The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1900-10-10
The State Election and the Events Follow
ing Ably Reviewed by Hon.
Lewis McQuOWn.

The speech OF the Hon. Lewis Nc
Quown, delivered at Brandenburg
Monday to a large audience was OF
special value as the first complete
summary that has been presented to
the voters of the law and facts bearing
upon the contest prosecuted at Frank
fort by the Democrats last winter for
the state offices As chief attorney for
Mr.. Goebel, Mr.. McQuown is better
qualified than anyone else to present
this review OF the most important
chapter in Kentucky political history,
and he has done it thoroughly. The
voter who really wishes to understand
the merits of that contest will profit
from a careful reading of MIR. Nc
Quown's speech, which is published in
full below. 1t refutes many nisstate-
ments and will correct many erro-
neous impressions Mr.. McQuown
said.
An issue OF overshadowing import
ance confronts us and threatens our
national existence. We are face to
face with the problem whether the ma
ton shall continue to exist as a re-
public or an empire. The Republican
party stands for the empire. The ad-
ministration has abandoned the fun
damental principles upon which the
struggle for independence was won by
our forefathers, and boldly adopted
the Imperialism policy OF England.
Territory acquired and held in viola
ton OF the supreme law Of the land Is
governed as England governs her
crown provinces. The spirit of greed
dominates the Republican administra-
tion in its foreign policy. Lives and
blood are freely given in exchange for
trade.
Our internal policy is likewise the
result OF greed. The combinations OF
wealth and trade control the country,
and we are being ground between the
upper and neither millstones. The
safety and welfare of the republic at
home and abroad demand a change in
this ruinous policy. But do not I'M
derestimate the importance OF these
national questions when | say that in
Kentucky there is a local issue OF
greater interest, which presses for i'm
mediate consideration and determine
ton at the polls in November. Leav-
ing the national issues, | shall today
speak OF this state issue alone.
The Republican Platform.
The PLATFORM OF principles adopted
by the Republican party OF Kentucky,
while protesting devotion to civil lib
erty, and the cause OF honest cleo
lions. with desperate inconsistency APP
proves the lawless act OF the bloodlest
band OF conspirators who have ever
held power in an American common
wealth. These acts OF infamy are de-
scribed as efforts" for the preserva-
ton OF liberty and social order. and all
good citizens are invited to unite with
this party for the purpose OF further
ing these objects.
BY way OF preface to this astounding
statement approving the action of
Taylor and his co-officials," II is de-
clared, in the Republican platform,
that officials elected by the people
have been denied their offices
and that the city of Louis
Vile and the counties of John
SON. Magofin and Martin have been
denied the right to participate in the
conduct of the government, and to ex-
press their choice of officials at the
polls.
These charges, based upon igno-
rance OF fact and\law, or willful per-
version OF both, have afforded the Re
publican press and nominee for Office
and its campaign orators text for
unreasoning denunciation and bitter
invective. Those who are ignorant of
the law and the facts do not seek en-
lightenment, and those who possess
this knowledge join in the cutlery for
partisan purposes. In this common
and indiscriminate abuse are included
the laws Of the commonwealth. the
general assembly itself. the courts,
the juries, the officers charged with
the execution of the law, including
many OF our most eminent and hon
ored citizens, and, in violation Of COM
mon decency and the proprieties OF
life, the partisan press and orators
have descended to bitter personal
abuse of the victim of Republican as
sassination, who sleeps in the historic
cemetery of Kentucky, where present.
ly a monument will be builded to tell,
in deathless tones, the story of his life
and death. The friend OF the people,
the foe OF their enemies, his name
and fame safely guarded in their
hearts from the shaft Of partisan NAL
ice,
HE sleeps an iron sleep
Slain fighting for his country"
Gubernatorlal Contest.
In view, however Of this persistent
denunciation and Misrepresentation,
sparing neither the living nor the dead,
It seems proper today, my fellow-citl-
zens, for a short time to view the CUB
ernatorial contest, and its determine
ton by the general assembly,, together
with the law and facts upon which its
action was based.
Prior to the act of March 10, 1898,
the governor, attorney general and
secretary of state, and the auditor, in
the absence Of either, were constitut-
ed a board for examining the returns
of elections for governor and other
state officers. (Sec. 1912, Ky. Sta
tutes.) By the amendment of March
TO- 1898, the state board of election
commissioners were invested with the
duty heretofore conferred upon the
governor and his associates, and given
the same power, in precisely the same