Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-08-18
HON. HARRISON KELLY.
He Leaves the Republicans for
the Peoples Party.
"A Life Long Republican-He Despairs OF
and Joins the Party of the People.

IOFEkA, Mans, Aug. ll.-Ihe fol-
lowing letter written to and published
in the Capital will be of interest to
those who are watching the drift of at.
fairs
BURLINGTON, KAN, Aug. /, 1891.
To the Editor of the Capital
Yours of July 23rd, inviting me to
make statement to be published in
the CAPITAL as to the truth or falsity of
the following clipping of the Manhat-
tan Republic of July 22nd:
"One who is at all acquainted with ex-
Congressman Kellys independent
course in congress in the defense of the
rights OF the people, disregarding the
foolish forms and precedents about the
national legislature, and often incur
ring the displeasure of his old party
bosses, wi Il not be surprised to learn
that he has turned to the new party as
the best medium through which to
accomplish the reforms demanded by
the people"
Permit me to say that I have never
voted any other than the straight re-
republican ticket. where such a ticket
was in the field, for national, state, or
local officers; was a republican of the
strictest sect, and because it was the
party of liberty. the party of progress,
the party of the people, the party that
favored and stood up for equal rights,
the party of the masses and against
the classes the party that printed on
its banners and incorporated in its plat
form the principles of free and fair
h.
that pledged its sacred honor in the
Chicago platform of 1888, that if the
people restored it to power in all branch
ches OF the national government,
1t would enact laws and enforce them
that would protect the voters every
where under the flag from the murder
GUS violence and assassinatiOns that had
been practiced upon the republican
voters in several OF the southern states
by the democratic party until the lead
ers were in their bloody graves or ex-
lied, and reign of terror suppressed the
republican party there. The hope OF
seeing this pledge redeemed caused
many republicans in the south to hold
aloft the banner of republicanism 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 sue
cessful; it took possession of the govern
ment in all its branches: no law what
ever was made or enacted to give pro-
lection to voters in the south. the peace
of the graveyard reigns there in five
states, the pledge of the republican par
ty is unredeemed. and in mOckery and
derision it is written on the tombstones
OF the republican victims by their dem
ocratic assassins. The fond hope that
this sacred pledge would be redeemed
caused my unfaltering adherence to the
republican party until the adjournment
OF the last congress, the hope vanished,
as the republican opportunity to enact
it into law had forever passed.
For years past | have not been una.
wares OF the abuses growing up in the
republican organization as we'll as in
the democratic party. have done my
utmost to help correct these abuses
within the party lines.
have done my best to encourage the
organization of the farmers alliance fo1
the last two years, advising them to
operate within the old party lines as the
best method OF securing redress. They
thought otherwise and cut loose from
the old parties. now see their vision
was clearer than mine, their wisdom
greater. have advocated in the halls
OF congress and elsewhere, everything
embodied in the platform of the PEG.
les party except the subtreasury and
land loan schemes; these 1 do not in
dorse, but believe the government
should increase 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 bellev-