Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-03-24
AS TO "FGsIoN."


the fellows who such a combination
would hit the hardest-the republic
cans. The leaders in that party are
doing all in their power to prevent the
thing being done; working not only
in the ranks of the alliance, but with
such democrats as they can get to listen
to them.
No one possessing any understand
Ing Of the strength of the opposition to
Kansas republicanism will for mo-
ment doubt that should the votes Of
democrats and peoples party men be
thrown together they would surely
sweep the state; hence the great
anxiety of the republican bosses to find
out just what will be done in the mat
ter. They have spies out on every
hand; they have men, or human beings
in the shape of men, who are pretend
ing to be strong peoples party advocates
for the sole and only purpose Of work
ing up the prejudices of alliance men
who were formerly republicans, and
getting them to refuse all efforts of the
more practical men for union of the
factions. And these spies and Bene-
dict Arnolds are getting in their work,
too; 80 we'll have they accomplished
their purpose that we are still convinced
that what this paper has stated before
concerning the fmprobability of COM
bination was correct.
So far as the DEMOCRAT is concerned
it would support a combination on.
national, state, and congressional
tickets, providing the democratic vot-
ers were given a representation COM
mensurate with their strength.
We have no knowledge of any author
ity for the statement that has been
recently made that basis has already
been agreed upon. Reports do not
agree, either, as to the alleged combi
nation. One report is that the demo-
Gratis take two congressman, where the
Offices are at present filed by republic
cans, a congressman at large, and a
supreme justice, and give the peoples
party all the balance. Another report
has it shat the democrats are to get the
three congressman. supreme justice,
and half the electors. Either would
be too one-sided, considering the rela-
tive strength of the two parties. If a
cannot be made the re-
sponsibility will lie with the keep in
the middle of the road'' fellows in the
new party, and they alone can be
blamed for the continued success of
In Kansas.
Practical politics will win much
oftener than bull-headed persistence or
unreasonable haste. 1t will take votes
to win victory over the oppression of
the reigning party, and the votes must
be directed in one common direction to
be effective.
The DEMOCRAT has many times
stated its position as between republi-
canism-as exemplified in the McKin-
ley law, the Reed rules, and the billion
dollar congress-and the more practical
principles of. the peoples party, and we
do not hesitate to say that if it was
necessary for this paper to throw its
influence either way, as between those
two parties, practical, reasonable and
consistent judgment would tell us to
throw that influence on the side of the
farmers and laborers of our land, and
against the scheming politicians, the
chronic Office hunters and legislative
jobbers. But, if the peoples party
which claims to be the party of the
farmer and laborer, should persist in
an effort to divide the opposition to the
party both are crying out against. and
should continue to assert that lone old
party is just as blamable for the exist
ing state of affairs as the other;" then
we should rebel against such unreason-
able and unjust charges; should not
for moment hesitate to do our share
to wipe out of existence such a set of
demagogues, for they would be as dis
tasteful to a liberty-loving, conscien-
tious democrat as the most domineering
overbearing, scheming, bloody-shirt re-
publican living.
This whole matter of combination
can be summed up in few words:
With it, on basis of justice to both
sides, the republican ring could be
busted" and the state put in shape for
practical reform in all directions.
Without it neither democrats nor peo-
Piles party could win state or national
officer. If there be peoples party men
who would rather see republicans win
everything than to win something for
the democrats, let them keep in the
middle of the road" IL there be dem.
ocrats who prefer to see the republican
party win everything rather than to
win something for their own party and
something for the peoples party. let
them keep on crying II am democrat
though HI freezes over, and I want no
combination"
Practical politics will win. Bull
headed politics will break its own neck.
Ii there be no combination, demo-
Gratis will go ahead and fight for the
right, though unrewarded this year.
I,,k f.,I5 Of n ohsH;ny fa;fh in ~