems to be pretty well settled. The Repub-
licans almost to a man, speak in the highest
terms of President Arthur, and majority seem
to think his nomination for a second term about
the most sensible thing that could be DONE 1t
is quite safe to say if the State convention in
structs at all it will be for Arthur, and in any
case he will have the greater part of the votes
from the State Blaine has few ardent fol
lowers but not enough to secure the delegation
for him, while Lincoln and Logan both, among
the colored voters, have warm and earnest
friends The State convention meets on Thurs
day in this city, and is attracting general inter
est, not only among Republicans but among
Democrats, who rule are pleased with Mr..
ArthurS administration, and would rather see
him elected if they must have a Republican Pres
ident than any one now aspiring to that honor.
Men of all political faiths have good word for
Arthur and if he is nominated he will receive
more votes in Kentucky than any Republican
ever received before.