Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-11-20
AFTER THE STORM.


The excitement attending the late
railroad canvass, is fast cooling down
and the people on both sides are re-
gaining their normal temperature,
Great as the excitement was ii ran
no higher than il did in several rail-
road canvasses in this county, in anti.
railroad times when farmers and
merchants hauled their produce and
goods for thirty miles TO and from
Cumberland river. II was protract-
ed and bitter contest, Judge llise, OF
Russellville receiving at one time the
sum of one thousand dollars for max
ing ten intensely violent and bitter
speeches in this county against the
proposed railroad tax to help build
the present ST. LOUIS and South Eas-
tern division of the l., & N. railroad.
One of Judge Hise's speeches was
made in the old Bethel church near
Pembroke, and to such pitch OF
madness did he arouse his party that
bloodshed was feared. But the tax
was carried, the public cooled down,
and not a voter. white or colored,
can be found i'll Pembroke precinct
who would consent to see the railroad
torn up and the tax repaid which
built it. Neither would single voter
of any precinct in Christian through
which abroad runs, consent to have
the road destroyed on like condition.
If one railroad is so great benefit
so will be another. Ifone has helped |
our trade, country and town, so will
second and third. If Hopkinsville
and Pembroke enjoy railroad why
should not its advantages be extend
ed among the whole people? 1t is
our firm belief that as soon as the
Ohio Valley and the Cairo and Ten
nessee River railroads shall have
been constructed they will attain uni
verssl favor and every body will be
for them.
Therefore let us cease foolish bick-
ering and recrimination and all unite
as citizens of great and rich county
TO develop our lands, in all their va
lied resources, open new channels OF '
business and extend our home mar t
iet. No good, nothing but evil can e
'ome Of family strife and local dis s
ord. Esop's fable of the bundle Of I
ticks is as full of truth to-day as IL Il
vas ages ago. Men who fritter away s
heir strength in assailing others, a
ever amount TO anything, The use II
III man is he who does some actual n
'ood. We need more small farmers, p
agriculture, more factories
nd workshops, and larger home
market. Twenty thousand popula-
ion and increased wealth in Hop 5
,iusyille, will bring lighter taxes '
md better market to the whole |
ounty as surely as the rising of the a
un brings light We recognize the e
-reat advantage which one railroad D
las been in Christian, and we know C
hat competition will bring still Il
Ireater advantages when we shall v
ave others. u
Nor is there any apparent good U
eason for abusing the L & N. rail- o
Dad for its opposition TO the imposi- +
ion of a tax to build railroads which
would compete for its present bust
less. 1t has done exactly what any
would do and no more, TO g
ct and defend itself. No indi- c
'idual would like to be taxed heavily 2
o build up rivals trade. The L. I
! N. railroad now pays tax on its r
in this county, at an assess t
nent of $22,50O per mile, besides s
axation upon its depots, round a
houses and shops. Its opposition to o
he tax from this point was natural. C
let we believe that trade here will i
eceive so great an impulse that the n
:. & N. will ultimately profit by it, 8
md do larger traffic than ever. C