Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-12-03
A MISFT TEAM.



tribute even the possibility of . jocose
view of politics to the serious-minded
of Kansas, we should say
that their ''boom" for Blaine and Nc
Klnley as the ticket for 1892 was in
spired solely by = sense of humor.
And we should be confirmed in this
judgment by the explanation that this
combination appeals to the Kansas
mind because it represents the two
cardinal principles of republicanism.
reciprocity and protection It would
add to the grim fun of the suggestion,
were we permitted to take it as fun at
all. that the friends of Mckinley, who
wished to have his name lead the
ticket. are cheerful1y reminded by the
friends of Mr.. Blaine that the latter is
likely to die before the end of the four
years term, and so the high ambitions
of two great men can be equally and
severally satisfied in one election But,
as we have intimated, it is not perm is
sible to interpret the ideas of Kansas
repu blicans by the light of humor.
They are dead in earnest. and when
they suggest Blaine and Mckinley.
reciprocity and protection, an invalid
statesman and a lusty politician. as
their conception of what viii win in
the next election, they mean what they
say, every word of it. and mean it with
sincerity not without q touch Of
pathos-
For. to the observer who is as sober
minded as the Kansas republican him.
self. and who is, moreover, wide-awake
to the significance of recent events,
this proposition is curiously in accord
with the condition both of the party
mind and the party prospects 1t is
really a rude, simple, half-grotesque,
half-pitiful attempt at a correct inter
probation of the situation These Kan
sas people know that protection was
beaten. and badly beaten, in New York.
in MaSsachuse It's, and in Iowa and
that it appeared to win in Ohio and in
Pennsylvania To the rebellious re-
publicans of the first group of states
they offer Blaine and reciprocity; to
the faithful of the latter group of states
they offer protection and Mckinley.
And since the great body of the party
still stick to protection, they give to
them the assurance that, though they
are to be represented only in the sec
ond place on the ticket. their candidate
may fairly hope, in the course of na-
ture, to succeed the actual candidate
for the presidency in the performance
of the functions of that Office. And
this is the Juggling with public opinion,
the effort to cheat the conscience and
intellect of the American people, which
really seems to these men likely to be
successful It is nothing to them that,
so far as this combination would work
at all. it would be trick, that Mr..
Blaine's reciprocity is in reality the
essential opposite of Mr.. Mckinley's
protection and vice versa, and that if
these plans were carried out, the ticket
elected, and Mckinley were to become
president by the death in due time of
Mr.. Blaine, every man who voted for
Mr.. Blaine would be deceived All that
they think of. all that they care for,
honest souls and narrow as they are,
is that the republican party shall sue
coed, the dreadful democrats be de-
feated, and the saints inherit the post
Offices.
1t is not unfair to say that this is in
accord with the condition of mind of
the repu blicans. nor that it fairly
represents the means by which their
leaders hope to win in the next presi-
Dental contest The Kansas arrange
ment corresponds very closely to the
Mckinley bill with the reciprocity at
tachment, and certainly it is perfe city
well known that one and the other,
and each alternately have been
worked for all they were worth" &C
cording to the varying ATTITUDES If it
were possible to hold the old-time re-
publicans to the ticket by the McKin-
ley form of protection, and at the same
time hold the dissatisfied by the Blaine
device of reciprocity. no scrhple of
conscience would prevent Happily, it
is not possible. The process of enlight-
eminent has gone too far in the pu bic
mind The old-time republicans viii,
indeed, continue to vote the ticket, as
they did in Pennsylvania, whoever is
on it, and whatever he may represent
But the men whom Mr.. Blaine hoped
to catch with reciprocity will no longer
rise to that bait They know what it
really is and what it conceals, and they
will have none of It This Mr.. Blaine
himself sees plainly enough. Could he
have his way to-day he would not stop
at the illusory reciprocity of the Nc
Kinley bill He would give the coun-
try real reciprocity; that is to say, ne
would. as he has tr ed to do in the case
of Canada, give the country freer
trdOe, WHICH Is as Oluerent 1roin pro-
lection as heat from cold. But it is
doubtful if even that would now check
the tide of dissatisfaction with the
whole protection policy and idea The
repu blican leaders made their fatal er-
TOR in the last congress Then they
had a chance to take the work of the
revision and reduction of the tariff in
their own hands, and had they done so
fhev xould have heeu lt.ft tn finish the,
task. Instead. they make the burden
of the tariff heavier; and now, unless
all signs fail. the country has deter
mined to be done, in due time, with it
and with them-N. Y. Tunes
TIME FOR a SHOWING.