Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-31
The Tennessee Idea Exploded.

Mckenzie does his trading in Ten
nessee and is antagonistic to the
interests of IIopkinsville. This story,
which was told for the truth, had the
effect of misleading few of the bus
mess men Of Hopkinsville, but most
of them considered the source from
which the statement emanated and
have refused to allow themselves TO
become prejudiced against their
county man upon such a ilimsy
pretext. The charge is made that
Mr.. Mckenzie has always sold his
tobacco in GAINESVILLE, Tenn. This
false statement has been so repeatedly
made that many of Mr.. McKenzie's
friends had come to accept it as true,
in the absence of any direct informa-'
ton to the contrary. We have taken
the pains to investigate and we find
that this is like many other stories
circulated to iniure Mr.. Mckenzie
utterly unfounded. Although Mr..
Mckenzie lives l6 miles from Hep
kinsville and within miles of Clarks-
vile, .fow.Gfths Of the crops Of to-
bacco lie has raised since the Hop
kinsviVe market CdS established hare
been sold here. We have this from
most reliable sources and it forever
sets at rest the statement that he has
been an enemy to Hopkinsville. How
many of the men who are opposing
him would do as he has done if SINH
larly situated? Not one. lie has
actually made his business interests
a secondary consideration in order to
stand by his county seat and contrib
ute his mite to add to the prosperity
of her tobacco market. Two years
ago his brother-in-law Mr.. ]. S. Par
IRISH, and Mr.. W. F. Buckner, both
his near neighbors and Christian
county men, went to GAINESVILLE and
engaged in the tobacco business.
His last crop Of tobacco was sold by
these gentlemen and this is the foun-
dation npon which the unjust charge
of unfriendliness to Hopkinsville was
based. Could anything be more con-
temptible than the adoption of such
methods to defeat a man who has
always been firm and mistaken in
his loyalty to his county and county
seat ?This was evinced two years ago
when the question Of building the
I. A. & Il. r. r. was being agitated
and South Christian went wild on
the subject. The road passes within
one hundred yards of Mr.. McKcnzie's
farm, but he firmly and persistcntly
refused to contribute one cent to its
building, although it was expected to
enhance the value of his land and
bring 10 him all of the Benefits 10 be
derived from having a railroad at
his door. HIS neighbors argued and
implored available dollar was
needed-but he remained steadfast and
gave as a reason that the road would
injure Hopkinsville and he was un-
willing to do anything that would
initiate against the commercial
prosperity of the city of Hopkinsville,
A barbecue and speaking was gotten
up within sight of his home to fur
Their the interests of the road and he
was pressed to speak on the occasion
in favor of the enterprise, but refused
even TO do this, at the risk of incur
ring the displeasure of his neighbors
and friends in South Christian.
Could any man be more loyal to his
home interests? His devotion and
his fealty to his peoples interests in
this instance was surely all that his
most exacting enemy could have
asked. When Maj. Gordon went to
Frankfort last winter to get the
Hopkinsville Branch road to New
stead chartered, Mr.. Mckenzie, ever
ready and willing to do anything to
further the business interests
of IIopkinsvillc, helped him
TO work his bill through and used
his personal influence with the men,
bers of the Legislature TO get it pass
ed. These are but few of the many
instances where lie has proven his
fidelity to Hopkinsville, and yet there
are men who are ready to cry him
down because he does not send to this
city for every spool of thread or box
of matches he buys.
There is another phase to this OPP
position. 1t should be borne in mind
that this attempt 10 boycott Mr.. Nc
Kenzie may beresented by his friends
lwho are legion) in South Christian
and the parties who profess to be
uopkinsville's guardian angels,
self-constituted committee TO reward
her friends and prosecute her enemies,
may find that their insane course has
proven them to be her direst foes.
Well may Hopkinsville pray: "Savc
me from my fricnds?" If a South
Christian man be sacrificed simply
because he lives in the southern part
of the county, how can these men ask
South Christian men to sustain them
by their patronage in their own bus
mess enterprises. We say that this
might be one of the results of their
persecution-for it is nothing less
but fortunately such calamity is not |
imminent. The opposition to Mr..
Mckenzie has dwindled to such in
signilicantproportions and his friends
arc so numerous and so earnest in
their support, that Hopkinsville as a