The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1909-10-29
We Love it Still.


tobacco in Kentucky if it is to make
communities fall out, make enemies of
lifelong friends. cause the destruction
of property or the death of single
good citizen. Winchester Sun-Sentinel
The introduction of tobacco Igrowing
in the blue grass region has been re-
sponsible, directly or indirectly, for
all that the Sun-Sentinel deplores and
even more, says the Cynthiana Demo-
crat, with the following pointed and
true comment, which we heartily en-
dorse, viz:
The woodlands and pastures of this
once beautiful region have been sacrl-
feed. Stately monarchs Of the forest
that stood sentinel for ages over the
destinies of proud people have bowed
their great heads and fallen PROSTATE
before the advance of the miserable
"filthy weed" Fields of waving blue
grass, in which browsed, knee-deep,
the finest cattle that the world has
seen. have been turned UNDER to
give place to an ugly worm-laden
nIant Fat cattle have disappeared
from the farms. Wonderful herds, the
admiration of the country, have been
dissipated, and scrubs" from the
mountains have come down to feast
upon the Ieavings. The breeding of
horses for speed and stamina has been
discontinued save in one or two of the
counties-and even where the indus
try is to some extent maintained the
bulk of the lands have passed from
the possession of Kentuckians int) the
hands of the muIti-millicnaires of the
East VINO reserve them tor their play
grounds.
The cultivation of wheat and corn
and barley and oats has fallen, COM
paratively, into ''innocuous desue-
tude;' our mills and distilleries are
forced to import their raw products.
Frequently farmers must invade other
markets seeking provender for the
little stock they raise. Diversifcation
of crops has become an unknown guam
tity.
Not only has the introduction of to
bacco culture destroyed the beauty and
usefulness of the country itself, but
it introduced a class Of citizenship
hitherto unknown to this section. and
whatever its merits, not in sympathy,
or harmony, with the best traditions.
Generally of a low order of intelli-
gence, devoid of ambition, unacquaint-
ed with economy and thrift. the advent
of such a people could add nothing to
the general good of communities, and
it has added nothing. Poverty and
ignorance necessarily attend work
exacting aid for the most part unre-
munerative. Children are kept out of
school and worked in the fields along
side their mothers and fathers. They
grow to manhood and womanhood in
stolid ignorance of and indifference to
the better things of life. and by inter-
marrying perpetuate their kind,
Under such conditions. with minds
unframed. utterly ignorant of the
responsibilities of citizenship. is it any
wonder that violence and lawlessness
occur? Is it at all strange that dema-
gogues and self-seekers may play upon
the fancies of the crowds and incite
tie people to acts of desperation?
Rather the marvel that there has been
so little to depIore. Providence has
been kind in Kentucky in that she has
not been torn asnnder by civil strife.
So. We say with our contemporary. |
a thousand times better that Kentucky
had never raised pound of tobacco. 1t |
has indeed made communities fall
out. made enemies of lifelong
friends" caused the destruction of
property ard the death Of citizens. =