The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-08-17
TOPEKA, July 30, 1892.


the 10Th inst. came to hand in due time.
have read the same with care and interest,
and would have replied to it sooner, but for
business engagements and other important
matters requiring immediate attention.
In your letter You say:
do not find any very good reasons given
by you for turning the democrBtic party
over to the calamity hoWlers.
In my former letter did not attempt to
give any reason or justification for your
imaginary fact. The assumption on your
part was so pueriIe and foreign to the fact,
that It required neither explanation nor
refutation. However, will now answer
your proposition by saying:
First-You are republican and probably
follow the fortunes of your party, without
reference to the question of its principles or
want of principle, and hence, it would be
impossible, in the nature of things for any
one to give reason that would be salts
factory to you, for any action that would
antagonize the interest of the political or
ganization Of which You are member.
do not make this declaration in any often
sive sense, but recognize the fact, that You
are but part Of a common humanity, and
your method Of weighing reason respecting
matters that you unfavorably regard is
largely controlled by the consideration of
how such matters may affect the political in
terests 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 1t be.
This cry that we see in republican newspa-
pers, and so frequently repeated by cross
roads politicians, about turning the demo-
cratic party over to calamity howlers, etc.,
is very transparent and cheap piece Of
demagogy, and wholly beneath the can
did consideration Of an intelligent man,
governed by purpose to regard political
affairs in the light of justice and fairness.
These catch penny phrases, as a matter Of
course, neither mislead or deceive men Of
intelligence and fairness; and
Third-Psrmit me say in all kindness that
you are using the words "cslamity howlers"
against very large class, IL not majority
OF your fellow citizens, in a very offensive
and untruthful sense. Such small caliber
may do for biGoted partisans withwhom the
force Of an argument would be as futile as
casting pearls before swine, but it is wholly
unworthy of the manhood intelligence and
good citizenship Of man like yourself;
The "CalAmity HOwlers."
These "calamity howlers" to whom you
refer are the farmers, the 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 circum-
stances to maintain themselves and their
families in comfort and responsibility.
They are not, it is true, as a rule, men of
the widest reading in the fields of polite lit
erature, but they are something better than
this. They are plain, honest, unassuming
people. They are honest in their convic-
tions and purposes; conscientious in their
views, and, as rule, IN the proprlenes OF
life, morally and socially, they are incom-
parably superior to those who move in the
more favored and splendid conditions of
life. They are the men who toll under the
burning suns of summer and endure the
hardships and perils of winter, for
the purpose of raising the products
and commodities that you and and
other non-producers have no lot
or part in contributing to the worlds mass
of wealth. Neither yOu nor /, nor any other