Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-08-06
DEMOCRATS AND WESTERN
INDEPENDEN

anu ITO PldOlOI LII 10 d L1-UdIluy.
DEMOCRATS AND WESTERN
INDEPENDENTS.
No well-in-fOrmed democrat will
question the democracy of the 81. Louis
Republic. Most western democrats
learned their A. b. CPS from the head
ing of that paper in its original name,
the old Missouri Republican," 1t is
fighting for the right now as it ever has
been since the war. 1t is a broad pa
per; it is not sensational or unreliable.
Then, with this prelude, the INDEX
cOmmendS TO all western democrats
and western independents, the remark
ably sensible and timely article pub
lished below. 1t is remarkable from
the fact that it touches the question
that every democrat in the west is ask
ing for light on this every day; it is re-
markable because it appears to be in
answer to the secret thoughts and
mental prayers of thousands of demo-
Gratis who are asking for road out of
the political wilderness in which they
are surrounded. Coming at this parti-
cular time, the article is beacon light
to Barber county democrats, especially,
and it may be guide to the democrats
of this congressional district. Here is
the article:
The Republic is not informed of the
local reasons which led to the nomiua-
IN -.
cratic candidate for congress in the LIST
district of Nebraska, where the indie
pendentS have just nominated ex-Sen-
ator Van Wyck, but judging their &C
ton wholly on general principles it ap-
pears TO be blunder-nOt less so if.
through the vote drawn from the repub-
licans by the independent ticket, the
democrats feel sure of electing their
own candidate.
1t is the part Of common sense for
the democrats all through the north
west to combine the opposition to the
republican party, and as far as posi-
bic deliver the whole opposition vote,
| Jumped at the polls in November
against the administration and Its poll
cy as illustrated in the present con-
gress. BY doing so, they will keep the
independents from going back to the
republicans and put the democratic
party in the best possible position for
1892.
The west is the democratic fighting
ground for the future and it must be
fought for by methods that will win
and with a general understanding OF
the entire situation. There are hun
dreds of thousands of voters in the
west who are now ready to vote against
the Harrison administration but who
are not yet ready to vote a straight
democratic ticket. When they are 90
| ing in the right direction 1t is folly to
endeavOr to force them to accept a par
ty name that is repugnant to their pre-
JUDGES. We are more concerned in
this critical period with the vital prln-
clpleS of government than with names
In everything but name, the opposition
that is pulling away from the republi-
can party i'll the west is democratic. II
the democrats know how to use theil
opportunities they will combine with il
| wherever it is unwilling to combine
with them, Wherever a respectable
body of independents puts forward a
candidate in opposition to the Harrison
administration, democrats should en-.
dOrse him and vote for him, if he is 2
man of unObjectional record, and they
are not asked to sacrifice principle
IF the farmers and workers of the
west who are struggling against cen
tralIZati0n and monopoly are not gOoC
enough democrats to stand shoulder tC
shoulder with in a fight against Quay
Dudley, Wanamaker, AmmidOun, Car.
negie and Harrison, the democratic
party might as well Surrender all hope
of winning in the west and go out OF
business as party. But they are gooC
enough. They are genuine democrats
no matter how they have voted hereto
fore on civil war issues. 1t is time Il
stop these senseless divisions on issue,
a quarter of century old, and to thrus
the new issues to the front in the Who'll,
western country. on the political actor
!, of which everything depends. The
democrats who cannot fall in with al
who are opposed trusts and monopolies
money rule and bayOnet rule, who az,
in favor of liberty, low tariff taxation
and free coinage of silver, would DE-
well to leave tEe party and make room
for more sensible men. The democrat
ic committee that antagOniZes tn,
independents, and makes it impossible,
to unite opposition and so unite with it
should be promptly turned out.
Wherever democrats can unite will
independents, thay should lay aside al
foolish party PRIDE, send self-seekini
politicians to the rear, and, looking
only TO the success of democratic prin
cipies, tine uphoIding of individual
rights and of local self government
make common cause with all who ar
of like minds. so that solid vote Cal
be cast against the radicals in Noyem
Der.
1--WE must fight for the west With
IN the next SIX years the democratic
party must win in the west, or, as it j
now organized, it can never carry an
other presidential election. This is
fact as plain as the now patent fac
that, by consolidating the opposition
, for the November election. it caI
meet and beat republlcanism in tn
agricultural states. The west is read
for groundswell' against the HarrI
son administration apd the radica
, policy. If democrats check the indie
pendent movement instead of falling il
with it. they will throw away a grea
opportunity at what is certainly turn
ing point in political history"