The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1903-09-09

lhSl July Is without doubt the most COM
plete combination of hypocrisy, fraud and
: Misrepresentation ever put together 1t
| is an insult to intelligence, a contradic-
ton of truth, and libel upon every
! subject with which II purDorts to deal
IL has never been equaled in brazen eff
frontery since the republican convention
three years ago deliberately Endorsed w.
s. Taylor after he had been indicted for
murder and ANONYMOUSLY fled from the
state, for his patriotic and resolute
course The republican convention last
July cheered vociferously the name of the
same Taylor whose engagements in In
diana did not permit his attendance at
convention in Kentucky. Had crcum-
stances allowed him to be present, the
ed every other demonstration in that con-
vention. 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.
ferrcc upon me the coveted distinction of
ITS miserable censure. My pride is .eXalt-
ed when think tiIat my conduct I'm Off
cial life has met with their cordial dis
fairs Of state is commended for all time
to come by the denunciation OF those who
eXulted in Goebels death and who love
TO pay homage to his murderers. My
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 critcise
the actions or conduct of their opponents,
and 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
sincere in what they say about Servia,
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; if he was a repub-
ilcan, they mean what they say; but If
ne was a 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
from requisition as the present governor
or Indiana does. Ii Is quite certain that
II the king should find his throne in
danger from the claims of some rival, he
could borrow a Marlin rifle from some
prominent republican federal oniceholder
IN Kentucky who would cheerfully lend
the gun after the deadly work had been
ACCOMPLISHED Tho lman who wrote that
platform about ass&ssination in Servia
might be considerct humorist il the
nature. as he penned those lines was fun
OF de4Sht when he indnleed ~ such mock
cry, ana saw in his minds eye the form
Of Kentuckys governor struck with the
ssssssn s
niniatsation has been badl In my fond
est dreoms of popular favor never ex-
9icsfion sS as his rinPn ana n en
inee of that conventifn, may lay the fat
tering JUNCTION to his soul that he was
the most honored man by the convention.
! dispute the claim with him, and assert
tnat ! above every other man carried off
the. honors of that assemblage. For.
While he received the nomination for
governor, | was the chief object of their
attacks and my brow was adorned With
the cnaplet 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 II saw nothing i'm my public
record to approve.
Now, let us look at that libelous doc
ument which they have put forth as
their platform of principles"
With a reckless disregard for truth II
fires s general broadside shot at the pres
ent democratic administration, and it
would have the people believe that we
are as bad. If possible, as the republican
organization I'm this state. IL denounces
what Ii is pleased to term the "Odious
democratic machine" now in control Of
Kentucky. This must have been intended
as a little piece of pleasantly to relieve
somewhat the monotony Of the occasion,
for " y said that when this humorous
part OF the platform about political ma
chimes was read broad smile swept over
the faces OF ali the delegates except
those who were for Judge Pratt or Mr..
TO- La 4. II.
not In a frame of mind just then to fully
appreciate a joke of that kind The idea
of that convention denouncing a ma
chine" was a bit Of witticism most too
to be enjoyed by these 'gentlemen
1t is indeed very gratifying to me that
the republicans have seen At TO attack
the present democratic administration
and thereby bring prominently before the
people the work and actions of this ad- |
for / 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 will be to us, and we will be |
certainly Endorsed at the polls. 1 do not |
want to appear boastful or to assume |
any credit to which 1 am not entitled, |
but / can say and prove beyond success |
full contradiction that the administration |
OF affairs given by the present demo- |
cratic officials for over three and half |
years will compare favorably with any
ether 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
tration came into power in February,
1900, the debt of the state was 81 ,0OO, 600
and $500 900. or one-half of that debt was
created in 1S97-during the republican ad-
In the last six months we
have paid off that debt before its ma
Lurity with the exception of $36, 900, and
the only reason we have not paid that is
because we have not yet 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
he 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
)f the money collected by this admins
ration from the national government on
he civil war claims.
These bonds were all bought at the
most advantageous rates for the state
md az prices which earned Tor the state
a better investment than our money does
when placed at the regular interest in
he state repositories During the last
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 IL was the same, |
n addition TO their doubling the debt of |
he state. In 1897 they raised the rate of
taxation from 4214 cents to 52h cents on
he one hundred dollars. but thev pro-
Vided in the law that at the end OF three
years this tax rate should fall 5 cents, or !
be reduced from 52h to 47ls. This redu3-
ion therefore was timed not to take eff
faaf tntf fha hno min Of ba