The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-08-06
SANDER and Politics.

We last week made mention Of the telegraphie
report of a card from James C. Horton, of Law
renee, relative to n slander written by cores
pondent of the Chicago Times. We have since
learned the purport of the slander. 1t accuses
him, or says he has been accused of intrigues
with his servant girl-in Beeeher parlance, "nest-
hiding" We have always understood that Mr..
Horton possessed an unbIsmished moral charac-
ter; but slander has come to be one Of the main
weapons in Kansas political warfare.
For some time past, letter writer's in the inter
est of Mr. Horton, have been assaling the char
acter of Messrs. Osborn and SmallwOod, his oppo-
nents; and we at first feared that some friend of
GHs of these gentlemen had repaid him back in
kind. But now satisfied that such was
not the case. The Times is an organ Of the Re-
form" movement, and docs nothing to assist a
Republican. They propose to reform things, by
Systematically slandering their opponents and
their families. This Chicago Times letter was
evidently written by hanger-On of the played
out Sid. Clarke outfit, between whom and Horton
there has always existed an snmity.
But there is one circumstance that directs
picion in another channel. From the first ap-
pearsnce of the obnoxious article, the friends of
Horton have rung the charge that the Islander
was coucocted in the interest of Osborn, for po-
litical effect. This has already created suspi-
cion that the whole thing was planned by Hor-
ton and his friends, in hopes that the indignation
it would create could be turned to his advantage.
If such belief becomes prevalent, he can thank
his ovcr-zealous friends forit.
Another point suggests itself, in this connec-
:tiOn. Mr.. Horizons regard for his character is so
strong, that the very first charge against his
purity drives him to an indignant card in the
public prints. This, of ITSELF is right and proper
One who thus jealonsly guards his own charac-
ter, tt may well be supposed, would frown upon
any effort to asperse the character of others. Has
Horton done thisi As we have said, letters writ
ten 3, his interest have contained ISLANDERS upon
Osborn and SmallwoOd; yet We have never seen
any evidence that Horton has rebuked the SIAN
derers. But this is not the worst of it. Would
it be believed that this man, who holds his pri-
vate character so dear, had, not more than a year
and half ago, been one of three leading conspir-
ators who laid deliberate and cnld bloOded plot
to tempt a man who stood high in the land to
commit crime in order to blast not only his
public reputation, but his private character, and
consign him to felon's celli Before this was
DONE attempts were made, in the same interest,
to fasten charges upon the victim, of like ma
ture, but worse in character, than those made
against Horton. That failing to accomplish the
desired object, the conspiracy was formed and
executed; and to-day the leading advocates Of
Mr.. Horizons interest are bowling because the
victim of that conspiracy has not been tried and
convicted, and his ruin completed by sending him
to the State prison.
The less such men whine when their sores
are rubbed, the better it will look.