The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-11-11
COMING IN OUT OF THE WET.

In another colBTnn, We publish copy of
note sent by Thomas Henshall 10 John Martin,
Cha rman of the Democratic State Central Com
Inttee, resignng his place the Committee,
!oiiowcd by communication to us, renouncing
Democracy, and declaring his intention hence
iorih to act with the Republican party. We ex-
peel TO hear the old Bourbons say they are glad
of it, that he ought TO have gone long ago, ct
eetcra. But Mr. Henshall has been live and
faithful worker in the Democratic canse; has
been member Of the State Central Committee
for several years; and far thr last eight years,
has done more than any other man or two
men to keep the party alive and booming. To
the best of our knowledge and belief, he has
been faithful and true 10 the party, and, while
mauy of his waTmest prs.o.al friends were Re-
pubiirans. he closed the gate when il came 10
politics. His loss to the Democracy will he
greater than they will pretend In admit. Ii is
not only his leaving that is involved, but If
shows a feeling that has taken hold of great
many lifelong Democrats. We have no doubt
that Mr.. Henshall has for some time felt disgust
at the course of the leaders of the party, but he
preferred to stay with il until after the battle,
rather than desert in the face of the enemy.
Many others felt the way, while still many
others did not wait, but voted for Garfield. We
know of n number Of Democrats in the County
who did 80.
To tell the plain truth, the traditions and
policy of the Democratic party long since had
their day, and the leading spirits of the party
were the fit custodians of those traditions.
man with liberal, progressive mind finds no
congenial home in the Democratic party. Its
tendency is to the barbarism of the dead past,
and to blight and crush out all liberal ideas suit
ed to the live and advancing present. This is
all age of progress, enlightenment, civilization,
of heart and brain, while Democracy is of the
Dark Ages. But disaster has not overtaken the
party by the disafiection of the old veterans.
While some, like Mr.. Henshall, have brought
their determination to the point of shaking the
dust of Democracy from their feet, there are
hundreds and thousands who have felt the same
disgust that lie has, but have preferred TO en-
dure and swallow, rather than come out, and
incur the jibes and taunts of ''turn-coat' from
their old associates. When a veteran and life
long Democrat like ID. NJ. Johnston says he is
glad Garfield is elected and that if he had been
entitled To a vote at the place where he is locat-
ed, he is not sure but that he would have voted
for Garfield, it shows that great upheaval is
working, and that something unsatisfactory ex-
lists in the party. 1t is the young men of the
country who are tramping the Democratic car
cass TO Jelly. The immense increased Republi-
can vote in the North comes mostly from young
men who this year east their first votes. The
Democratic party is no place for young and ac-
tive men, but is repulsivc to them. Now and
then we find young men in whom moss-back
Bourbonism is hereditary, or who are so ignorant
that they have not the will or ambition TO get
out of the ruts in which their fathers plodded.
But large majority of the Young men of the
present day are seekers after information, and
want to lie up with the times. This is why most
of the young men are Republicans. In every di-
rection we see young men by the score, whose
fathers are Democrats of the strictest sect, but
who, as soon as they become of age, join the Re
publican ranks. You might as well try to salts
fy the average young man with his grandfather's
cast-off suit of fifty years ago, TO expect him
voluntarily to settle down Democratic voter,
content with the dim and obsolete traditions of
seventy-fv years ago. Why, the the United
States has become a new Nation in the last
twenty years, and the Republican party has
made it So All who are in favor of moving for
ward, must tall into the Republican line; while
those who want to pull hack must join the De-
mOcracy.