Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-06-15
REoRoAn.zINe THEIR FORCES.
The Badly Unsettled Condition OF the
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The Badly Unsettled Condition OF the
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Since the November election of 1892
the republicans have been in a some
| what dazed condition. and their efforts
to pull themselves together and to get
their bearings have not been crowned
| with any very brilliant success. They
appear to be at one in the opinion that
something ought to be done: but what
to do and how to do it, are points with
reference to which there is a 1amen-
table difference of opinion
There Is widespread impression that
the republican party must turn over a
new leaf. But, in order to determine
what to do, it is thought necessary to
decide where it has erred in the past.
In order properly to treat the wound, it
is desirable to know what hit it. A
case is recorded where physician mis-
took the peck of a hen for the bite of a
rattlesnake, and thereby brought him
self and his art into ridicule. But, after
all, the blunder was safer than the OPP
posite one Of installing the injection of
q deadly poison into the veins for a
mere scratch.
Republicans find among themselves a
singular difference of opinion. They
cannot agree whether their party has
been too virtuous or too vile for the pop
ular taste. In view of the history of
the party this difference is quite unac-
countable, but there is abundant evil
dence of its existence. To do the lead
ers justice. they are willing to seem
either better or worse if they can win
votes by it. A candidate for a certifi-
cate as teacher of public school, when
asked whether he believed the earth to
be round or fiat, not feeling sure of his
ground, avowed his willingness to teach
either round or fat, as the trustees
might direct. In like manner the re-
publican leaders would be ready either
to seem virtuous, or to espouse vice, if
they could only decide which course
would bring them the greater number
of votes.
Mr.. Clarkson, it will be remembered,
has steadily held to the theory that
the republican party is too good for an
unregenerate world. Its austere moral
ity. its intolerance of cakes and ale, in
his opinion. repel all but the few that
love the straight and narrow road, and
leave it in the minority. There are
others, however, who are of a very diff
ferent opinion. These last are aware
that it has mixed greed in heroic doses
with homeopathic measures of godli-
ness, has paraded hypocrisy for holt
ness, has cultivated corruption, con-
doned crime, and in many ways pro-
vol1ed the wrath of the people which
fell upon it so unsparingly. This ele
ment believe that the only thing to do
now is to reform, or, at least, to assume
a virtue if they have it not. They
wish to see the party aspire to higher
plane by putting forward better can
didates, and ignoring the ways of ma
chine politicians. In this way they
hope to purchase return of popular
favor.
Of this class is the republican club of
Massachusetts, which has just sent out
a remarka bic circular, from which the
following is an extract:
by taking part in your caucuSeS, and thus
attending to your duty citizens, you will
also do much to insure the triumph of your
principles and the election of your candidates
at the polls, for there many in this common
wealth who are at present but little bound by
party ties in state affairs. and who will vote
only for candidates whom they know to be of
high character and without reproach, and who,
having been nominated by the people, are III
touch with them and have no promises to re-
deem 10 individuals for political services"
The reorganization of the republican
party is doubtless necessary, but how
is it to be accomplished while such diff
ferences of opinion exist among its
members? If the virtuous people of the
repub lican club of Massachusetts sue
coed in nominating candidate who has
mo promises to redeem to individuals"
how are those individuals who make
such promises condition of their sup
port to be ''placated?" Questions such
as this make the task of reorganizing
the party for future conflicts one of
much difficulty. = Louisville Courier