The advocate., 1892-06-15
FnSION.
FUSIUN.
To the Editor OF The ADVOCATE.

muCh discussion IN the hepuDNcAn
organs within my reading, being for the
most part dismissed with caususl notice,
they are leading topic with the Demo-
cratic papers, and any apparent steps in
that direction are hailed with a Julia
tion which Is in itself enough to arouse
the fears and suspicious Of any true
lover of reform.
Once and for all the Democratic party
is not party of reform, or of progress,
or OF positive faith. It's only policy
In all its last thirty years Of history, has
been one of opposition; 1t is conservative
without regard to right or wrong, its
faith Is in negatlon, and Its north pole, to
which 1t seeks to adjust every political
compass, is anything to beat the Repub-
llCan party.
Within a little over thirty years this
incarnate negRtion has chsmpioned, be-
cause of its opposition to reform, states
rights against national unifcatlOn,
slavery against the cause of freedom,
the rum power against law and morality,
and, If 1t has both talked and voted for
any good thing, do not know what it is
It talked q few years ago for greenbacks,
after having done Its utmost to prevent
their issuance, but the actual result of
its utterance was as VRcuous as thc Iaal-
ity Of all Its free silver platforms. In
1880 and again In 1884 1t demanded the
constitutional silver dollar, and Mr..
Cleveland may thank that platform for
his election, and for the opportunity to
display as chief magistrate of a long suf-
fering people, his treason to his party's
plighted faith and his disregard for the
welfare Of 80 per cent. of his fellow
citizens.
will leave to others the task Of abus-
ing the other great party. One thing at
least 1t has, positive, acting, aggressive
policy. If there were any danger Of fus-
ion with the Republican .mschine, there
would be need of comment upon that
danger, but in Kansas, at least. there is
none.
One highest Of all reforms deserves
the hand and voice and ballot of every
honest man, and that is a reform in po-
litical morality, q substitution of princl-
pie for expediency, and OF truthful plat
forms for dicer's oaths made but to de-
ceive and TO be broken. From what
Republican, from what Democrat, from
what man will you hear any expression
of faith In the utterances either at Mime
apolis or Chicago? They will be mean
iDgless "UoT ct preteriG nihiI" and
everyone will acknowledge 1t. They
will not influence a vote, and will serve
but as the convenient headings for cam
paIgn speeches. The disgrace crowning
the apex Of this mountainous dishOnor,
is that the people, the whole people,
think of this falsitY as merely subject for
a bitter jest. Like people, like priest.
A lie has grown to be a matter Of small
consequence to the nation. What wonder
if 1t is the all-suficient weapon and shield
of the politician and the stock gambler,
as it Is Of the prostitute.
The talk for fusion is from first to last,
and Its plotterS will not deny it, talk for
expedlency. 1t may be true that "hslf
q loaf is better than no bread" but half
q truth Is not better than no truth.
Half a truth is a lie, and half Of prin-
ciple is q dishonesty. With anything
evil one can always compromise, but