KENTUCKY. 



469 



pie in 1879, and failed for a like reason, though 

 it received 124,191 votes. 



Besides the fact that all voters who absent 

 themselves from the polls, or fail to record 

 their votes either way, are counted against the 

 convention, the present Constitution throws 

 other impediments in the way of changes of 

 the organic law. From the time the first step 

 is taken, six or seven years are required to 

 accomplish a change. A law is passed to au- 

 thorize the taking of a vote, say, in 1879, result- 

 ing in a majority at the polls in 1881 ; then 

 the Legislature is directed to order another 

 election in 1883, which, if successful, makes 

 it mandatory to provide for the election of del- 

 egates to a convention in 1884. The conven- 

 tion must meet three months after the election 

 of its members. 



In view of these difficulties a so-called "sov- 

 ereignty " convention, or convention called 

 irrespective of the Constitution, and represent- 

 ing the people in their primary or sovereign 

 capacity, has -found advocates. At a public 

 meeting in Louisville, on the 14th of October, 

 a State Prohibition party was organized, and 

 the following platform adopted : 



Whereas, The evil of intemperance is the acknowl- 

 edged prevailing vice of this country, and experience 

 teaching us the important lesson that a country con- 

 scious of its vices, clinging to its vices, refusing to 

 give up its vices, must perish by its vices, and be- 

 lieving that there are but two remedies for the evil, 

 one by a political power through a political party 

 pledged to this end, and the other by the judgments 

 of Almighty God ; and, 



Whereas, Old political parties have for years ignored 

 the temperance question ay, more, nave clasped 

 hands over the licensed liquor-traffic ; therefore, be it 



Resolved, 1. We declare in favor of the final pro- 

 hibition of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating 

 liquors, both in State and nation. 



2. It is neither right nor politic for the State to fur- 

 nish legal protection to any traffic or system which 

 tends to waste the resources, to corrupt social habits, 

 and to destroy the health and lives of the people. 

 That the importation, manufacture t and sale of intoxi- 

 cating beverages are proved to be inimical to the true 

 interest of individual, home, community, and State, 

 and destructive to the welfare of society, and ought 

 therefore to be classed among the crimes to be pro- 

 hibited. 



3. That we arraign the Republican party, which has 

 been in continuous power for twenty years, as being 

 false to duty, as false to the loudly proclaimed princi- 

 ples of equal justice to all and special favors to none, 

 and protection to the weak and defenseless, and for 

 being so insensible to the misery which the trade in 

 liquor has constantly inflicted upon the industry, trade, 

 commerce, and social happiness of the people. 



4. We arraign the Democratic party as unfaithful 

 and unworthy of reliance on this question, for, al- 

 though not clothed in power, but occupying the rela- 

 tion of an opposition party during twenty years past, 

 strong in numbers and organization, it has allied itself 

 with liquor-traffickers. 



5. That we believe the main issues which brought 

 these parties into power are dead, and hereby renounce 

 all connection with old parties^ full of dead issues, and 

 declare 1'or a new one, full of living virtues. 



6. We denounce the present free-school system of 

 Kentucky as not sufficient to meet the ends of liberal 

 education, and demand such legislation as is neces- 

 sary for the proper education of our children. 



7. Since our State has empowered women with the 



right of suffrage in the election of school trustees, we 

 favor the extension of said rights to them in all mat- 

 ters relative to the liquor-traffic. 



We cordially invite all voters, without regard to 

 former party affiliation, to unite with us in the use of 

 the ballot for the abolition of the drinking system 

 under the authority of our national and State govern- 

 ment, and the enforcement of the above-named meas- 

 ures, believing their adoption essential to our happi- 

 ness and national prosperity. 



The following resolution was also adopted : 



Resolved, That we recommend that county and State 

 tickets be placed before the people at every regular 

 election, and it shall be the duty of every friend of the 

 temperance cause, opposed to the drink-traffic, to sup- 

 port such ticket. 



The Legislature convened on November 28th, 

 and on December 16th adjourned to January 

 3, 1882, to give the members opportunity to 

 attend the Atlanta Exposition, to which the 

 General Assembly had been invited. No im- 

 portant legislation was perfected. On the 7th 

 of December James B. Beck was re-elected 

 United States Senator, receiving 101 votes, 

 while John D. White, Republican, received 28 

 votes, and Charles W. Cook, Greenbacker, 4. 



The amount of the various funds in the 

 Treasury, October 10th, was as follows, viz. : 



Revenue department $51,118 28 



Sinking fund proper 168,954 27 



Schoolfund proper 23,806 86 



Colored school fund 8,466 93 



Total $247,846 84 



The estimate of the late Auditor of the defi- 

 cit to be met for the fiscal year following his 

 retirement, and ending October 10, 1880, was 

 $679,912.35. The last General Assembly made 

 temporary provision to meet his deficit by au- 

 thorizing a transfer of surplus and a loan from 

 the sinking fund to revenue proper of $235,- 

 671.72. They also authorized the Governor, 

 Auditor, and Treasurer to borrow $500,000 on 

 the credit of the State if in their judgment it 

 should be found necessary. Of this amount 

 $300,000 was borrowed during the year 1880, 

 and $100,00 in 1881, making a total of $635,- 

 671.72. 



The sinking-fund debt has all been paid, and 

 also $100,000 of the borrowed money ; leav- 

 ing $300,000 due on borrowed money, with a 

 balance in the Treasury to the credit of rev- 

 enue proper on 10th of October of $51,118.28; 

 leaving a deficit of $248,881.72. 



The receipts have steadily increased during 

 the last two fiscal years. In the year just 

 expired October 10th they about equaled the 

 expenditures. The Auditor's estimate for the 

 year ending October 10, 1882, is as follows, 

 viz. : 



Expenditures for the year ending October 10, 

 1882 $1,457,650 00 



Receipts $1,806,269 63 



Add balance in Treasury October 



10. 1881 51,118 28 



1,857,887 91 



Deficit for the year $100,262 09 



To which add bank loan 800,000 00 



Total deficit October 10, 1882 $400,262 09 



