Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-24
The Opposition to Mckenzie.

amount to a great deal when we
count noses" So far as we have
been able to ascertain by diligent
inquiry and personal interviews,
there are less than fifty men in Hop
kinsville who have announced them
selves as opposed to Mckenzie. AT
least half Of these are not actively
opposing him and cannot give good
reason for voting against him. 1t is
probable that some of these will
change their minds when the true
inwardness of the opposition to Nc
Kcnzic comes out, as it will Those
who have undertaken the task Of
decrying and disparaging their home
candidate are divided into three sep
arate classes.
First, Mr.. Mckenzie has to encoun-
ter the opposition of envious politi-
clans. He has had more or less of
this to overcome in all of his former
races, but generally it. has been from
those who, under the guise Of pro-
fessed friendship, never let pass an
opportunity to belittle him. This
time it is holder and few would-be
bosses, who imagine they control the
politics Of Christian county, have
loudly proclaimed their intention of
defeating the man they envy and
fear, The politicians who are incit-
ing this opposition arc few in num-
bers, but they have their satellites,
some of whom are interruptions in
their methods, who will undertake
to tell the people how they should
vote. Whether these persons can
control the votes of the intelligent
Democracy of Ilopkinsville and the
county is question to be determin-
ed. AS the feudal system does not
prevail in Christian county, and as
the era of bossism has departed and
every man is supposed to be his own
master, free to think, speak and act
for himself, we are inclined TO the
opinion that these leaders ~ and
moulders of public opinion will fail
by thousand votes to redeem their
pledge to McKenzie's leading oppo-
uent,
A second class-which it is due to
the common sense of the people to
say is very small-is composed of
those who still cling TO the exploded
idea that McKcnzie's speech during
the late campaign kept Republicans
from voting the Democratic ticket.
AS we have previously demonstrated
by figures and facts that this was
not true, we will not dwell upon this
feature of the opposition.
The third, and we are sorry TO say,
the largest class is composed OF
business men who are pre-
JUDGED against Mckenzie because he
happens to live nearer 10 Clarksville
than to this city. With misguided
judgments and intense prejudiccs
they do not stop to consider that Mr..
Mckenzie has never swerved in his
ftaity and devotion to our county and
her interests. Living remote from
the city, he has in all probability
done his trading at the country store
nearest his home, just as the people
of other sections of the county are in
the habit of doing. lie is a citizen of
this county and all his interests are
here. Since he has been in Frank
fort he has never failed to come
home to vote and he has within the
last three years Travelled 500 miles to
vote for some Of the very men who
are now opposing him when they
have an opportunity to do as much
for him without going three squares
from their doors.
What is to be gained by supporting
an outsider? Is there one of them
who pays taxes here, or spends
money in HOpkinsville? An issue
of this kind might be raised between
two county men, but why should
anyone vote for man living 30 or
100 miles away, simply because Mr..
Mckenzie does not haul his tobacco
Is miles to Hopkinsville, but chooses
to patronize his brother-in-law in a
market just as good within nine
miles of his door? Must a man sac
rifice his business interests to prove
that he is not foe to his county
seat! Surely no intelligent man
could ask this?
There is perhaps some little oppo-
sition to Mckenzie not included in
these three classes. Here and there
is man who thinks Laffoon should
be endorsed, or who likes Adair or
Ellis well enough TO vote for them.
We cannot believe that this opposi-
tiCn, which is so groundless and I'M
ilst, can ever become formidable.
The people are bound TO know the
motives of those embraced in the first
class named above, who are making
themselves active in their opposition,
and when they see and understand
the animus of the warfare being
made upon Mr. Mckenzie they will
refuse 10 dance when the string is
pulled. See if they don't.
nnznEE5=u1su=zzsss<lz