The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-09-01

THE ROTTEN CAMPAIGN OF SPEER
AND CLARKE.
There is no more noticeable feature in the
present political campaign in this State than
the lack Of sincerity and earnestness on the
part of the defenders of Speer and Clarke.
OF the dozen newspapers nominally on that
side not single one of them has made
serious argument in behalfof Sidney Clarke's
claims for denomination to Congress. This
is fac, TO which We have not before called
attention, but it is very important one, and
never could he said Of any previous campaign
in this State.
And most of the journals claimed by
Clarke as friendly to him say nothing at all.
Such feeble and dumb dogs must he supreme
~ disgusting to the Speer-Clarke interest and
ownership They woke up once, a few weeks
ago, when we replied TO the Speer-Clarkc
hlackgrIardism by telling the people just
what sort Of sooundrels these men were. The
small and sleepy tribe seemed to be some
what aroused, and they in one accord and by
general consent united in protest against
personalities. Speer had long been writing
the most false, dirty and ribald stuff ever
seen in a newspaper, and his dirty but leepy
dogs had gloated over it all with sickcning
and sInuiiy delight. Their indignation had
not been aroused by the crimes Of either Speer
or Clarke, with which they and the whole
State were familiar, baIt when the truth was
told in regard to these rihah leaders of the
rotten ring, they suddenly became aware Of
the sin Of trnth-telling. But the course of
the Clarke newspapers has been much more
manly than that Of Clarke, who, while claim
ing to decry personalities, delivers speech
containing nothing else. And his lies are
not in general told about candidates, but Of
private citizens in regard to whom the public
Is not specially interested.
Eut the Al 'dcant fact remains that
the Speer-CIark. ing has not made
an earnest argument or an open
fight. What has been done in
the way OF buying men with money and the
promise of Office is not yet generally known,
hut will he before the Convention meets.
Argument is not replied to, reasoning is not
met with reasoning, facts are not refuted, and
the most crushing statements are not denied
ar replied 10. A canvass Of unexamPled in
,erest has nearly closed its first and most
vital stage, and the important fact is dis
closed that the enemy cannot fight. II is
ashamed Of its cause, and, 40 far as the news
paper, are concerned, allows it to 60 by de-
fault. The Lawrence Tribune, owned by
Clarke, and the little Fort Scott Telegram,
supported by Clarke, are the only fight
ing dailies on Clarke's side, and the
Junction Onion, owned by one Of Clarke's
Land Officers. is the only bslligerent weekly.
S,,ci, lack Of confidence was never shown be-
fore; and such weak line in front becomes
almost contemplate. A little spluttering is
done by the Emporia Tribune; and the Me
dina Era occasionally mixes little advocacy
of the adultery candidate with its diluted
religion. but all of the rotten journals are
evidently shamei OF Clarke aud Specr and
afraid to offend their subscribers by making
psiiiye fight for q partnership made up
,!efatiltcr and debauchee. .I..
Speer and Clarke have a just right to COM
plain Of the weak why in which their rotten
ness Is defended. The patronage Of two hum
.lredpostoffices, two hundred deputy marsl,als,
twenty route agents, dozen Land Officers
:,nl score of Assessors and Collectors
ought To have led to better and more con-
s,icuo,ts results. All this vast patronage
has not secured one able and popular daily
journal, and has not gained the support Of a
single prominent and influential man. The
lauciiy Of men is thousand times more re-
markable than the weakness Of the news
paper following. fWhs. Lane made fights,
he had prominent men in every locality;
men who had the confidence Of the people,
and who knew hox to conduct campaign.
When In ihs State of Kansas is there . 6rst-
clsss MN 'whop sss-tsins Sid Clarke or John
:,p.c,er? Nowhere. There is no such man
TO be found. lgf-.,ss. .,,. .r; ,.,5..,r 81 i
These facts, thus hastily alluded to, dis
close the pssi &AaiEn dfks campaign and
the strength Of the opposing forces. The
,au4ste1s. abs, .aIliy, he. atagrits, azel all
on one side. Oh the other side ''sfs John
Sl~sr, Sid. Clarke, Hoyt, Wholly Unreliable
Wor,lcs,, Emery a Speer boDdsman) and
the ,iartiASy -aatsrali1ed 'Cohsy.7 The
government patronage has been place in