The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-28

fetish called party allegiance" ever boura
10 the chariot wheels of their oppressors:
people put third candidate in the field. those
who vote for him will throw away thelr
votes. Be it so. The voter will do worse
than throw away his vote If he votes for
either candidate of the monopoliSts. Such
vote thereby perpetuates the rule of his oP
pressors without protest, if by his vote he
puts or keep either in power. The same AZ
gument was used in 1913 to the AbolitionfstA
that they should not vote for Van Buren, u
establish free soil And again the same cry
went out in 1852. when the Wing and Demo-
cratic parties made the same platform
on the slavery question to crush out
the Abolition party forever But the
truehearted Free-Soilers stood firm; but
though the Democracy elected their can
didate with only four States in opposition, yet
in 1856 the Free-soilers; the despised third par
~, elected Fremont, who was counted cut by
the returning boards of that day, but the
Wing party was destroyed And in 1861 by the
third of party of lS52. Lincoln was elected
and the Democratic party WAS worse than de-
stroyed. As its majority gravitated to trea-
son and armed rebellion l left Il then to
serve my country as now l do: Fear
years for their triumph. Everything, includ-
ing politics, travels faster now. as there arc
more railroads and telegraphs to distribute
intelligence.
In politics, as in everything else, there Is n
seed time and harvest. He who expects to
reap must SOW, and he can't reap when he
is harvested only once in four years
In many States IL we exert our strength, we
already hold the balance of power. In quite
one hundred Congressional districts less than
one thousand votes will determine whether
friend of labor and the people, or the tool OF
monopoly shall haNe a seat in Congress. Let
us organize. therefore, in every district to
see to IL that no man goes TO Congress from
any district who is not with us and for US;
strong enough in moral rectitude to stand for
the rights OF the people, "unawed by power
and unbought by gain"
ELECT STATE LEGISLATURES.
Again. in balanced States make an alliance
with whichever of the other parties will
choose so to do. MinoritieS naturally CRAWL
tate toward each other. Give them some State
officers and take others to yourselves upon an
agreement that both parties shall vote the
same ticket. Be particular to see to IL thas
your own friends are sent TO the State Leg
islatureS. There are many States where laws
are needed for the protection OF the
wOrklngmen, the farmer and the mer-
chant against oppressors and monopOlieS,
and if these will stand together, they can gos
protection in spite of the monOpOlist For
example, in the State of New York elsCN
where the producers and traders and con-
sumers need cheap transportation and compo-
utiOn between water-bOrne freight and the
railroads. The laboring men and toilinR
women want five cent fare law for the Ele-
waited Railroad. The mechanics need a good
lien law. All need laU to regulate the hours
of labor, whether a woman tOiling in n mill or
standing behind counter, or a conductor OF
driver standing on a car. III anybody tells
you that this is class legislation reply to hiIh;
ayes, we know it: we are legisiating for oar
class little while. for 1t is the frst time We
have had an opportunity. The other class has
had legislation enough 10 last them for ons
hundred years
To the Grenback-Labor party and the Arti-
Monopolist organization, and TO the Labor
ing men:
l had accepted the selection Of your conven-
tons rs candidate for President. Anxious for
the success of the principles which you repre-
sent, in which as you know | so heartily con-
CURED, presented, as you have learned, as
your representative, your platforms TO the
Democratic convention in the hope, il it were
possible, that they might be adopted and
made the rule of that party, which should
be composed OF your fr ends and allies. For
reasons that l have made apparent. your
principles were rejected and your alliance
spurned. Personally l have no grievance
with the convention. / was treated with
every courtesy and consideration by its officers
and members, for which take pleasure here
and now to express obligations. But for you
/ have a grievance The Democracy has left
you to fight the battle against the OppressOrs
of the people alone We will fight the battle
of the people together in the best manner we
can; and pledge to you all that have of re-
manning strength i'm declining years to do
all that in nae Hes in behalf of the
principles that you and 1 hold dear,
and without the early prevalence and
adoption of which this Government cannot
stand. You will have one advantage in your
candidate; you will have to spend no time in
defending him. His dOings have been known
century. Every act of his life has been under
a microscope lighted by the lurd flames OF
hate and SANDER He is yet unharmed, and
has no opinion to take back no policy TO re-
cant, and no just charge to explain for what
he has done either in peace or war. OF per-
sOnal advantage to myself nothing can ac-
crue. | am too old to make selfish plans for
the future; yet hope my last political act,
if il so be, to do some service TO the people
and mankind in calling back the Government
to the purpose for which il was framed by our
fathers, a government of the people. a gov
eminent by the many, and not by the few, nor
for the interests of the few.
BENJAMIE f. BUTLER.
Motel have issued this address at an
earlier day than had intended at the desire Of
many trusted and valued friends, but some
what against my own judgment. because L
think that the peoples campaign should be
short. sharp and decisive one. and
should not be begun in fact, except perhaps a
skirmiSh two until some thirty days
later: and had hoped to have the advantage
of distinct statement of principles by the
Democratic candidate for the Presidency. and
aScertaned from his own declarations
whether rccanting some Of his public opin-
ions he might not show himself better than
the official action of his party has shown
itself by its PLATFORM