Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-12-20

Gus ticket, and for this reason 1 pray
the democratic comrades TO remain un-
til we. convert them.
One Of the most significant and con-
vincing proofs of the correctness of my
views on the great question is found in
the example Of the National Tribune,
the great and really only Official organ
of the Grand Army of the Republic. It
processes to be ''nonpartisan, ''of course
as we all do. That is part of the play.
The G. A. r. is nonpolitical and its
organ, the National Tribune. was re-
quired by all the proprieties of the case
to be 'nonpolitical." too. Aud it was
until the democrats got the house.
Then it pitched into them and gave
them Cts because of their attitude to
the soldiers. But when Cleveland
came in, it exceeded itself in going for
him, shovel and tongs! Still it was a
republican ''nonpolitical'' sheet. just
as am a republican 'nonpolitlcal"
member of the G.. A. R., and just as
the latter is thoroughly neutral in
politics." 5za
hold that The National Tribune is
right. Ifit cannot control the soldier
vote what use have we for it any how?
What use either for the G.. A. R., for
the banks. for the churches. for the
ballot-box, for life itself, if they do
not contribute to the ascendency of the
republican party? All things in this
land Of ours are regarded properly
subordinate to the paramount claims
of the republican party. TO this all
must break OF bend!
It is all and in ALL
Its success is purchased cheaply at
any expense this side Of the loss of
honor.
It has sustained the Grand Army
from the beginning in aid, council and
material contributions, cficered and
commando d its posts and encampments,
mustered and marshalled its forces,
and now has its supreme reward In
the gift of the government by the vol
untary vote Of the Grand Army of the
Republic, the only significant and DOM
inant factor in our American system.
But must draw this rather lengthy
article to close and await with seren-
ity and composure any reply that can
he made.
Hove my democratic comrades, would
do anything in the world / could for
them, place them ell on the pension
rolls as quickly as would my republic
can comrades. I would divide my last
loaf Of bread with them and give them
the last drop in my canteen. And it is
for this reason that I dare tell the
truth and dare not tell them the con-
ventional, silly lie that the Grand Army
of the Republic is not the chiefally OF
the republican party. Men often quar-
rel over names and non-essentials. 1
have made some friends angry by call
ing the G. 4. r. republican machine,
others take offence because I have
said that the G. a. R., notwithstand-
ing all protestation to the contrary,
is political engine. Well. suppose
the imagery have used to describe the
fact is more figurative and flowery
than / ought to have employed in illus
tration Of such a homely and familiar
fact, does not in the least affect the
trnthfulness of the statements made in
this letter? l have laid myself and all
my assertions wide open to my critics,
il have stumbled in my references to
the matters and things affecting this
controversy, as fully published in all
the newspapers between the years 1870
and 1883, often by the Associated Press
and as shown in the records of Con-
gress, 1875. '76, IT, rs, 70. These
are on file. the Congress
facts cited are not found therein even
yet have made very grave mistake,
and all myastatements with reference
thereto can be easily cOntroverted by
the very pages in Congress or the er-
rand boys and messengers about the
doors of our great daily newspaper Of
fees. Nay. more, if these statements
were not thus capable Of corrobOration
the general manager Of the Associated
Press and I'll the leading editors of the
land would come out in the daily news
papers and denounce me in unineasured
terms as a falsitier, slanderer and a
villain.
But why shonld 1 prOlong this discus
sion? Why further endeavor to prove
What no man but Il demagogue ever de-
MED, namely, that the Grand Army of