The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-10-24
AN OPEN LETTER.

To Lerog Runya,, and j. r. Flynn.
As one whom, If revealed, you would
know TO be a good friend to both OF
you, may address few words to you
touching your position before the peo-
pie in the present campaign?
You are both known in the commu-
mites where you live, and in other
places to which your acquaintance ex-
tends, as upright and honorable young
men. You are known as young men
of ambition and of high purpose in life,
aud good people stand ready to bid
you, as all such young men, God-speed
in your efforts. You have been
known also, up to the time when you
were placed by re-submission con-
vention in your present remarkable
position before the people, as earnest
and consistent prohibitionists. One OF
you, at least, has repeatedly a 1d pub
licly avowed himself as such, and has
been greatly respected by many peo-
pie, as one of the few young men who
took decided stand ON the question.
And this continued up to the very
time of the convention. On the very
morning of that convention, one Of
you, upon being taxed with the violent
anti-prohibition character of the meet
ing, admitted it, and said that you
didn't ut all like the way things were
going didn't you? And yet 1 now
see you the representatives of every ell
ement i'm Allen county that is bitterly
opposed to all that you have heretofore
advocated, and now in your hearts be-
lieve to be good and just and right.
Boys, what i'm the world has pro-
duced this sudden change of heart?
Can it be possible that you are the
same young men that your friends have
been glad to point out as young men
Of unusual strength of principle and
stability of character ? Are you the
same young men whom good people
have been claiming as strong and eff
fecGive supporters of temperance 1t
is not possible, is it, that upor your en-
trance into political life, you have be-
gun by prostituting principle to the
faint hope of petty office? You will
agree with me, know, that the morn
ing of political life ought to be sacred
ly esteemed and jealousy guarded by
young men. I know that you will
agree with me that it would be very
pleasant i'm after life to look back upon
an absolutely clean and conscientious
course In your use of this highest pre-
rogative of citizenship. Do you think
then, that in burying your convictions
at the very outset you have made
q beginning of which you will
be proud / am not the only
one of your many friends, who
hoped and thought better things OF
you. L hoped that when this nomin-
alton was rendered you, as I supposed
it would be, you would have the cour-
age Of your convictions-as a young
man did in this county under precise
ly similar circumstances two years
ago, and did himself undying honor
to get up and say, "No! consider the
principles you represent opposed to the
peace and good order of society, and to
all my ideas of right, and I refuse to
be your representative or TO stand up-
on your platform" But instead
of that, they tell me you crucified your
conscience and accepted the honorf?)
as blithely as If it was an every day
matter with you.
But, you say, you are democrat
and are representing your party.
What principle of democracy, let me
ask you, did your convention repre-
sent? You know well, do you not,
that it represented but one thing
death to prohibition; and it seems that
you two, who have been heretofore
bravely crying, in the strength of your
young manhood, "Long live prohubi-
ton ! !" have been willing to desert
yonr banner when it so much needed
your strength and your bright brains,
and to enlist under the black flag
And for what? Can it be, boys, that
the forlorn hope of a few county shek-
els was sufficient to tempt you so far
YOUR FRIEND.