The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-10-07
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The Lawrence Tribune would have
us believe the chances for Sidney Clarke,
for Senator. the coming winter, are good.
1t still blows Justify. II is easy to sec
though, that its courage is of the kline
that needs to be kept up by good dea
of noise. The Tribune sees "the hand.
writing on the wall" So do the other
papers that are favoring Clarke. Their
merry-making at the result of The LATE
convention, had hollow, metallic ring
about il. Their smiles, when they pro-
claimed that the '.9redt statesman" came
out of that convention stronger than
ever before, were thin, and of the ghast-
ly order. Their lies about throwing
out delegates and unfairness were MOI
told as though they expected folks TO
believe them.
The people have determined upon
complete change in our congressional
delegation. The fact of triumph over
Mr.. Clarke, under the circumstances.
shows this. The fight against him was
necessarily a negative one, the very
weakest kind to make. 1t was made
against the entire political patronage of
the State, which was immense. 1t was
made against money also, and against
at least half of the railroad influence of
the State. His defeat, under the circum-
stances, is the best indication that can
be had of his weakness with the people.
He will be beaten badly this winter. So
far as we can learn not one-fourth of
the Legislative nominations are for him.
And we have it from good and reliable
authority that he only expects now to
control enough strength to be able to
dictate who the Senator shall be. He
is measurably shorn of his patronage,
and money will not and cannot save
him. The ''money power" in Kansas
politics is on the decline; and the class
of politicians who depend ON its use for
political preferment are on the down
grade. There is to be a new state of
things.
At the Republican convention in 1868,
there wero present two United States
Senator'S, one from Kansas and the 9TH
er from Arkansas, working for the nom
ination of certain gentleman for Gov
ernor. They intimated that a great
many favors would be bestowed upon
those who helped them carry out their
programme. Left to his own honest
eXertions the man whom they wanted
would in all probability have been NOM
mated. The delegates concluded it was
time to commence waging war upon
rings and undue influences in the nom
ination of important State officers. The
work of reformation was commenced
then and there. 1t has gone ON, and at
the late convention splendid triumph
was won against corrupt congressional
rings. 1t availed nothing for United
States Senator to be present using his
influence and promising money to nomi-
nate congressman. The spell of mon
ey and Office, so far as their influence
goes in controlling our politics, is brok-
en-. The day is dawning when aspir-
ants for the leading positions in the gift
of the people of Kansas must possess
merit and decency. The shameless and
wholesale buying is to be stopped. No
difference how much sneering may be
INDUCED in at those who are attempting
to purify our politics by the "corrup-
tionists," the work will go on until there
is better state of things, or the Repub-
lican party must suffer the consequence
es. So Mr.. Clarke and those who have
been in his ring for years may as well
conclude to accept the situation" and
occupy back seats for season at least.