New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-26
THE KENTUCKY CONVENTION.

The Kentucky Democrats. who have assem-
blod at Louisville to nominate state ticket ana
frame party platform, find themselves en-
tangled in issues much graver and far more
threatening to party welfare than any which
have troubled Blue Grass politics for many
years Under the stress OF certain disintesra''
ing influences set at work from the White House
and the Treasury Department, the once compact
and solid organization of the party In Kentucky
has hopclessly crumbled. and the very life OF
Bourbonism seems at last TO be menaccd in the
stanchest Of the Bourbon States.
The immediate issue which the Louisville Con
vcntion must meet Is that Of supporting or not
supporting the recently enunciatcd sound
money" policy Of Mr. Cleveland and Mr.. Car
isle Yet the real cause Of party discord lies
deeper and involves nothing less than struggle
for supremacy between the political ideals ana
forces which have ruled the Democracy Of Ken
lucky for a generation and the newer influences
in the party which have taken their color and
character from the personal opinions and policies
Of President Cleveland. From the first begin
nings Of silver agitation in Congress down to the
second inauguration Of Mr.. Cleveland the politi-
cal olicarchy which governed Kentucky would
have punished as hercsy any denial Of the car
dinal Democratic doctrine Of the free coinage of
silver James b. Beck. the flower OF postbelluin
Blue Grass statesmen, more than any other man.
perhaps, might he described as the Democratic
leader and prophet in National politics Of the
latterday frecsilver propaganda. And where
Beck lc,l Carlisle Blackburn. the Brccknridgcs
and the whole kentucky school followed. While
Beck lived and even down TO the day when Mr.
Carlisle accepted the Treasury portfolio In Mr..
~, tho unlimited coinage OF
silver al IL to was an accepted dogma with the
Democracy Of Kentucky: and now that the rank
and file of the party are forced suddenly 10
choose between the financial teachings OF Beck
and the revised sound money opinions of Mr..
Carlisle II is no wonder that party authority Is
shaken, party leadership is divided, and fears
are freely expressed that in the chaos Of opinion
into which the party is now plunged lis hold on
even an inveteratcly Bourbon Commonwealth
Ike Kentucky may be irreparably broken. As
personal rivalrcs and discords between the lead
crs of the Administration and anti-Admlnlstra-
ton leaders have greatly intensified the bitter
ness of the contest over the pariys financial
policy. II IS not beyond probability that the action
Of the convention may split the present organiza-
ton in fragments and set two distinct Demo
cratic factions scrambling for the control Of the
State machinery and the delegates 10 next year
Democratic National Convention.
An interesting commentary on the hopccssly
intcrnecinc character Of this party contest Is the
conspicuous absence Of Colonel Watterson and
his Star Eyed Goddess from the scene OF war
fare Hitherto the gallant Colonel has not
Stunned the scars and blows Of the political
arena; but now he has fled incontinently 10 En-
rope and washed his hands Of responsibility for
local political management Can 1t be that he
has bought berth to Europe because the bel
| lgerent partisans Of the Louisville Convention
| are about TO lead the Democratic party in Ken
lucky through another "slaughterhouse" into an
| other "opcn grave!