The Iola register., 1891-07-31
no FUSION roR MIR. PERRY,
The Ex-District Attorney of Kansas Writes
o Pointed Letter.

The Ex-DistrIct Attorney of Kansas Writes
Pointed Letter.
FORT SCOTT, Kas., July 23.-In re-
sponse to an invitation OF the Kansas
democratic editors to be present at
their banquet in Topeka Sunday, the
Hon. w. C. Perry, ex-United States
district attorney of Kansas, wrote a
spicy letter TO the secretary Of that
body, which thoroughly expresses the
sentiments of thorough bred" demo-
cracy in this neck of Kansas and in no
uncertain words. Since writing same,
Mr.. Perry has made arrangements to
attend the Topeka gathering and will
deliver an address to that body on "The
Campaign of 1892" 1t is as follows:
Charles K. Holiday, jr., esq, Secre-
tary, etc.
FORT SCOTT, KAN, July 22.-My
Dear Sir: beg to acknowledge receipt
at your hands OF request to attend a
meeting of Kansas democratic editors
to be held at Topeka on the 9th in
slant and also an invitation 20 partici-
pate in a banquet to be rendered to
such editors by the Topeka democracy.
You have my cordial thanks for these
courtesies, and while do not see that
the Kansas editors are not entirely able
now, as at all other times, to conduct
their own affairs, should gladly attend
were it not that three weeks ago a law
suit In which am interested was set
for trial on the 9th instant.
Could l be with you the occasion
would be fraught with. more than or
binary pleasure by reason OF the many
personal friends I would meet, both
among the editors and the Topeka DEM
ocrats, and because the recent action Of
your organization looking toward a
straight and distinctive democratic Or
ganization and campaign, now and
hereafter, meets my hearty approval.
think | can without obtrusive ego
tism, say that l have always favored
that policy, and am very certain that
l can state, after careful scrutiny of
the history of Kansas democracy for
the past fifteen years, that democrats
have been satisfied only when following
their own flag, and that of all the coali-
tions and fusions indulged in by US, not
one has brought US either contantment,
honor or profit.
And it is only necessary to point to
the lesson OF the campaign OF 1890 to
adorn this moral. All the efforts OF the
democracy toward fusion with the
peoples party on candidate for gov
ernor were futile and our advances in
that direction were received with such
open scorn that the scurviest spirit in
all the world could not but feel humil-
lated at the result OF the adventure.
And when the vote was counted it was
found that the republican party was
almost whipped, but at a cost to the
democratic party of an even half of its
votes.
And beyond this to-day, in about
democracy either has no organization
at all, or it is so wormeaten and mouldy
as to inspire anything but admiration.
Why should this be so? All admit
that the policy of pandering to the
farmers alliance, or peoples party, has
sapped the life blood of the democracy,
but the excuse is that il is also destroy
ing the republican party and that after
the fever OF the hour abates we can get
back our own with interest. Tho
sophists who thus argue should remem-
Der that the pawnbroker does not thus
do business; and it is seldom indeed,
that the calf prevails in contest with
the Lutcher.
And have the democrats Of Kansas
ost their self respect? What do those
who favor coalition think of the inso-
lent manner OF those with whom they
seek to fuse? Are democrats whipped
ours to follow at the heels OF an aggre-
cation of crude cranks whose vagaries
fade In the presence OF common sense
and ordinary decencv as would snow
ball in the heat OF hades?
And why should a democrat desire
the success of the peoples prrty? Aside
from giving comfort to fallacies that
are the antipodes of the principles of
democracy, this course can result in no
good, real or imaginary. to single dem
ocrat, either personally or politically.
On the other hand it simply knocks
down one foe to build up another,
which would be more dangerous to the
eventual veal OF the state than republi-
canism were its tenants anything but
evanescent.
hope the great influence of the demo-
cratic editorial fraternity of Kansas will
be directed toward the retention and
building up of the democratic party on
the we'll known lines of its national Or
ganization. Success is good; self re-
spect is better. Yours truly.
w. G.. PERRY.