Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-11-08
Hon. r. s. Osborn.

11VHs hs De UDUUIus
Pursuant to notice given. our secre-
tary OF state arrived on the afternoon
train. Quite a large number of people
from the country had come in to hear q
speech in the afternoon; but as the
weather was cold it was thought best
to postpone the meeting until evening,
and hold it at the court house as there
had been a fire there all day. A large
crowd greeted him in the evening and
paid the best of attention from first to
last. In many respects bis speech was
the best ever delivered in this city, be-
ing argumentatiYe and undisputable
in every detail.
He began by saying he had no quar-
rel with anyone on account OF their po-
litical opinions and proposed to discuss
the questions fairly, leaving the calling
of bad names for the other fellow. he
made specially of the financial ques-
ton, and proceeded to show that it was
the great issue before the people. Be-
ginning with the money power in 1851
he traced it up to the present time,
showing by historical facts the chain of
legislative enactments in its interest
and that it got everything it asked for.
The hiding of gold and the consequent
issue Of greenbacks, the exception
clause, the refunding act, the bond is
sue, the characterization of silver, the
various compromises and the final
overthrow OF silver few days ago-all
these were brought out clearly as mat
ters of record which no man dare dis
pute and it was shown how vitality each
affected the American people. Mr.. Os-
born's argument was based purely on
the great economic question that is now
disturbing the great body polite in
this country, and his presentation Of
the matter was so clear as to be perfect
~ understood by all who heard his ex-
cellent speech.
It is safe to say that an ADLER dis
course was never delivered in Medicine
Lodge than that of our secretary Of
state, and if anyone ever doubted that
he did not know the subject he was to
discuss they were undeceived shortly
after he began. Closely listening to his
invulnerable argument and clear elucl-
dation of the great issue before the
American people, his audience followed
him throughout the entire speech. in
terspersing it with applause as he
clinched the plain truth. Several re-
publicans and democrats have declared
since that they have come to view the
subject in new light by reason of
hearing the true populist doctrine so
clearly explained. We believe that if
there were more men like Osborn to
talk to the people and explain what our
principles really are 80 logically as he
does, there would be popullst con-
gress In 1894 to re-instate silver as the
money of the people and overthrow the
great gold monopoly. The issue is too
great to indulge in abuse and vilifica-
tiQn of the opposing political party.
We have vital issues at stake and want
everybody to help us place the country
hIOlO IL ouOuIu NC.
In a private interview Mr.. Osborn
stated that there has been steady
gain for the populists throughout the
state, with the exception of the south
ern counties where loss has been sus-
tanned on account of the Strip miGra-
ton. The con VersatiOn also turned to
the libel suit of Cy Leland's. Mr.. o.
born said that the whole gist of the
matter was this: In talking over the
way the penitentiary was managed I'M
der Leland's administration one day,
reporter happened to be present. The
subject they were talking over has been
public property for years and they were
merely referring to what had been said,
but the reporter wIote up the article as
though the allegations had been faith
cred By Osborn. Leland had the secre-
tary arrested for libel from the article
that appeared in the paper, which was
absolutely the production of the report
er. In the trial Judge HaZen made the
ridiculous and absurd ruling that in a
newspaper article the party represented
as making the remarks or opinions was
20 be held responsible and not the paper
printing the article. 1t Is a matter of
general knowledge that a newspaper IL
held responsible in such cases, but this
arrogant and assumptive accident that
sits on the bench at Topeka went out
side all limits of jurisprudence In his
partisan decisions. The result Is AT
appeal to the supreme court, the politi.
cal character of which is already known
MIR. Osborn was warned several days
before the newspaper article was pub
Iished that the republican ring had it in
for him and were preparing to make
him trouble. 1t IS to be hoped that the
villalnous persecution of Mr.. Osborn
will be stopped. The idea of mar
like Cy Leland suing anybody for libe
is absurd, and once knowing Mr.. Os
born anybody would know that such 1
proceeding is simply a malicious per
secution.
The secretary left on Saturday morn
iug's train for an appointment at Har
per that day.