Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-08-12

BURLINGTON, KANS., AUG. ], 1891.
Editor Topeka Capital: Yours OF
July 23rd, inviting me to make a state
ment to be published in the Capital as
10 the truih OF falsity of the following
clipping OF the Manhattan Republic of
July 22nd:
lone who is at all acquainted with
eX-COngressman Kelley'S independent
course i'll congress in defense of the
rights Of the people, diSregarding the
foolish forms and presidents about the
national legislature, and often incur
ring the dlspleasure of his old party
| bosses will not be surprised TO learn
| that he has turned to the new party as
to the best medium through which to
| accomplish the reforms demanded by
! the people"
Permit me to say that 1 have never
voted any other than the straight re-
publican ticket, when such a ticket
was in the field, for national, state, or
local officers; was republican of the
strlctest sect, and because it was the
party of liberty and progress, the par
| ty of the people, the party that favored
and stood for equal rights, the party of
the masses and against the classes, the
party that printed on its banners and
incorporated in its platform the prlnci-
pies of free and fair ballot to every le-
gal voter, the party that pledged its sa-
cred honor to the Chicago platform of
1888, that if the people restored 1t to
power in all branches OF the national
government, it would enact laws, and
enforce them, that would protect the
voters everywhere under the flag from
the murderous violence and as sassina-
tions that had been practlced upon the
republican voters in several of the
southern states by the democratic par
| ty until the leaders were in their bloody
graves or exiled, and reign of terror
suppressed the republican party there.
The hope of seeing this pledge redeem
ed caused many republicans In the
south to hold alOft the banner OF repub-
licanism at the cost of their lives, and
many of them went down in death, and
others went out in Punishment for the
success of the cause. The republican
party was successful; it took possess
ion OF the government in all It's branch
e5; no law whatever was made or en-
acted to give protection to voters in the
south; the peace of the graveyard
reigns there in five states; the pledge OF
the republican party is unredeemed
and in mockery and derision it is writ
ten on the tombstones of the republi-
can victims by their democratic assas-
sins. The fond hope that this sacred
pledge would be redeemed caused my
unfalterlng adherence to the republl
can party until the adjournment Of the
last congress, the hope vanished, as
the republican opportunity to enact il
into law had forever passed.
For years past have not been una
wares of abuses growing up in the re-
publican organization as we'll as in the
democratic party. have done my ut
most to help correct those abuses with
in the party lines.
have done my best to encourage the
organization of the Farmers alliance
for the last two years, advising them to
operate with the old party lines as the
best method of securing redress; they
thought otherwise and cut loose from
the old parties. L now see their vision
was clearer than mine, their wisdom
greater. 1 have advocated in the halls
OF congress and elsewhere, every thing
embodied in the platform of the peoples
party except the sub-treasury and land
loan schemes; these l do not endorse
but believe the government should in
crease by the free coinage of silver and
issue of paper currency, the volume OF
money in the country, to double what
it is now, gradually in the next three
years.
Favoring these measures and believ-
ing their enactment into law would re-
suit in great benefit to the American
people, and both the old parties having
rejected them, the logical thing for me
to do. is to support the party that fay.
ors them, the Peoples party, which !
do, Yours truly,