The advocate., 1890-07-30

ticket IA made. Then MI WHO arc on the Lords
side can shoulder their mnskels, or needle guns,
as they prefer. DO not iail 10 come. The battle
has got ~ be fought, and II had Just ms we'll be
fought here on Saturday as any other time,
=. j. CRAWFORD.
! also received another letter the next
day, July 20, from the editors Of the
Emporla Ledger, urging my attendance
ut the county convention. OF course !
was there ~ requested. SO was Captain
Geo Il. Anthony and, big crowd
There was a joint discussion and warm
time. But, would you believe it, Mr.
Editor, we were utterly unable TO get
Mr.. Crawford into the court house. lie
perslstently and pertlnaciously preferred
the "cold side OF the log" as no reports
President Polk 10 have done in more
dangerous Bkirmish than thls have
accepted invitations TO public discussions
with lawyers, bankers and Congressman,
and the rule has been that the man max
Ing the invitation has appeared on the
same platform or in theaudionco,Rnd has
personally seen that his champion had at
least fair introduction 10 the audience.
Mr. Crawford was too cautious for that.
He persistently hugged the "warm side
Of the log" and, after the battle, was in a
position TO halloo for the fellows who
were on topl
The farmers movement developed a
good deal Of strength and had n big in
duonce, in various ways, and, under
different names, on Legislation In several
states and at Washington, In 1878 II
was called the Greenback party, and Mr..
s. j. Crawford was los candidate at large
for Congress In the state Of Kansas. An
address Issued by him at that time, over
his own signature, ls such complete re-
ply to the larger part Of his attack on
Polk and Beaumont that reproduce
portions Of the two papers:
+. !, CRAWFORD, july, 1890
What do Polk and Beaumont, two regular
TenegAdes, who never succeeded I'm any legltl-
mate business, care for the farmers OF Kansas,
except 10 bleed them Of every dollar they can
get and travel over the country nc their eXpenSe2
10 does seem as though sOmO people were
doomed 20 be mlsled and robbed on every hand
by designing demagOgues and dsreputablc
nnnMUHrnlu
cent. They are In tho saddle or on the. go from
morning tll night, hut never In the field, except
10 stop honest men from their work and try TO
poison them against their friends and nelghbOrs
Such men are dlstrbers Of the peace, pests To
communities, and enemies OF God ana man.
OF course, the farmers OF Kansas nre In debt,
and so they are everywhere, but no more than
people engaged In other pursuits Of life, and not
so much. In proportion 10 the value OF their
property the business men Of Topeka are In
debt, two dollars To one, as compared with the
farmers Of Shawnee county, and so II Is oil over
the state
The truth Is, everybody Is in debt, because the
whole business OF the country Is now done on u
credit basis. II the farmers were left free from
the pernlciOus advice ana helllsh influence OF
such men as Polk and Beaumont, and their co
COnsplratOrs, who reyGl In strife and contention
and subslst on deluded followers, they would be
happy, COntented and prosperous. But so long aS
they stop their work and follow bllndy In the
propose to lead them 10 untold wealth at the end
Of the rainbow, they will be I'm trouble. TX an
honest, industrious farmer wants 10 test the sim
Centy OF these self-appOlnted guardians and
wOuld-bo CustOdians OF eyerybody's Interests, let
him loan any one OF them few dollars In money
or sell them something on credit, and then he
win be able 10 measure the depth OF their doyO
tlOn without the slightest difficulty. They arc
evolves In sleeps clothing and their clothing
has been paid for by someone else,
IfanybOdy thinks the farmers Of Kansas are
bankrupt, let him figure up the aggregate value
OF their farms, stock and other personal proper
", and then compare that with their aggregate
indebtedness, and he will see how much truth
there IL In the wild, reckless statements which
have been put In circulation by these designing,
wicked mOntebanks for selfish md political pur.
poses. The balance In favor Of the farmers
many OF whom came 10 Kansas poor, Will reach
np into the hundreds OF millions OF dollars. And
vet the blatant demagOgues, like Polk and Beall-
mont, who never saw reaper until they came