Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-01-20
THE THIRD PARTY QUESTION.

THE THIRD PARTY QUESTION.
It is No Use For Aniaa-eInea to Eject Men
Upon the Platforms of Opp osing Political
Parties.
Please allow space in your valuable
paper for few thoughts. Is it best
for congressman elected on the Ocala
platform to go ito democratic or re-
publican caucuSes regardless of in
dorsement of the o ala D atform? If
it is best to go into these caucuses,
which party shall we caucus with?
Well. one might say, of course, with
the democrats, for they have majority
in the house. But, says another, eau
ems with the republicans, for they have
a majority in the senate Now, it
seems to US that one of the parties has
as much right to expect our cooperation
and support as the other, since both have
repudiated our platform and spurned
our demands Strike out the name and
who but an expert can tell which is the
democratic and which is the republican
platform. Do thev not both favor ma
tional banks? Is there not but slight
difference in their views on the tariff?
Are not both parties opposed to free
and unlimited coinage of silver? Don't
both parties say that for the govern
ment to establish sub-treasuries and
loan money OF agricuitur Il products
would be pa ternal an5 unconstitutional?
Is it not well known that both agree
that to loan money on land woul bank
rupt the government? Have not the
leaders of both parties proclaimed from
the house tops that our demands were
born in iniquity and fostered through
ignorance?
Why, then, should we hold on to the
old party? Well, SAYS one, / was
elected by the republicans and there
fore must work with that party. An
other says, was elected by the demo-
Gratis and 1 must work with that party.
Thus you see we have men elected by
different elements, yet on one AMI the
same platform (the Ocala), who declare
that they must cooperate with differ
emit parties, whose chief object is one
to oppose the other, whether the meas
ure proposed be right or wrong
This divides our strength and brings
us in direct opposition to each other,
for one brother enters the repub-
ican caucus, the other democratic
caucus, which parties were never
known to agree on any subject or any
object except when an alliance candi-
date was to be defeated, then they will
lock arms and march together to the
polls and vote the same ticket.
The good book tells us that house
divided against itself cannot stand, and
confess for one that have no hope
OF relief so long as we stand thus di-
vided. Then again, we are exhorted in
the Scripture to come out from among
them and be We separate. You cannot
serve God and Mammon, neither can
you serve the masses and either of tho
old parties. But one brother says,
when was elected there was no third
party, and l happened to live in a Sec
ton that had always been democratic,
and consequently had to enter demo-
cratic nomination. Further, the con-
test between myself and opponent was
so hot that my democracy was brought
into question, and to secure nv election
had to declare my allegiance to the
democratic party, and pledge myself, if
elected, to enter the democratic caucus
and abide by its de cision, although it
repudiate and scorn every principle of
the platform on which 1 was elected.
], therefore, feel honor bound to stick
to the democratic party.
Well, this is an extreme case, and I'M
der such circumstances don't see anv
way out of the dilemma. But. nv
brother, is it not also fact that your
Endorsement of this Ocala platform
gave you more assurance of election
than you could possibly have had with
out it? And now since the democrats
repudiate the whole platform on which
you were elected what can be the re-
suit Of your labors with your hands
tied by that party? I very well re-
member that in the Tenth congress
sional district the democracy of Hon.
Thomas E. Watson was questioned by
his opponents. but instead of pledging
himself to anything but the Ocala plat
form he denounced such statement as
basely false, and to prove his democ-
racy brought forth unquestionable evil
dence showing that his, the Ocala, and
the Jeffersonian democracy was one
and the same, by this means was elect
ed by an overwhelming majority, AMI
AOWs liz OOuUt, IcclS dU liberty,
he should, to affiliate with anv party
that will aid him in adopting measures
that the people demand.
Since the congressional election the
third party has been brought forth for
the purpose of giving us what we ask
and have adopted our p atform the
same on which every allianceman was
elected.
Now, shall our congressman get off
their own platform and work on the
platform of our enemies simply because
it has been adopted by party that
proposes to help us?
No. Let US cut loose or rather turn
loose of the old party that has been
trying so long to kick us 10 Sc, and if
we have not the majority we can hold
the balance of power, which IL drive
the two together, or draw one of them
to us. Let US concede to nothing, but
stand firm on our platform and affiliate
with no other. So, bre thren, come and
go with us, for in union there is
strength. L. Johnston, in Atlanta
(Ga.) Southern Alliance Farmer.
@Aa