Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-08-05
A SECRET CAMPAIGN

We are Informed every once in
while that there is n secret movemcn
on foot TO destroy the Republican par
| ty of this state, and we are told that
formidable secret society exists witt
that view: and thar secret circular
have been issued for a secret conyen
ton to in Topeka, which is TO secretly
nominate n mongrel state ticket, and
we suppose. keep It's existence after i
is nominated profound secret from
the people.
There is s0mthing inexpressibly
sneaking in all this. and it is 50 unlik,
Kansas men that il is very hard TO be.
lieye anything i'll it. There is certainly
nothing in the past history of The
country TO encourage such course
The Know Nothing movement. per.
hars best arranged movement Of the
sort ever devised, fizzled out utterly
in two or three Years, and politicians
have been kept busy ever since deny
ing that they belonged to the order
The Democracy have always been
partial to this skulking and back-stairs
sort of business, but have never had
any prolonged success with il. The
knights of the Golden Circle" and
the "Sons of Liberty" were Democrat
ic organizations intended to aid a
Democratic rebellion; but the re-
bellion was crushed. all the same,
and number II leading Demo-
Gratis in Indiana were tried and
narrowly escaped being lung
for treason. The ku kluX Khan was
another Democratic inspiration. ami
did good deal Of damage while il
lasted, causing the death and manning
of many helpless people, and sling
another black stain on the already in
famous record of the Democratic party:
but the Kan was forced TO disband and
n number of its members were sent to
swell the Democratic majority in
the Albany penitcntisry. These fail
ures, taken in connection with the
final and utter failure of the Demo-
cratic 4" Blue Lodges" OF Missouri Ia
force slavery on Kansas. would. We
should think, defer the Kansas De-
from this dark lantern device
for CARRYING elections.
The story that this style of cam
paigning has been iuauguraied in this
state by the Democratic leaders seems
incredible when we remember the per
sonal characters of those leaders.
Who can think of General Blair III his
bare feet. being led blindfolded before
the chair OF the High Old Mugwunp
to take the oath; or Honorable Tim
Finlon,' of the Democratic national
knocking three times Il
he back door of secret, dark ami
midnight blacksmith shop. where
Lodge, No. i72. is in ses-
lion. If such suspicious are incredi- /
Die of these gentlemen, how mn,h :
more so are they in regard to ouc re- I,
'pected governor. whose election, Is /
We learn from his agricultural address /
It the Salina Harvest Home" fest
al. attracted over 100000 immi- 4
.rants to the state, Who can believe +
be story that the governor of Kansas 4
vas, rs Peck's Bad Boy has it. 'ni>hi-
ted into q secret political lodge in /
Worth Topeka: This atrocious story !
; contradicted by the whole conduct
f the governors life. He is not fnr-
i've or secret in his methods. a We all
now. When il comes 10 making
'old ailaci. a. calling somebody who
oeS not agree with him ii murderer,
r stating in Il public speech tia; half
he delegates al the late Republican,
tate convention were too drunk 10
tand alone. he i there" but this
underground craftsmanship is not nj
u in his line.
Altogether il is probable that there
considerable wind in these news
aper stories abou, secret political
Movements IN Kansas. II * To be
oped so. The Kansas man mas his
,ults. bat 80 far, he has escaped the
equation o: being sneak, and it
'ould be a great calamity fer him 10
cquire that arpellation row.-Chan-
ion.