The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-12-26
IA ~.
KkNSaS STATE
Let M An Unite.

The question atissue in the election on
the 4th of January next, is not simply
freedom or slavery for Kansas, as is popu-
larry understood by statement of that
question-butit has assumed that other
shape: Shall the people form their ewn
institutions, and have voice in making
their fundamental law. The question in
short, is the People against Usurpation.--
The Free State organization in the past,
only embraces portion of those who are
now with us in our hostility to the Lee
compton Swindle. Many persons con-
nected with the Democratic party, and
who have held themselves aloof from US,
arc now willing to join hands with us
in putting down this swindle. Not they
only, buta large number of conservative
Pro-slayery men, who were in favor of
the people ruling, are with us.
To organize as distinctive Free State
party, excluding all others from us, would
be TO greatly reduce our strength. We
need the aid of every voter in this Terri
tory, to give as much moral as well as
legal force as possible to our position
To drive from us a single man, in this
extremity, is to weaken US that far, and
do us no good.
AT Big Springs we formed an alliance,
and there were united "Whigs Demo-
Gratis, Free Sellers, and Americans in
defence of common principle. Now
with the whole question of selfgovern-
ment at issue, and the freedom of Kansas,
and the whole West still pending, it will
be wise for us to learn wisdom from that
event, and widen our circle so as 10 In
elude ALL. Let that circle be contracted
as new issues are made, driving out antag-
onistic elements, or dissolving entirely,
and falling back upon old issues, and old
organizations.
When we have q great work to do
we can do it better by uniting our strength
than we can single handed. The more
who combine the easier the task, and the
sooner the work is executed. The great
. er the diseord, the greater the probability
of defeat. The Republican party is but
an aggregation of different views, uniting
on few common questions, with no bond
of union between them only as far as
grows out of those questions. The same
is true of the Democratic party. Divest
- - IL, 4 a. lNa
long the spoils," and it would soon be a
party of the past. The common bond
with us in Kansas, at this time, is, and
should be, hostility to the Lecompton
Swindle. To defeatthat, we will labor hand
in hand with the most inveterate enemy of
the Free State cause; viii even join hands
with Senator DOUGLAS, and others whom
we have looked upon in the past as trait
ors to freedom. True, We may watch
them closely, and they may us, for ought
we care; but we will assure them that
they will not find our end of the lever
laid down until the wheel is fairly out of
the mire.
Reader, is not this the true position for
us TO occupy ? Not to abandon single
outpost we have taken, not to surrender a
single gun, or divulge any part of our
defences but to form new alliance to
defeat a common enemy and then, If
we please, engage again in the pleasant
past time of cutting each others Threats !
If you second our views, aid us at this
time in perfecting this new union, max
ing our circle so large that none shall be
driven outside the ring who unite with us
in adherence of the Lecompton Swindle.