The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-08-31
AN OPEN LETTER.
CoTToNWooD FALLS, KAs., |
August 13, 1892. !

OIuBp NCitLFuG ODBNNNCCO9 AOpSieNb 'AN'"''
MI DEAR S1R:--Your letter Of the 81
inst. requesting my services in the stat'
campaign in behalf of the republican party
duly received. will state the reasons WHY
cannot accept your invitation and hope
the same may be received by you az suffl
cient; they are not intended to be persona
and hope you will receive them in the
same kind spirit in which they are penned
They are reasons why oppose q system
which in my Judgments not truly American
have never been what might be termed
q partisan, for the reason never could see
anything sacred in political doctrines when
they did not impress the consciences Of men
Rs being right.
have always been opposed to the pro-
lection of one class of men at the expense
Of the great wealth producing masses, and
never supposed any party would be short
sighted enough to attempt thing Of that
kind. / fnd / have been mistaken, like
thousands of other men who have been vOt-
ing with the republican party, and we see
our brethren of the producing and laboring
Glasses surrounded by conditions which are
absolutely appalling, and the great question
now 10 to save them before it is too late.
am an American by birth, training and
education, aud as such am unaltersbly op-
posed to any political movement Of men
chat tends to set aside the simple faith and
loyalty Of the fathers and create conditions
unnatural aud un-AmeriOan, whereby capi-
tal becomes heartless oligarchy, and labor
drops down to the level Of q homeless and
hopeless peonage.
Partisan prejudice cannot close the food
gate through which rnsh the clear and liv-
ing waters OF truth; neither can it's blind
doRmss draw unto themselves respect, ven-
GRAFTON or reverence, when hungry thousands
Clamor for bread and labor's voice is heard
at every gathering demanding protection,
and il is answered by Pinkerton bullets.
The motto, "StRnd up for Kansas" on
your letter-head, in view Of the condition to
which the toiling masses have been re-
duCed; in view of the fact that your politi-
cal system has oontrasted the peoples
mohey, 80 that obligations cannot be paid;
in view of the fact that the homes are being
sold under mortgages and passing into the
hands of syndioates; in view of the fact that
che people have been robbed by railroad
corporations and transportation lines; in
view of the fact that trusts and combines
control the peoples markets and get what
is left; in view of the fact that you passed
an iniouitous law extending municipal aid
10 railroads, and now a great number OF
the counties Of Kansas are resting in the
sleep of death under bonds voted by hired
voters OF the companies through the opera
tion Of such law; in view of the fact that
such O system of municipal aid has been
maintained, even when its repeal was urged
by your patriotic governor, John A. Martin
In view Of the fact that our immense wheat
Crop of this year is being already absorbed
by the railroads and wheat combines; II
view Of the fact that the most industrious
can scarcely maintain themselves and fami
lies, the motto, "Stand up for Kansas" il
unnatural, inhuman, and ghoulish, anc
sounds like the hollow mockery of winds
blowing over graves.
You say you want speakers, "capable Of
espounding party doctrine and especially
the magnificent services which the present
administration has rendered the farmerl
and lRboring men of the country"
As you know, four years ago as one Of The
presidential electors of Kansas, cast mi
vote direct for BENZ. Harrison; hoped ther
change of administration would beneA
the country and tighten some of the bur
dens resting upon the people. In the cam