Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1892-10-20
LINCOLN AND WEAVER.
Peculiar Similarity of the Campaigns q
1860 and 1899.

1860 and 1899.
During the early part of Septembc1',
1860, the outlook for the election OF Abra'
ham Lincoln by the Republican party
was not as favorable as for the Peoples
party to elect their candidate for pres
dent in the coming election. Those
who proposed to vote for Lincoln were
assured that the contest was between
Breckenridge and Douglas, and that tt
vote for Lincoln was to insure the cleo
ton of Breckenridge. The October
elections gave evidence that the people
were in earnest in their desire for p
change in administering the affairs OF
the government, and desperate situa
ton presented itself to the leaders OF the
organized political forces.
Instead Of its being an issue between
the northern and southern wings of the
Democratic party the lines were drawn
between the Republican party and ali
others. In order to defeat the will OF
the people fusion became the order OF
the day, and every possible combination
was entered into for the purpose of de-
feating the rail splitter" and ignorant
boor'' of the parties The know Moth
ing" party, headed by Bell, was making
its last effort under the banner "Ameri-
cans to Rule America" and the Douglas
party derived its greatest strength from
the foreign vote, which was concentrated
under the Douglas lead for the purpose
of opposing and defeating the Bell
- CIT
perate that the Douglas and Bell party
united forces as a last resort to defeat
Lincoln in some doubtful states. This
served to show the success of the PEG
pies movement, and with renewed hope
the Lincoln cohorts marched on to vic
tory.
So persistent had been the cry of Lin
coins incapacity, ignorance and unfit
ness to administer the affairs of the gov
eminent that many opposed him in the
honest belief that his election would be
q disgrace to the nation and that the
government by the people would cease
with his Inauguration. A parallel is
presented in this opposition to the cleo
tion of General Weaver, and the sup
porters of the old and found wanting
parties are working the same old scheme
to prejudice the people, and with about
the same result. Every election and
and caucus held since the nomination of
General Weaver gives evidence of a
growing popularity of the Peoples ticket,
and the few who came out of the old
ranks because they believed the inter-
ests of the nation demanded change
find themselves almost crowded out of
the ranks by the efforts OF raw recruits
in their zeal to get to the front.
So far as is possible the Peoples move
ment is ignored by the eastern press, yet
evidence of their alarm of the result
from the uprising of the people is not
wanting. In the western states the cry
of neither protective tariff nor tariff re-
form catches the ear, and in the mining
states the bugaboo of the repeal OF the
lead tax fails to mislead the people.
Listening to the appeal of the politi-
clans while taking the toboggan for q
lower plane of prosperity is not prac-
ticed by the people to the extent it has
been in the past, and the dulcet tones OF
the alarmed officeholder are not being
responded to by the measured tread OF
the heretofore slaves of the old parties.
Colorado Herald.