davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19
The "Calamity HOvIeTs "

These calamity howlers, to whom YOU re-
Ter are the farmers, labOrers and the general
workmen OF the country, who live By severe
and constant toll whose lines in life are cast in
hard places and who are forced TO struggle
under adverse circumstances to maintain them
selves and their families in comfort and re-
spectability. They are not, it is true. as q rule
men OF the widest reading in the fields of polite
literature, but they are something better than
this. They are plain, honest, unassuming peo-
pie They are honest in their convictions and
purposes conscientious in their views AMI, as
rule, in the prOprieties Of life morally and
socially, they are incOmDarabiv superior to
those who move in the more favored and splen-
did conditions of life. They are the men who
toll under the burning suns of suramar and en-.
dure the hardships and peris of winter, for
the purpose of raising the products ana com
modities that you and / and other non-pro-
ducers have no lot or part in contributing to
the worlds mass Of wealth. Neither vOunor !.
nor any other professional man, nor any irlder,
Spectator or money changer, unless under ex-
Ceptional circums Gnces, ever did days work
Or performed an hours labor that contributed
to the actual wealth Of the world LAWYERS.
b1ihOlo capitalists sNtsul ltOfS luQ IN Sc
classes Of our citizens are in a sense dr31cs in
the great hive of hum IN industry We are the
consumers of the products OF other peoples
Iabors, and the glthererS of the fruits Of other
peoples toll. Hen,e. it comes with very i'll
grace from any member Of these classes. what
ever his political relations NAV be. 70 con.
temptuOus'y and extensively sneak Of this great
productive. class Of our fellow citizens as
calamity bowlers"
In thus speaking of consumers ami non-pro.
ducers, do not intend il in anv offensive sense
nor do propose to underestimate their yalue
as members OF society. The producer and con.
sumner are necessary to the well being of each
other, and 10 these relations they are excellent
supplements each to the other. In order IN
make the product useful and valuable To the
producer, there must be o consumer. but the
consumer should not arrogantly assume a
position and claim Of superiority because OF the
tact that he is a consumer instead of n nro-
Queer Modesty and humility better become
bis position than arrogance and insolence.
speak to you in this frank manner because
my knowledge and appreciation of YOUR char.
acter warrants me in believing that Won have
unwitungly fallen into this habit of contemn.
tuously speaking of this great body of your
tellow-citizens, and that you do not really mean
to reflect upon the intelligence integrity and
moral worth of the people whom YOU call
calamity howlersn
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19
The Milk In the Cocoanut.

am afraid that the cause Of your anxiety is
not the destruction OF the democratic party,
nor the success OF the peoples party, but may
be explained by the following lines in your let.
ter:
you are welcome to all the consolation and
comfort that you can get out Of II, II you think
that you are promoting the election in the
slightest degree Of Grover Cleveland"
There we have it This, my dear friend, Is
the milk in the cocoanut There is where 1t
hurts The election Of Cleveland is the fact
that so much disturbs the quiet and peace OF
our republican friends. You are afraid Of the
election OF Grover Cleveland as president Of
the United States. l am not AS between
Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison,
upon the great issues involved in this
campaign, to my mind, the plain duty
OF every intelligent, patriotic and good
citizen is TO do all in his power honestly and
fairly for the election Of Mr. Cleveland In do
ing this, we are standing up for the United
States OF America; We are standing up for the
state OF Kansas; we are standing up for
honesty, for truth, for justice and for right
We are standing up for the success Of sound
principles and wise legislation, in favor of the
great masses OF the people, and for protecting
the honor, promoting the peace, securing the
happiness and advancing the prosperity of this
great union OF ours.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19
Personal Cnnrfesies.

Preference is here made to the remark in the
letter from his republican friend that Judge
Martin had always been kindly treated by
many republicans in his locality when he was A
candidate for Office, which he frankly admits.
and says he will always remember gratefully:
but he says "when my fellow citizens voted for
and sustained me in public positions in the past
they did so with the full knowledge that l was
democrat and never pretended to be any.
thing else. They knew that then believed as
now believe, that the fundamental principles
OF government as advocated and maintained by
the republican party were wrong in every re-
speet They knew that believed, as still be-
lieye that the republican party was founded
upon the political theories Of Alexander Hamil-
ton; that it had no real confidence in the iulg-
ment and intelligence Of the mass of the people;
that it distrusted them and that Hamilton
believed the British government form, the best
model the world ever produced Hamilton's
speech in the constitutional convention of 1857
IS quoted to show that he believed that all
communities are divided into two classes-the
first the rich and well born; the other the
masses who could not be trused
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19

handmaid; the diffusion Of information. and ar
raignment Of all abuses at the bar of public
reason; freedom of religion; freedom Of the
press and freedom Of person under the protec
non oil the habeas corpus; and trial by iuries
lmparually selected These principles form
the bright constellation which has gone before
u.s. and guided our steps through an age Of rev.
oiution and reformation The wisdom Of our
saSes and blood Of our heroes have been de.
voted 10 their attainment they should be the
creed OF our political faith; the tex; OF civil ins
Srucuon; the tombstone by which to try the
services OF those We trust; and should we wan.
DER from them in moments of error or alarm.
let US hasten to retrace our steps and to regain
the road which alone leads to peace, liberty and
safety"
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19
Abuse of the Taxin q Power.

And particularly beg to invite your atten
ton to this language, found in the same ad-
dress:
There is, perhaps, no one Of the powers con-
ferred on the federal government so liable to
abuse as the taxing power The most product.
i've and convenient sources Of revenue were
necessarily given TO it that it might perform
the important duties imposed upon II: and the
taxes which 1t lays upon commerce being con-
cealed from the real payer in the price OF the
article, they do not so readily attract the at.
tention OF the people as smaller sums demand.
ed directly from them by the tax gatherer.
But the tax imposed upon goods enhances by
so much the price Of the commodity TO the CON
sumer; and as many OF these duties are i'm.
posed on articles Of necessity which are daily
used by the great body Of the people the
money raised By these imports is drawn from
their pockets. Congress has no right under
the constitution to take money from the people
unless II is required to execute some one OF the
specific powers entrusted TO the government.
and II they raise more than is necessary
for such purposes, it is an abuse Of
the power Of taxation, and uuiust
and oppressive. Itmay indeed happen that the
revenue will sometimes exceed the amount An.
neipated when the taxes were laid When.
however, this is ascertained, 1t Is easy To re-
duce them; and in such case, il is unouestion.
ably the duty Of the government to reduce
them for no eircums tances can Justify II in as.
Stunning power not given to It by the constitu.
ton nor in taking away the money Of the
people when 1t is not needed for the legitimate
wants Of the government
plain as these principles appear to be, Won
VIII md that there is a constant effort 10 In.
duce the general government to 90 beyond ths
limit OF its taxing power, and to impose unnec.
esssry burdens on the people. Many powerful
interests are continually at work to procure
heavy duties on commerce and 10 swell the
revenue beyond the real necessities o, tho
public service; and the country has alreadv
ielt the injurious effects OF their com
oined influence. They succeed in oh
tanning tariff of duties bearing mos,
oppressively on the agricultural and Isborirs
classes OF society, and producing revenue tha,
could not be usefully employed within The
range OF the powers conferred upon congress.
and in order to fasten apon the people this mn
Just and unequal system of taxation. extrava
CANT schemes Of internal improvement were %,
up in various quarters 10 squander the money
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19
A Serious Doubt.

As for your preference for the democratic
party as against the peoples party, pardon me
for taking the liberty Of expressing serious
doubt about that II the democratic party was
In control of the politics OF this state, as the
republican party is, and the republican party
was in the minority, and the peoples party
existed in precisely the condition 1t is to-day,
have no sort Of hesitancy in saying that you
and every other republican in the state OF
Kansas would exhibit such degree Of anxiety
10 unite with the peoples party for the over
throw Of democracy, as has never been wit
messed in the politics Of this or any other age
or state; and think your party would do this
without the slightest reference TO candidates,
platforms or policies, and to obtain success you
would cheerfully swallow what you are pleased
to term "the monstrosities OF the calamity
party" even il they were an hundred times
worse than you assume them to be now
My my dear friend 1t is not the destruction
OF the democratic party that Is giving our re.
publican friends so much anxiety, nor is it a
friendly solicltude for the welfare and honor OF
the state All there is in 1t, and it is Just as
well TO be honest and truthful about II as 1t is
to be false and hypocritical, is, that the action
Of the democrats and peoples party makes it
absolutely certain that the republican party
will be beaten in November next Now that is
all there is in IT,
In your letter, further on. you ask this ques.
ton:
"Tell me OF one commendable thing they
have done or one honest principle that they
have espoused."
This reference is, of course, to the peoples
party. 1t is net my party, hence am not
bound to defend it, but to oblige you, and out OF
due regard for truth and fairness, think
ought to answer your question: so l say, that
as party, they have done but little; they have
had no opportunity or power to do anything
You understand this quite as well as do, hence
the absurdity OF your question as to what they
have done. They are simply seeking an oppor-
tunity to do something. After they have OBJ
tanned power and exercised II we shall be better
prepared 10 answer your question.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19
Political Methods Discussed.

Further on in your letter you say:
while you and have always differed polit.
ically, 1 thought we were both striving for the
same end in trying TO build up our young com.
monwealth and encourage all public improve.
ments and maintain the credit and honor OF the
state"
In this statement you are correct I have
alwas thought the same thing and have no
reason to believe otherwise now, but we have
never agreed as to methods for the accomplish.
ment of the desired result AS 10 whether in
the past, have contributed in auy way 10 the
welfare, honor or credit Of the state. tits not
for me to say. However, am to understand
you 10 mean that the great body Of our fellow.
citizens, known as the peoples party, are en-.
gagged in a conspiracy against the honor. the
credit and the welfare OF the state? You certain
ly do not mean TO be so understood What
right have you or l to say or intimate that the
100000 or $4,000 citizens OF Kansas, the bone
and sinew Of the commonwealth, the very life
blood Of the state, and whose labors have
produced every dollars worth Of property in it,
are enemies TO the state; that they are engaged
In o conspiracy to destroy its credit and honor:
Is not the very suggestion an insult to the in.
telligence and manhood OF the citizens Of the
state? and surely no honest or intelligent man
believes the statement TO be true They are
the men who by their hardy courage, constant
toll and unnumbered hardships have reclaimed
the wilderness and civilized our magnificent
prairies and converted them into blooming gar.
dens and fields of golden grain. They have
plowed our lands fenced our fields built our
homes erected churches in every valley and
crowned every hill with school house They
are the men whose labors have produced all
that you and l and every other non.prOducer
within the borders OF this magnificent common
wealth, eat and drink and wear. They have
made and own the material wealth Of the state
and laid the basis OF its moral and intellectual
power. Surely such men are not engaged in Q
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19
Geographical Lines Obliterated.

This latter thought suggests another and
hardly feel justified in closing this letter with
out some further reference 10 1t, viz: That the
peoples party above all other political organ
izations in this country, has had the magnanim.
ity, the good judgment the courage and ster-
ling patriotism TO make the broad declaration
and give 1t practical force that hereafter in the
politics OF this country, we shall have no more
north, no more south. no more east
and no more west: that the animosities
OF our unfortunate civil war are TO be
ooliterated and wiped out by the patriotic
actions OF reunited and loyal people,. that
hereafter no mans political rights and duties
are to be determined by geographical lines.
They advise US that the time has come
when to stir up strife and discord, embitter
section against section, people against people
to disturb thoee friendly relations Of brother
hood that ought 10 exist among US, as one peo-
pie is inconsistent with patriotism and good
citizenship, and is moral treason against the
constitution and laws Of our country
They tell US that hereafter we shall be in the.
DRY, in fact, interest and sentiment one PEG.
pie, loyal citizens Of an indissoluble union OF in
distructible states; a union founded on the
mutual love and affection, confidence, respect
and interest OF all its citizens without respect
to name or locality, political faith or religious
creed. and that 1t shall be for all time to come
THE union Of lakes the union OF lands,
The union OF states none can sever,
The union Of hearts and the union OF hands,
And the flag Of our union forever"
If there were no other fact or statement o.
principle embodied in the platform or pre-.
scented in the action Of the peoples party that
commended itself TO our approval, it would
still be entitled to the gratitude and respect Of
every man who loves and honors his country
and hopes for its continued peace and hap
piness Yours very truly
JOHN MARTIN
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19
A Dangerous Weapon.

Let me also call your careful attention TO the
following passage from the same address:
1--WE are notleft to conjecture how the money.
ed power, thus organized and with such a weapon
In its hands, would be likely to use it. The
distress and alarm which pervaded and agi.
tated the whole country, when the bank Of the
United States waged war upon the people in
order to compel them to submit to its demands.
cannot yet be forgotten. The ruthless and I'm.
sparing temper with which whole cities and
communities were oppressed, individuals i'm.
poverished and ruined, and scene of cheerful
prosperity suddenly changed into one Of gloom
ana dependency, ought to be indelibly i'm
pressed on the memory Of the people of the
United States. II such was its power in a time
Of peace, what would it not have been in a sea.
son OF war, with an enemy at your doorsy No
nation but the freemen of the United States
could have come out victorious from such a
contest; yet II you had not conquered, the gov
eminent would have passed from the hands OF
the many TO the hands Of the few; and this Or
ganized money power, from its secret conclave,
would have dictated the choice Of your high.
est officials, and compelled you to make peace
or war, as best suited their own wishes. The
forms Of your own government might, for a
time, have remained, but its living spirit would
have departed from it."
also beg TO call your attention to the follow.
ing extract from Jackson's protest against the
senate resolution Of censure
"The ambition which leads me on, is an anxi.
Gus desire and fixed determination to return
to the people unimpaired, the sacred trust they
have confded to my charge-to heal the
wounds Of the constitution and preserve II from
further violation; to persuade my countrymeu.
so far as may. that il is not in a splendid gov.
ernment supported By powerful monopSlies
and aristocratical establishments that thew
will find happiness or their liberties protected
but in plain system, void OF pomp-protectinp
all and granting favors to none-dispensing its
blessing like the dews OF heaven, unseen and
unfelt save in the freshness and beauty they
contribute TO produce. II is such a govern.
ment that the genius Of our people REQUIRES
such one only under which our states NAV re.
main for ages TO come, united prosperous and
free. II the Almighty Being who has hitherto
sustained and protected me, will but vouchsafe
to make my feeble powers instrumental to such
result shall anticipate with pleasure the
place to be assigned me in the history OF nv
country, and die contented with the belief that
lhave contributed, in some small degree. i'm
crease the value and prolong the duration Of
American liberty"
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19
We Hare Passed the Dark Apes.

The other matters advanced by the peoples
party, and with which do not now agree. are
not Of character TO suggest any immediate
public danger. Not only so. but I think wa
have got beyond the dark ages
Men may now advance new thoughts and new
ideas and for so doing are not 10 be regarded as
heretics, cranks or challengers Of the public
peace or national security. / think the yery
essence OF good government is freedom Of
thought, freedom Of action, freedom Of speech
andfreedom OF discussion This means an intel
hgent conflict OF ideas, and while It may be true
that the theories advanced to-day mar be re-
garded as impracticable distractions, yet we
must bear In mind that the crank and enthusi.
asst Of today may and often does become thu
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-08-19
An OPEN LETTER.
Judge Martin Shows That Fusion
With the Peoples Party
is PATRIOTIC and DEMOCRATIC.
An lnvincible Argument. Which, in Scope
and Effect, is Fully In Line With the
Best Thought of the Found
ers of Our Republic.
From the Kansas Democrat. !

The following letter from Judge
John Martin to a republican friend
name withheld from publication-who
chided the judge because Of the posi-
ton taken by him in favor of indorsing
the populist ticket at the democratic
state convention in Topeka, July 6,
1892, will be read with interest by every
voter in Kansas, be he democrat, popu-
list or republican,;
TOPEKA, July 30, 1892
MY DEAR SIR Your interesting letter OF the
18th inst came to hand in due time Ihave
read the same with care and interest and would
have replied to it sooner, but for business en-
gagements and other important matters requir-
ing immediate attention.
In your letter you say:
4 do not find any very good reasons given by
you for turning the democratic party over TO
the calamity howlers."
In my former letter did not attempt TO give
any reason or justification for your imaginary
TACT The assumption on your part was so
puerile and foreign to the fact, that it required
l will now answer your proposition by saying:
Ffrst-You are republican and probably
follow the fortunes Of your party, without ref
erence to the question Of its principles or want
ofprinciple, and hence il would be impossible, in
the nature OF things, for any one 10 give reason
that would be satisfactory to you for any &C
ton that would antagonize the interest OF the
political organization of which you are mem
Der. do not make this declaration in any Of
fensive sense, but l recognize the fact that you
are but part Of common humanity, and your
method Of weighing reason respecting matters
that you unfavorably regard is largely con-
lroled by the consideration of how such mat
tiers may affect the political interests OF your
party, whether adversely or otherwise.
Second-The democratic party has not been
turned over to calamity hOwlers nor to any
other organization, nor will it be- This cry
that we see in republican newspapers, and so
frequently repeeted by cross roads politicians,
about turning the democratic party over to ca
lamity hOwlers, etc, is very transparent and
cheap piece Of demagogy and wholly beneath
the candid consideration Of an intelligent man,
governed by purpose to regdri political affairs
in the light of justice and fairness These
catchpenny phrases, as a matter of course,
neither miSlead nor deceive men Of intelligence
and fairness; and,
Third-Permit me 10 say in all kindness that
you are using the words calamity howlers"
against very large class if not a majority of
your fellow-citizens, in a very offensive and I'M
truthful sense. Such small caliber may do for
bigoted partisans with whom the force Of an ar
gument would be as fu lie as casting pearls be-
fore swine, but it is wholly unworthy Of the
manhood, intelligence and good citizenship of 4
man like yourself