The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1903-09-16
,remacy did not disturb the dreams Of

The platform adopted by the repub-
ucans at their convention In Louisville
asst July Is without doubt the most COM
plete combination OF hypocrisy, fraud and
misrepresentation ever put together. II
Is an insult to intelligence, a contradic-
-s1n of truth, and libel upon every
subject with which II purports to deal
II has never been equaled in brazen eff
frOntery since the republican convention
three years ago deliberately Endorsed w.
5. Taylor, after ne had been indicted for
murder and ANONYMOUSLY fed from the
state, for his patriotic and resolute
course. Jhe republican convention last
July cheered Voeiferously the name of the
same Taylor whose engagements in In
diana did not permit his attendance at a
convention In Kentucky. Had circum-
stances allowed him to be present, the
ovation accorded him would have exceed
ed every other demonstration in that con-
ventfon. They yearned to see him that
they might pay tribute to the man who
was the arch-conspirator in the assassi-
nation OF VIM Goebel and the cowardly
murderer who will not face a Kentucky
jury on trial of his guilt. This was the
same convention which honOred me
through its resolution and its speakers
by denouncing me and my administration.
glory in its condemnation. rejoice that
those who applaud assassins have no
praise for me. If anything has happened
IN brief career which should entitle my
name to honorable mention to posterity.
II is the fact that this convention con-
terred upon me the coveted distinction Of
It's miserable censure. Ny pride is exalt-
ed when | think that my conduct in off,
ciel life has met with their cordial dis
approval My administration of the af-
fairs OF state is commended for all time
to come by the denunciation OF those who
exulted In GoebeFs death and who love
to pay homage to his murderers. Ny
position in the confidence and affection
OF the good people of Kentucky is secure
so long as l can merit the condemnation
OF such a convention as this.
Men who believe In murder as a polit-
ical necessity have no right to criticse
the actions or conduct Of their opponents,
nnd are entitled to no credit or consider
alton from honest people.
In their platform they say they are OPP
posed to assassination whether in Ser
via or Kentucky" We hope they are
for we know they are not about Ken
lucky. II depends entirely upon the ques-
ton as to what party the murdered king
of Servia belonged; il he was a repub-
hcan, they mean what they say; but If
he was democrat, then they are no
more sincere than they are in what they
say about Kentucky. The republican
leaders of Kentucky should remove to
Belgrade. where they would find a more
congenial climate for the use Of their
improved methods Of political warfare.
The present king Of that country would
probably grant them the same immunity
from requisition as the present governor
or Indiana does. 1t is quite certain that
X the king should find his throne in
could borrow a Marlin rifle from some
prominent republican federal oficeholder
In kentucky, who would cheerfully lend
II, on account of the increased value OF
the gun after the deadly work had been
ACCOMPLISHED. The man who wrote that
platform about assassination in Servia
might be considered humorist if the
subject was not so CHASTITY. His cruel
nature. as he penned those lines, was full
of delight when he INDUCED in such mock
cry, and saw in his minds eye the form
of kentucky's governor, struck with the
assassin's bullet and writhing in agony
on the state house pavement. And yet
these are the people who denounce me!
This is the platform which says my adj
ministration has been badl In my fond
est dreams of popular favor I never ex-
pected such complete triumph and vim
dlcatiOn as this Mr. Belknap, the NOM
inee OF that convention, may lay the fiat
tering JUNCTION to his soul that he was
the most hOnored man by the convention
dispute the claim with him, and assert
that above every other man carried of
the honors Of that assemblage. For,
while he received the nomination for
governor, I was the chief object of their
attacks and my brow was adorned with
the chaplet wreath of their enviable
abuse. No crusader OF old, when he knelt
before his sovereign TO receive the order
OF knighthOOd in recognition of his cour-
age and .valiancy. ever felt prouder than
did when that remarkable convention
said that 1t saw nothing In my public
Now. let us look at that Ibelous doc
ument which they have put forth as
their platform of principles"
With reckless disregard for truth II
nres 8 general broadside shot at the pres
ent democratic administration, and IL
would have the people believe that we
are as bad, If possible, as the republican
Organization In this state. 1t denOunces
what II is pleased to term the "odious
democratic machine" now in control Of
Kentucky. This must have been intended
as little piece of pleasantly to relieve
somewhat the mOnOtOny of the Occasi
for II Is said that when this humorous
part OF the platform about political ma
chimes was read a broad smile swept over
the faces of all the delegates except
those who were for Judge Pratt or Mr.
Wilson, for these latter delegates were
not in frame of mind Just then to fully
appreciate joke of that kind The idea
OF that convention denouncing a ma.
cnlne was bit OF witticism most too
satanic &c be enjoyed by these gentlemen
IL Is indeed very gratifying to me that
the republicans have seen fit to attack
the present democratic administration
and thereby bring prominently before the
people the work and actions of this ad-
ministratiOn, for I am convinced that the
more discussion and investigation we
have upon this subject, and the better
the people understand it, the more cred
liable ii viii be to US, and we will be
certainly Endorsed at the polls I do not
want to appear boastful or to assume
but I can say and prove beyond success
ful contradiction that the administration
OF affairs given by the present demo-
cratic officials for over three and half
years will compare favorably with any
other administration in the history Of the
state, an. especially so with the last
republican administration of four years
The financial affairs of Kentucky are
now in the best condition ever known
In the state. When the present admins
uauon came into power in February,
1900. the debt Of the state was 81 ,0OO. 900,
and S500.O00 or One-half OF that debt was
created in 1S97-during the republican adj
ministratiOn. In the last six months we
have paid Off that debt before its ma
turity with the exception of $4,000. and
the only reason we have not paid that IS
because we have not vet been able to
have those thirty-six bonds presented for
payment We have the money to buy
them with, and we hope by the first OF
the year to do So The state is, therefore
practically out of debt-a distinction
which Is enjoyed by only three other
states In the union. One-half of the debt
would have been due in 1905, the other
half in 1907. 1t has been paid out of some
of the money collected by this admins
tration from the national government on
the civil war claims.
These bonds were all bought at fha
most advantageous rates for the state
and at prices which earned for the state
a better investment than our money does
when placed at the regular interest IN
three years Of the republican administra-
ton they had the highest tax rate we
have ever paid, except in one instance
many years ago, when it was the same,
IN addition to their doubling the debt Of
the state. In 1897 they raised the rate Of
taxation from 421k cents to SPY cents on
the one hundred dollars bur III v Dro-
VldeG In the law that at the end OF three
years this tax rate should fall cents, or
be reduced from 526 to 47Ik. This reduc-
ton therefore was timed not to take ef-
fect until the beginning of the next ad-
ministration- 1t happened consequently
that when we came into power in 1900,
this reduction began. and the first two
years Of our administration we had to
run on 47l5 cent rate instead of 525k
cent rate, which our republican predeces-
sors had enjoyed. This reduction made a
difference in our revenue the first year
$500 of $346 347- 80. and the second year
Q9OD of SS56.51S.90, all of which would
have been added to the revenues IL we
had been running at the republican rate
OF sly cents. This falling or in the rev
enues at that time made II difficult for us
to meet the necessary expenses. The
ruinous and riotOus conduct of the repub-
lican regime under Taylor left US the
legacy of many extraordinary expenses.
and disordered condition of the states
finances. The general assembly of 1902,
therefore. found 1t necessary to increase
the tax rate to 50 cents OF the hundred