Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-10-15
PARTIES IN KANSAS.

| LINES lcCC0r IrOm t1O1. JOQQ "A.
Eaton of Winfield in relation to politi-
cal parties in Kansas which every DEM
ocrat in the state should read with
care:
Winfield, Kansas, Sept. 24.-In 1880
the opposition to the republican party
in Kansas elected five out of the seven
members of congress. This was made
possible because of democratic votes.
The battle cry was tariff reform, Oppo-
sition to the Mckinley bill, free coin
age OF silver, opposition to trusts and
combines and an increased circulating
medium, sufficient to meet the increas-
ing demands of the growing west and
south. Upon these issues the democrats
of Kansas, as rule, united with the
peoples or third party, and through
such Union success was obtained. The
republicans Onlv succeeded where such
union did not exist.
The stand then taken was in har-
mOny with democracy and its teachings
for years; the peoples party orators
were as earnest in the advocacy of
democracy as were the DEMOCRATS, and
there was no Inconsistency in the heavy
support given.
The only trouble of any kind that
arose in the campaign of 1890 was
from lot of agitators who had no
practical idea CT good political manage
ment aud who were then engaged as
they have been for years, in promulgat-
ing lot of heresies and untried theo-
ries. Their whole cry was for an entire
change Of policy, and no claim was too
wild for their support. After the cleo
tion the peoples party fell into the
hands of these agitatOrs and lost the
good Judgment and counsel of many
who could have kept it from course
which soon made it impossible for them
to enlist the thinking people of the
state.
After thus forsaking the doc trims
and the men who made it possible for
them to win, they selected senator of
visionary ideas and a man who was
opposed by many of the alliance leaders
because he was the advocate of the very
heresies into which the party has now
fallen. In the legislature the superan
nuated preachers and prohibition howl
ers committed the alliance to that great
farce. They were led to attack the BUS
mess interests of the state. and und er
this irresponsible leadership took maEy
steps that have resulted in serious in
jury to the credit of the state. The
policy of tearing down was inaugural
ed, and at the same time they fur
nished no builders OF plans for the
erection of better governmental
structure.
This leadership was in the heyday of
its glory when it went to Cincinnati
and there met the third party agitatOrs
of the other states, where the peoples
party had no organized following. The
alliance, as political factor, made its
surrender complete and committed
itself to government loans, to the sub
treasury scheme, to the government
ownership of railroads, to an unlimited
and irredeemable currency and to other
dangerous vagaries. Coupled with
this, possibly through fear that if they
did not do so the third party organiza.
tion would be impossible, they aban-
doned the course and policy that had
made democratic union with the peo-
pies party in Kansas possible in 1890.
Since the third party has become
the rdvOcate of the paternal and social
; istic doctrines of its platform, demo-
cratic assistance and help is made i'm
possible for two reaons.
First-No democrat can teach, pro-
mulgate or consistently advocate,
either by vote or upon the stump, the
tenets of the third party.
Second-The third party agitators
are jealous of the power it has given
them, and having complete control of
the party machinery they will and are
preventing any uniting of the Opposi-
tion to the republican party, fearing
that such a course would destroy their
} leadership.
1t is to be regretted that the alliance
has fallen into such hands, as it was a
great power for good to the over taxed
. farmers. 1t was great educator OF
the masses. By its teachings the evils
of special legislation upon the financial
and tariff questions became apparent
to all. 1t contains many honest, and
| intelligent men who can not longer fol.
J low the third party. Those of its mem
Ders who stop tc think are fast becom.
ing lukewarm; the wisdom and advice
of thinking members is lost in silence
and disgust; the agitators have becoms
it's trumpeters and in Kansas they
seem to be now engaged in scramble
for the Offices and are paying but little
attention to the demands of the farmers
Political changes in Kansas are
rapid. and the farmers who went into
the alliance Thought il would he the