The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-12
WILL HE DEBATE =?

A remarkable feature of this campaign
is the effort of the Peoples party leaders
| to blacken the name of Gen. Grant by cir
culating document called The ''Seven
Financial Conspiracies. Editor kies,
candidate for clerk o. tine district court in
this county, seems to be doing his best to
get the people to read this book. His
action in this particular has been vigor-
ousy criticised by Mr.. Douglass in a
recent speech: and now Editor kies, with
out denying the justice of the criticism,
answers by making personal attack on
Mr.. Douglass. In this condition of affairs
the following letter-a copy of which has
been sent to Mr.. kies-will fully explain
itself:
Mr.. b. f. Kies. Editor kansas Commoner."
DEAR SIR-You attack me vigorously
for some criticisms which l made of your
self in recent speech. Allow me to say
that these criticisms were not directed
against you personally, but only as the
recognized leader and spokesman of the
Fusion party in Sedgwick county; and
they were called forth by the recent en-
dorsement in your paper of that SANDER
Gus Peoples party document called the
Seven Financial Conspiracies." On
Sept. Sth, you surrendered your editorial
columns to an enthusiastic communion
tion exhorting Everybody to read this
book aud eXtolling it i'll the highest terms.
Congressman John Davis has also ex
pressed rapturous delight over it. In
commencing its contents he says: The
darts seemed light and feathery
yet the shafts were winged and pointed
with truth and justice" He says the
book "uses plain language to suit the
plain, common people.
hn, If
the matter contained in this book and thus
recommended to the plain, common peo-
pie" The book says:
1.-The Republican party nominated u. S
Grant on the urgent solicitation and petit
tion of forty capitalists of New York
City"
referring to General Grant, it desiynates
him as a ''fratricldal conspirator, and
alleges that 1.-THE blood curdles to think"
of him. (This, l suppose. is one of the
light and feathery' darts admired by
Brother Davis)
Referring to the act of congress known
as the credit strengthening act, 1t says:
1--WE have undeniable proof that the act
was passed through the most sOulless
strategy and that Grant, Sherman and
Morton were parties to it," and that
Grants election to the presidency and
Shermau's appointment to the treasury
We're secured through their pledges to OBJ
tain the passage of this Infamous act"
Referring to the national bank act, it
assails the great men who advocated that
measure as conspirators to rob and en-
slave the people. comparing them to train
robbers and bandits. (Iou of course
know that this act was earnestly recon-
mended by Abraham Lincoln in Il special
message; that he approved it as president;
and that he and Secretary Chase perhaps
more than any other two men-were re-
sponsible for it,
The book is dedicated to the enslaved
people of dying republic"
Or course you believe in all this stuff or
your paper would not aid in circulating it;
and, as you enjoy reputation for skill in
public discussion of the questions thus
raised. wherein you will maintain your
belief:
l. That General Grant was nominated
for president on the solicitation OF forty |
2 That General Grant was "fratricidal
and that 1.-THE blood curdles |
to think of him."
5. That the credit strengthening act"
was secured through the most soulless |
strategy" Of General Grant and others.
f. That Abraham Lincoln and Salmon |
p. Chase in advocating the national bank |
act were conspiratorS to rob and cnslave |
the people.
5; That this country is "a dying rspub-
lie" and that the people are Slaves"
i will maintain that each of the forego- |
ing averments is a base and brainless false |
hood, and that the circulatio on of such stuff |
by the Peoples party is disgrace to Kan
sas civilization. /
Admission tickets to be equally divided. |
Y on may open and close the debate, and at |
the end of 1T we will lake IL rising vote Of |
the audience upon each proposition.
My reason for proposing TO cOnfine the |
discussion strictly To these propositions is |
that by the time you have established |
them the people will be ready to go home. |
Very respectfully,
GEORGE l.. DOUGLASS