The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-20
KENTUCKY INCANDEScENT.
A JOINT POLITICAL DEBATE GRE
ATES TREMENDOUS ENTHUsI-
ASM.

dates-Gen. Hardin Denies a Split
in the Democratic Party on the
Question of Finances and Scores
His Opponent CONGRATULATIONS
Numbers of Men of both Parties
Present.
Louisville, Ky, Aug. 1s.-The opening Of
the most vigorous political campaign ever
known in the commonwealth Of Kentucky
was made at the Auditorium tonight in
the presence of 6,O00 people. by joint de-
bate of three hours between Gen. P. Watt
Hardin and Col. William o. Bradley. the
democrat and republican candidates for
| governor respectively.
| The assemblage was the most represen-
tative that was ever gathered in this state
/ on political occasion, and the enthusiasm
| that burst forth during the speaking was
such as could only be expected from the
/ intense partisans. The auditorium was
4 equally divided between democrats and re-
\ publicanss sthere being about 5000 represen-
tatives of each party present The vast
hall was filled half hour before the time
| set for the opening of the debate and the
/ stage held 400 prominent men of each party
! and newspaper men from all over the
| country. The presence of so many was an
| indication Of the deep interest that Is being
taken in the campaign of Kentucky.
| Mayor Henry S. Tyler, presiding, intro
| duced the speakers. Among the prominent
/ politicians present were Gen. Simon Bo-
/ livar Buckner and the other candidates
for the United States Senate, except Sen
| ator Blackburn.
In opening his speech Gen. Hardin said
that he was not present to answer for him
| self the cunning evasive diplomacy, but
to do battle boldly and bravely for the
principles of democracy. After reiterat-
ing his allegiance to the principles of de-
| mocracy and declaring them necessary to
the welfare of this country he touched
lightly upon the financial issue saying that
the republicans with an impudence that
would be surprising in any other party
| claimed that there were divisions in the
democratic ranks over the currency ques-
tion. There were some who had opin-
ions somewhat different from those ex-
pressed by the London agents in this coun-
try"
There was some division of opinion
when they came together in the state con-
vention / was one of them. l plead
guilty. I never eyaded a duty or shirked
a responsibility. / have boldly uttered
| and honestly advanced my convictions"
He then for half an hour excoriated the
record of the Republican party, speaking
4 only of national affairs. He then said
that the act of 1878 demonetizing silver was
an act of treason to our country.
Kentuckians knew that every demo-
crat at the recent state convention had
| opinions of his own. and each had dared
| to express then ana had mine; they
were honest and / shall not desert them.
| 1t has been my principal to do the will
of my party and to stand on the plat
form which 1t makes, and on that plat
form 1 stand. Our piatrorm calls for
the coinage of both metals without dis
| elimination, providing only that the par
ity of the two metals be maintained.
What Kentucky democrat will not stand
on that platform?
Gen Hardin said that he would give
| Col. Bradley due warning that in the
course of the joint debates he would
| give the people proof that there had
| been gross fraud against the tax payers
in every republican judicial district in
| Kentucky except one. At 9:15 cYclock
Gen. Hardin finished his speech, hurting
charge upon charge against the party
! which he opposed.
When Col. Bradley began the house
arose to a man and gave three cheers.
/ He said he was there to discuss living
issues and not those dead. Answering
a question of Gen. Hardin, he said 1t was
| not true that there was controversy be-
| tween himself and Congressman Walter
Evans on the sound money resolution OF
the republican state convention, and the
Courier-Journal had denied 1t. 1t was al
so false that he had refused to commit
| himself on the currency question. He was
/ for sound money, with a single gold stan
dard, and before the convention told a
democratic editor that he would refuse the
nomination If his party adopted free sill
yer platform. AT this there was applause
! from the democratic side, Louisville DEM
ocrats being almost to a man for a single
/ gold standard.
Col. Bradley also gave considerable
time to general discussion of currency
legislation. He had understood Gen. Har-
/ din to declare himself for the free and
unlimited coinage of silver. The demo-
| cratic state platform was taken up and
| each section attacked. The greater part
| of Col. Bradley's speech was an arraign-
ment of the Democratic party's adminis-
tration in Kentucky.
"They tell YOU" he said, that they di-
vided the common school per capita with
| the colored man, but for seventeen long
years left the colored citizens in the bonds
of ignorance. 1t was not until the COM
mon school was in danger of being wiped
out that they consented to divide it.
Yes, sir, as Gen. Hardin quoted, / did
say in my Worlds Fair speech that Ken
lucky was the grandest state in the union.
Had such not been the case she never
could have stood democratic rule. In the
last decade under the democrats there
has been an increase Of illiteracy in the
state to the extent of $4,000"
comparing the ueInOcTdllc ana fepuDll-
can conventions he thanked God that their
chairman, like Chairman Berry, did not
say "by God gimme a drink of whisky
and then gulp it down before the eonven-
ton. He knew that the democrats indi-
vidually were as honest as any other set
Of people, but as party in Kentucky it
was fraud and a failure. He spoke of
the defalcation of State Treasurer Dick
Tate 1t was the result Of democratic neg
L ligence. He asked Gen. Hardin IT, in the
event Of his election, and the death Of a
United States senator, would he appoint a
free silver democrat to succeed him?
Answering Gen. Hardin's question, he
said that he did not want the New York
law, opening public resorts to negroes, nor
did the negroes want 1t.
At II o'clock. Gen. Hardin began his nf-
teen minutes reply He charged that Col.
Bradley was trying to fool the people by
such clap trap as Sound money"
A Young Farmer Shot.
Walter Valley. Miss. Aug. 19.-A. g.
pfnktu one Of the euDervfearss ~ Xafa-