Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-06-13
The Signs of the Times.

The Signs of the Times.
"Resolued that the signs of the times d
not indicate the doamtaH Of tile REPUBLICAN
PARTY"
discussion between Mrs. Lila Day Monroe an
Mrs. Margaret ". Hanna before the l. N. c
For a few years, at one time o.
another, this question has been agitatee
in different parts of the Union.
In Indiana, prior to the election O.
Garfield to the presidency, many loca
societies argued it; at present some o.
the local clubs in Kansas are debating il
more seriously, perhaps, than it has evel
been debated before.
A Correspondent in the Forum a short
time since on the subject asks. "Is it moi
time to break party lines and unite on
principle?"
This question implies that principles
have ceased to play any important part
in our campaigns and perhaps in our adj
ministration of public affairs. Could
that ever seem to be? Are we ready to
impugn the motives of all politicians:
Politics is desperate game to play at
but not all the players are kDaves. The
Republican party still has leaders who
aregood, honest, loyal American citizens.
The principles of this party are as old
as time. We know at what period these
principles, the cardinal virtues of
Republicanism were espoused and con-
ferred by the men who called themselves
Republicans. Those principles were
grouped together and were known the
world over by the synonym Republican
Party" Shall we now change the name
of this party, take new name, under a
new leader who may be of the "Flash and
Fade" persuasion that seem destined to
run the affairs of Kansas into chaos?
Shall we throw away the legacy of
glory bestowed by Lincoln, Grant, Sum-
ner, Garfield, Logan, Sherman and the
numbers of our illustrious dead whose
lives and endeavors were the bone and
sinew of the Republican Party?
Shall we sell this birthright for mess
of pottage and say by SO doing that all
these men have lived and worked for
naught?
Shall we despoil our heroes, rob their
graves of their laurels?
Shall we unmake, by throwing away
this name Republican, all those statesmen
and heroes whose lives make up the his
tory of the United States?
Suppose We do this. Can we fight a
battle by changing our commanders
name?
Questions would still have to be settled,
difficulties would arise which must be
met and overcome, differences occur
which must be adjusted.
When we are sure that all of our lead
ers are Benedict Arnolds waiting to sell
us for personal gain, then we might call
halt and reconstruct not alone politics
but the whole body polite.
In the history of all time we find that
when organizations have served the pur-
pose for which they were organized they
cease to be.
When we no longer need to preserve
this Union the Republican party will
have served its purpose and it will cease
to be-but there will be no historian to
chronicle this for the Buddhist will be
wrapped in the dreamless Nirvana and
the Christian will view the white light of
eternity.
And now to prove this will you look
closely at this Republican party?
1t will bear it and you will only love it
themore. Here is brief outline, the
framework, the bones of political masto-
don which every one ought to be able to
supply with the flesh and blood of its
leaders and it's achievements which make
it living organism.
1. What was the cause of the exist
ence of the Republican party?
2. What were its principles?
3. Who were its leaders?
4. What has 1t done!
5. What remains to be done?
6. Has it lost any of its efficiency?
(a) What are now its principles?
(b) Who are its leaders?
To get at the true history of American
politics we must begin with the politics
of England short time prior to, and at
the time of the colonization of America.
But this must be abridged; just few
statements and we pass to the rise of the
Republican party proper.
The document idea or principle with
the colonists was freedom.
When they came to make their laws
their desire to be without master left
them without government, as is shown
by the Articles of Confederation which
lack the very elements Of government,
law, penalty, judgment and execution.
Outside pressure was all that held the