The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-13
W. H. RossINGToN's SPEECH.

W. II. ROSSINGTON'S SPEECH.
Following is the stenographic report
of w. FL. Rossington's mastery speech
delivered in Topeka last Friday evening
as published in the Globe Democrat:
more than two years ago." Mr.. Ross.
ington said, "there were foimed through
the state of Kansas lodges or orders OF
what is Familiarity known as the
Farmers Alliance The original pur.
pose of this organization was in the high.
est degree beneficent and praiseworthy.
Its aims were social and economical, and
it proposed to be absolutely non-parti-
san. Into this order, therefore. were
| freely received both Democrats and Re-
! publicanS engaged in the business of
agriculture. For two or three years
previous to this movement there had
/ been crcp failures III Kansas, and an era
of wild, irrational speculation IN town
| lots, fostered and encouraged by the
rapid development of the state, had re-
suited in extreme financial stringency.
| Under this condition and at this time
. there were imported into the state a
number of irresponsible agitators, bear
| ing in their hands number of BOOKS full
of the widest vagaries Of baseless and
unfounded assertions, and almost trCa
sonable in their denunciation of free in
situations and of the government and
laws under which we live. This Iitera-
ture was widely disseminated, and
within the closed and guarded portals of
Alliance meetings the fallacies and pre-
posterouS theories were Industriously
and vehemently preached, and this pois-
onous and reasonable literature diSsem-
mated. These constituencies and ire
sponsible Sgitators found a fallow soil
into which to sow their seed. The dis
content arising from unfulfilled hopes in
speculative enterprises, the financial dis
tress following crop failure, made of the
common people of the state of Kansas
an easy prey to the preachers of this
new and pernicious gospel OF despair.
You all remember what ensued. There
was never anything like it in free coun-
try, governed by rules of free speech,
before. The alliances were diverted
from their original commendable pur-
poses to seething centers of vindictive
political activity. Reason and argument
were thrown TO the winds; free dis
cussion of public questions was
stamped out. Under domination
almost hierachial an organization was
perfected which yielded implicit obedi-
ence to central control At the word of
command they stop their ears to argu-
ment: they stified The voice of patriotism;
common sense and reason were trampled
into the mire, and fallacles and absurd
theories were held alOft and worshiped;
and when election time came, free-born
Americans were driven like sheep to
SHAMELESS and voted as one man. Who
ever in any neighborhood seriously If
fected by this movement sought to stand
up and retain his party relationship was
threatened with social ostracism and in
many instances with personal injury.
You all remember what followed in
the legislature. AS the voters went,
muzzled and shackled, TO the polls, so
did the chosen representatives come to
the legislature. No one of them was
permitted to freely represent his con-
stltuency. The same hard-and-fast or
ganization was preserved III Topeka, and
committee chosen by the grand lodge
of this secret political order
was quartered in Topeka, which
drafted measures of legislation
the most absurd and extreme, threaten
ing every material interest of the state,
and frankly providing for means to OBJ
struct the enforcement of private and
honorable contracts. The dupes Of this
uprising were persuaded that the ancient
canons had been set aside, viz: that in
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread and that here is but one honest
way to meet an honest obligation, and
that is by payment All of their prin-
6
order, OF the rights of property, and
meant if they meant anything, forci-
BILE redistribution OF private property.
Their failure 10 secure the executive
and the holding-over Of the higher
branch of the legislature were the only
things which prevented these harmful
and preposterous measures becoming
laws. As these people, tie rank and
file Of whom were honest ard !
sincere (as are the rank and file !
of all such movements, how |
ever misguided) had been de-
luded by being successfully per- |
suaded that they were downtrodded and |
bv the government under |
which they lived, and that the disasters |
that had overtaken them were the result /
not of their speculative tollles, not OF /
the mysterious visitation of Providence |
in Withholding the early and the later /
rains, il became apparent that the con- |
tinued prosperity OF this party de- /
pended upon the perpetuation OF the dis /
which had been fomenied. They |
must still be beguiled with the notion /
that honest labor failed TO meet with /
a reward in Kansas; that the business OF /
agrIcu ture, our only business, was I'M
profitable. and makes poSerty-,t.icken I
slaves of those who follow II. den were 1
chosen TO represent The great aud historic l
state CT Kansas IN the highest councils of /
the nation. state which mas always /
been ably and even brilliantly represent |
ed. They We're men who would not be /
chosen as hog reeves under ordinary
and these went forth /
into the commercial cen:ers OF the /
Last. and in the public market places I
asserted that Kansas was bankrupt; that I
lis people could by no possibility pay /
thelr debts; that they were Overwhelmed /
by pablic and private obligations, aud 1
that the business and the only business
OF the state WAS inevitably a failure. and
that 1t WAS impossible for any man to !
AVE and get on in Kansas. As result I
holders OF the private obligations OF the
peope OF Kansas IN the east became
alarmed. contemplated enterprises were
abandoned, investments were rapidly |.