m
Conservative *
SITUATION IN
KENTUCKY.er n&S I30011
ed to the Kentucky -
tucky scandal. Warrants wore issued
last Saturday for the arrest of Secretary
of State Caleb Powers and Captain
John Davis on the charge of complicity
in the Goebel murber. By order of
Governor Taylor , the sheriff in attempt
ing to serve the warrants , was refused
admittance to the state capital building
and the militia used to prevent his en
trance. The fugitive officers escaped
by donning soldiers uniforms and
boarded the train for Lexington where
they were taken in custody , Others
prominent in republican politics will be
placed under arrest. Governor Taylor
defends his action in resisting the of
ficers on the ground that the arrest of
the state officers is but a political con
spiracy and that there is no evidence to
support the charges.
Judge Fields , of the circuit court , to
whom was referred the Taylor-Beck-
with contest , has decided that the leg
islature was the final arbiter in canvass
ing the vote and their decision , as to
who should receive the certificate of
election , could not be appealed from.
This decision confirms the election of
Beckwith. The opinion of the court
has caused a clash in the militia. A
part of the national guard have recog
nized Beckwith as the Commander-in-
chief and a part are still loyal to Taylor.
Serious trouble is apt to occur before
the difficulty is finally adjusted. Much
feeling has been aroused over the arrest
of Powers and Davis.
POllTOKIOO. .
has proposed the
following amendment to the House tar-
riff bill for Porto Rico :
"And it is hereby enacted that all
duties , imposts , and excises imposed or
levied , laid or collected , by congress
upon Porto Rico or any products or
business thereof or in relation to said
Porto Rico , shall be uniform with all
duties , imposts and excises laid and col
lected throughout the United States.
"That no capitation or other direct
tax shall be laid by congress in or upon
Porto Rico , unless in proportion to the
census or enumeration directed to be
taken by the constitution.
1 'That no tax or duty shall be laid on
articles exported from Porto Rico.
"That no preference shall bo given
by any regulation of commerce or reve
nue to the ports of Porto Rico over
those in any state in the union , nor
shall vessels bound to or from Porto
Rico be obliged to enter , clear , or pay
duties in any state of the union.
"Nor shall any preference be given
by any regulation of commerce or
revenue to the ports of any state of the
union over those of Porto Rico , nor
shall vessels bound to or from the ports
of any state of the union be obliged to
enter , clear , or pay duties in any port
of Porto Rico. "
Senator Davis' amendment grants
free trade to Porto Rico and extends
the constitution specifically to that island
but does not commit congress to the
constitutional question involved of
establishing a similar policy for the
other insular possessions.
In view of the unpopularity of the
House bill it is quite probable that the
Davis amendment may be accepted by
the senate. Senator Nelson endorses
the action of his colleague. Senator
Oullom , who has been favorable to free
trade , in speaking of the amendment
said :
"I have no hesitation in saying the
proposed tariff between this country
and Porto Rico is not right. I believe
the house made a great blunder when it
passed the bill. I am not prepared to
say yet that I shall vote for the Davis
amendment providing for free trade ,
but only because I do not understand
how far duty to the party will compel
us to go. As an original proposition I
should certainly vote for free trade in
this case , and may do so anyway. "
PROSPECT FOR PEACE.
The week witnessed the departure of
of the Boers from Natal leaving Bnller
in undisputed possession. The opera
tions of Clements in Capo Colony have
pretty effectually driven the Burghers
from that locality into the Orange Free
State where a considerable force was
collected by Gen. Joubort at Osfonteiu
on the Modder river , in the vicinity of
Paardeberg. An attack was made by
General Roberts and the Boers forced
to retreat.
Roberts then continued his march to
ward Bloemfonteiu. At Dretfontein
he came up the rear guard of the Boers ,
his force greatly outnumbering the
Boers and completely routing them.
Presidents Kruger , of the Transvaal
Republic , and Steyn , of the Orange Free
State , have made overtures of peace
upon the condition of independence for
the South African republics and am
nesty.
President McKinley consented to act
in the interests of peace and instructed
Secretary Hay to transmit to Great
Britain the overtures of peace from the
South African Republics. As the Boer
armies are so disorganized and a con
tinuation of hostilities apparently so
futile it is quite probable that peace is
near at hand.
EASY TO
HEAT. tftlk among populists -
lists , fnsiouists ,
silver republicans , Bryanarchists and
other partisan hybrids that McKiuloy
will prove the weakest nominee before
the people of the United States in the
presidential race of 1900 who can be
named. Every fiat finance man , every
anti-writ of injunction man , every
govornmont-ought-to-own-aud- the
railroads-man , like Allen every po
litical job-hunter seeking office for "the
money and not the honor , " by gulling
"the plain people , " is solicitous for the
republican reuomiuation of McKinley.
They know that their candidate can defeat -
feat him aud could not defeat either
Tom Rood or Gen. Harrison or Roosevelt.
The gold standard democrats cannot be
massed for McKinley again aud if he is
reuominated his defeat is assured pro
vided present conditions continue.
BKFBNDKU OP
PATERNALISM.GdltS n
and a newspaper
at the same moment , the views which
secured the former generally color the
latter.
The Fremont Tribune states :
"Secretary of Agriculture Wilson
came all the way to Nebraska to help
the dairymen in their efforts. Ex-
Secretary Morton , whose hostility to
shains ought to lead him to lend the
same support , should revise his opinion
concerning the relation of the dairymen
to oleomargarine legislation. "
There is no greater sham than that of
government and its authorized repre
sentatives attempting , in a paternal
way , to build up one industry by de
liberately destroying another. Govern
ment was not organized to milk cows ,
to skim cream , to churn or to sell butter.
It is not a function of government to
exercise the power of taxation for the
purpose of crippling the oleomargarine
industry in order to strengthen the but
ter industry.
Good butter needs no legislation to
give it price. Good oleomargarine asks
no legislation against chemically mixed
and chemically purified butter. The
makers of butter and the makers of
oleomargarine ought to be equal before
the law. Every industry should thrive
or decay because of its own merits , ' or
demerits. Those who wish to buy oleo
margarine , because it is as wholesome
as butter , cheaper than butter and no
more a subject of federal taxation than
butter , ought to be free so to do. It is
not right , it is not fair nor just to raise ,
by imposing burdensome taxes , the price
of oleomargarine to those who use it
instead of butter. THE CONSERVATIVE
can not revise these opinions nor miti
gate its opposition to all class legis
lation.
As the co n-
TO
ME SEEN. staut candidate ,
did not suc
ceed in having his national com
mittee which met recently in Washing
ton , fix a satisfactory date for a national
convention , he will arrange with Sena
tors Allen and Butler , who represent
the other political party he owns , to
change the date of their convention tea
a time more convenient. Definite no
tice of which will be given the public
later.
