The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-01-30
THE REFORM PARTY.

We hear much OF reform Fartys
and see = little now sAd then. {
There are q number of men in the I
State and around the Capitol who j
are talking and writing Reform all '
the time. Some of the papers In ]
the State are having every column (
pressed with Reform. Reform ,
floats upon every breeze, and dWells
on many tongues. The Changers,
tradesmen, merchants, everybody,
almost, are crying out for Reform.
The Republicans and Democrats are
all simon pure Reformers. Surely
there mEfst be some reformation
going on.
But what does all :his hue
and cry mean? What, or who
is to be reformed? How, and who
shall do the reforming7 These
questions are not very easily an
sWered. That we need reformation
in some things, and among some
men, none will deny. But just ho9
we are to reach those men aud
things is . question. And just who |
Is to do the work is another ques-
ton.
The Democrats and disappointed |
Republicans, as q general thing,
claim that a new party is needed.
They lay all the corruption and pee
ulAtion among our public men,
upon the party in power. Some of
the new, and less important papers
in the State, are constantly and Bit
terly accusing the Republican par
ty OF corruption. They would like
to believe that it is obsolete as well
rs corrupt. But the Republicans in
power believe that the needed re-
form can be accomplished in the
party, aud Independent of q new
party. The old standby Republi-
can papers oppose the new party
movement. Some of them are ju.
diciouS in their opposition, and
other some, are, we had
liked to said, foolish. The
new papers look to the new party
for living. The old papers are
content to lean upon the old party.
! Many of the new party men are
: honest; some OF them have been
: weighed and found wanting ere
: this. Some of them are reformers
!, indeed; others, only in word.
!. Some of those crying out for reform
}. in the party are good and true,
, while it is to be feared that some of
: them are only talking reform.
: No matter, we want to place our
y self on the record. We are ready
: to show our opinion. We honestly
t and earnestly believe in hanging on
y to the old ship. She rode gaIlsutly
: through many hard storms in the
Q past, and VIC believe she is able to
= weather the present tempest. We
t. shall stick 10 her until she goes
down, at all events. We can't afford
y tO.leaye her in peril because some
q Of the crew have been unfaithfui
We stand on the same deck, sail un-
10 der the same colOrs, steer for the
= same port as IN days of yore. Lei
Is the tempest rsge, and the waves
Is beat, we shall stick to the old shiI
II until she goes to pieces; aud then
10 we shall sieze plank and try tC
x make the shore. We are not viii
10 ling to jump into the seething wa
10 tiers vet. And we are not willing
le to give up the old, tried boat, for {
n new, untried craft.
Ill But we wOIld really like to see +.
IN new party. Competition is the Inf
3, of trade 1t is also necessary t,
DO the purity of a free government. 4
II. new, respectable party; one tina
could compete with the Republican
- would be blessing to the State
We need opposition parties in poll
~ tics. Politics does not growOcor
- rupt, but corrupt men creep int
= political parties and corrup
them. A party predominatini
- in State as the Republican does il
" this, is more subject to such abuse
= than where there are different par
" ties pretty equally divided. TIL
large Republican majority in almos
every county in the State has wei
81 nigh ruined US. Schemers ant
NC shysters ofall sorts have focked II
our popular banner, and in to'
:" many instances, succeeded in man
=. ipulating the caucusses and con
~ Ventions, have rode into Office onl
~ to spoil us. we have had a wild
N sea, and smooth sailing, withou
=. competition, until we have run int
3. . sort Of monopoly. .s'
-, We need competing line. lie
g. US have one. We don't care HOY
Ir. soon the new party is organized
es We want it to be respectable i
d, numbers and influence. We woul
q. like to feel that it was q competi
it, ton in reality. We would like t.
no have all our friends realize ths
ne it was very necessary to keep th
of old ship in good trim, aud have he
SO Differed and supplied with the be-
NO men and means at command.
e- Come on with your new boa
d, Get her up in good style; sprca
be your biggest sails, put your bes
re men at the helm, unfurl yonr brigh;
ut est banner, man your biggest gun
n call your new craft what you please
en- only give the sold reliable Repub
lican something to do, and tn
world shall witness that the gallan
= old ship is still "worthy and we
On qualified" for every good word an,
ry work. A new party can reform th
de old one. And, it is, perhaps, til
H. only real means of reformation
" We shall stick to the old ship, bu
tS we want to see the new boat sal
r. in. .-
,is THE LEGISLATURE.