The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-03-05
$ MARGUERITE Clarke: e; !; :: SNOW WHIT


and almost threats were used to turn
them from their evil purpose, but all
to no avail. They were determined
and they dared to do. All honor to
them, they stood man to man through
the fercest of the conflict, despite
taunts and jeers, regardless of OPP
position and criticism, and In the face
OF threatened ostracism in the COM
munity where they lived, they had the
flrmness of character as free men to
demand the privilege of exercising
their franchise In accordance with
their own righteous Judgment, and
hesitated not to openly cast their bal
lot for the man Of their choice. The
day had scarcely closed, when these
gentlemen were honored by some of
their fellow townsmen by whom they
were burned in effigy; stuffed figures
to represent each of them were pre-
pared; line from which the figures
were suspended was stretched from
the pillars Of the County Court House
to the Methodist Episcopal Church
on the opposite side Of the street.
Combustibles were assembled beneath
the figures, and when all was in read
mess the torch was applied, the fire
bells of the city rang out their alarm,
and men and women were reused
from their sleep to witness the dis
grace that had befallen their little
city. The town boys were always in
stantly ready for fire, and upon that
occasion on being reused by the fire
bells, hastily dressed and started for
the door but was summarily stopped
by my mother who sent ME back to
my bed, and remained ignorant of
what had occurred until the morning
The incident was one that, boy as
was. burned Republicanism into my
soul, and from the time that | became
a voter to this day, my loyalty to the
Republican Party has never been
questioned. These men were the faith
ers of the Republican Party in Mays
vile and Mason county. 1t had made
a small beginning, but it had made a
good beginning, and as the years
passed it grew, and continued to grow
in power and strength until 1t ma
terialized into respectable proper
tons that demanded recognition in
public affairs. AS previously stated,
the only newspapers of the city were
democratic, and so it came about early
in the year of 1867, that Captain
Thomas A. Davis, true Republican
that he was, with foresight and good
Judgment, set about establishing in
Maysvlle Republican paper, and
through his indomitable zeal, the
EVANSVILLE REPUBLICAN" made
its bow to the public. Under what cir
cumstances his work was accomplish
ed, / do not know; perhaps ! was too
much of kid las we would say in
these days. to be taken into the coun-
sci of the gray boards. At any rate,
| knew nothing of the establishing of
! the new paper until was asked to
become subscriber From the start
1t was a tremendous factor in the po-
litical history of the day; its consis-
tent support Of Republican principles
strengthened the party and gave it
confidence, throughout the entire Con-
gressional district. Its untiring eff
forts and convincing arguments
brought victory many times to its par
{ty candidates, and its influence was
always on the side of law and order.
have always had a suspicion that
Honorable w. H. Wadsworth, George
M. Thomas of Lewis county, Newton
Cooper, John ]. Anderson of Mont
gomery county, then U. S. Collector of
l Internal Revenue, and Samuel L..
Blaine, then U. S. Assessor of Inter-
nal Revenue, were largely RESPONSE
BILE for its early support, but of that
have no positive knowledge. How
ever that may be, the fact remains
that it was built on sure founda-
ton.
Among the first Republican papers
established in Kentucky, and so far as
know, the Oldest one now in exist
ence, 1t has through fifty years been
loyal to the city Of its birth, honest
and earnest in its endeavors for the
good Of the community, and In extend
ing my congratulations l also wish
that its centennial may be celebrated
in the due course of time, with all the
pomp and ceremony appropriate to
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