Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-11-13
What of the Rattla2

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While there are various elements
which are nominally not part of that
organization that contributed TO bring
about the unfortunate result, yet al
the same the result is universally
claimed as a democratic victory, and
beyond question the manipulators OF
that old bourbon organization are en-
titled TO AMI will receive all the advan.
tages and emoluments arising from the
overthrow of the republican party.
There seems TO have been vast
amount of dissatisfaction throughout
the country and in all sections, and
dissatisfaction usually breeds Rn on
slaught against the powers that be.
This year furnishes no exception to the
rule.
Whether the result is san endorse
ment of the principles Of the demo-
cratic party, If indeed it has any well
defined views upon any issues, is a
question. In n number of the southern
states the democratic organization and
the southern alliance worked in unison,
and as Mr.. l.. l.. Polk, national presi-
dent of the alliance, said 1.-The aims of
the alliance and democratic party are
one throughout the SOUTH The agri-
cultural classes in South Carolina,
Georgia, and Alabama as in Kansas,
are largely in the majority. But in the
three former states they remained
loyal TO the democratic party and
elected true blue democrats who will
act with that party in all matters Of
legislation. In Kansas different tao
tics were adopted. Republican farm
ers of Kansas could not be induced 10
join hands directly with the democratic
party. lt was necessary to lead them
into the democratic woods by round
about road. A southern alliance was
established in republican Kansas.
Thousands of republican farmers were
induced to join it, under the solemn
promise that it should mot interfere
with their religious or political belief"
Not one in IA hundred had the remotest
idea of renouncing Allegiance TO his
party when he entered the alliance.
In the receSses Of the lodge rooms
the enemies of the republican party
began the work of undermining the
republican party in Kansas. 1t was
not done 10y republican leaders or
speakers. You can name upon the
fingers of your left hand the republican
leaders Of the peoples party move
ment in Kansas. The gallant fighters
of that party were formerly democrats
and union labor men. In endeavoring
to defeat the republican party they
were simply carrying out the methods
which they have annually pursued for
25 years. Examine the personnel of
champions Of hard times. There Is Elder
Davis, Rghtmire, Hart, Mrs. Lease,
Mrs. Digs, Clover, Simpson, Chase,
not one of them republican, There
were republicans in the ranks Of the
peoples party, 500 or l 900 of them In
this county, most of them led there by
false pretensions and retained there
under the severest whips Of the party
lash that were ever laid upon its men,
bers by any political party. 1t was al
most social, it was surely political os-
tracism for any member of the alliance
to profess faith in the republican party.
1t was hereSy to listen to republican
speakers. 1t was political sacrilege to
read republican literature. Thus with
the iron grasp of oathbound secret
meetings, these ancient enemies of
true republicanism succeeded in in
ducing about one-fourth of the republi-
can voters to help defeat that grand
old party whose history is written in
every national legislative act which has
added to the honor of our country, to
its commercial wealth and prospects
and to the individual happiness of its
citizens for the past thirty years.
And what have the republicans
gained by this union with the enemies
of every political principle they have
heretofore cherished? A universal
triumphant shout of victory by the old
bourbon democracy from one end of the
land to the other. That is all. They
smile at the republican credulity which
sends such democratic allies to Wash