The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1904-03-18
Let Us Have Peace.

fledSluR luuScu 10 IL W sec CNSu oiA
Democrats In the State Senate indie.
pendent and forcetul enough to stand
out against the perpetuation of fac
tional hate In Kentucky. The vote
on the bill appropriating $40, 900 for
memorial to the late William Goe-
bel on the State Capitol grounds stood
10 to 9. The minority was composed
OF six Democrats and three Republic
ans. The six Democrats-Me ssrs.
George, Nat Porter, Cammack, Camp
bell, Bodies and Spence-gave as
reason for their vote that they believ
ed future legislators should, after the
completion of the new Capitol, pro-
vide for the erection OF such memo
rial. Besides these Senators Carroll,
Gilbert and J. F. Porter, Democrats,
RETAINED from voting. Nine Demo
Gratis In all are thus out of the record
for further apotheosis of Goebelism.
The disintegrating influences of
time upon partisan animosities are
notable and salutary. The unwilling
Senators hope, no doubt, that the
years required to construct the new
Capitol will so far mollify the bitter
ness coincident with the Goebel era
In Kentucky politics that further at
tempt will be made to perpetuate the
memory of that unfortunate epoch.
One monument to the late Senator
Goebel, costing $40, 900, Is already on
the way to completion. Is there any
good reason why a second should be
erected In the same city and at public
expense?
Did William Goebel do more for
Kentucky than Daniel Boone, whose
memorial at Franz fort Is crumbling to
decay? What has the State done to
perpetuate the memory In bronze or
marble of Simon Kenton, the intrepid
Kentucky pioneer who fought in the
Revolutionary War, the Indian wars
and the Second war OF Independence
with a bravery and distinction that
every school child in the State should
be taught to remember? Is William
Goebel deserving of a monument paid
for by the peoples taxes, when no
such honor has been paid to Henry
Clay, John Jordan CritteAden, John
Breckenridge, author of the Kentucky
Resolutions of 1898; Gen. Richard NJ.
Johnson, John c. Breckenridge, Gen.
Albert Sidney Johnson, Jefferson Da-
Wis and Abraham Lincoln? These
great Kentuckians hold a firm place
in the affections OF ali classes of Ken
tuckians, however much their views
and course of action may have in their
day failed to commend themselves to
the approval of many deserving peo-
pie. They occupy plane entirely
different and far removed and above
that which impartial history will as
sign to the late Senator Goebel. More
than one-half the voters OF the State
refused him the Governorship which
he coveted. Halt the people of the
State cannot be monuments or any
other partisan efforts be brought to
reverence him as bene6cent leader
OF public opinion.
1t Is not fair to establish by lavish
expenditure of public money the wor-
ship of man whom half OF Kentucky
refuses to venerate. 1t is not just to
the taX-burdened people OF the State
to take out of their pockets $40, 900
to do what the $40, 600 already pro.
vided by private subscription would
amply suffice to do, even were Goebel
Of a rank, service and honor like
those OF the eminent Kentuckians for
whose honor the State has made no
such provision. The impoverished
schools and the neglected roadways
Of Kentucky call TOR aid and are Civ
en- monuments to Goebel. The peo-
pie of Kentucky call for cessation
of the long era of violent political par
tisanship through which Kentucky
has gone since Goebelistic domina-
ton first asserted itself.
Let us have mote peace and fewer
monuments.