Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-02-01
Some Plain Talk,
,cka Scntinel-Republcan.

1t must now be apparent TO the
republican members of the legislature
that terrible blunder has been COM
mitted by them in allowing the popu-
lists to steal Il march upon them in the
election of a state printer and United
States senator.
Especially, in the election of the
great democrat leader. John Martin,
United States Senator, All irreparable
injury, it is evident, has been inflicted
upon the republican party.
Viewed from the stand point Of ITS
best interests. no result could have
been more unfortunate fOc the repub-
lican party, or more directly calculated
TO throw doubt over the political
future of this state.
1t was, under the circumstances that
existed i'll Kansas, a needless and mex
cusable blunder that amounted to the
gravity of a crime.
We are aware that coalition with the
democrats in the election of state
printer and United States senator, Was
favored by number of republicans in
the legislature. But this was not the
prevailing sentiment. \ majority
were opposed to it, and voted down the
fusion proposition every time it came
up i'll the republican caucus.
We know whereof we speak, when
we say that not less than three distinct
propositions were submitted by the
democrats to he republicans, which if
accepted would have insured the cleo
ton of a republican state printer and
democratic United States senator, each
of which propositions, in turn, were
rejected by the republicans.
The truth Of this statement, we
lhink, will not be denied by the re-
publcans. The reason assigned by the
republicans for jecting this emf
nently far proposition, as explained to
us privately 10y a score or more of
members, was that they did not be-
lieve that they would be justified by
their constituents in voting for a
democrat"
That wOeful mistake has been COM
mitted by them in thus slapping their
late allies in the face, we think is al
ready apparent to great majority of
the voters of Kansas.
Shrewder, more magnanimous and
courageous than the republicans, the
pOpuIists elected the great democratic
leader, John Martin, United States SEN
ator.
What VIII be the resulrp Stung by
the sense of ingratitude, and utterly
disguised with the revelation of parts
an spirit, there IS not democrat in
Kansas who, in the hour of peril, will
again lift his hand to save the republi-
can party.
a week ago, fusion was as dead as a
dOor-nail in Kansas. An abyss yawned
between the populists and democrats.
Now the chasm Is bridged over, and
coalition, upon some basis, is as GER
tam to be witnessed in 1891 in Kansas
as it is for that time to roll around.
The recognized great leader of the
opposition IN this state will be Senator
John Martin. He Will have back of
him a solid array of populists and a
solid host of democrats.
Think what Il sagacious politician, a
tireless worker, like John Martin, can
do as United States Senatorl lie will
be the great dispenser of federal pat
ronage, beyond a question, under the
Cleveland administration.
Hundreds and even thousands of fed
eral appointees in this state will owe
their position to Senator Martin. His
endorsement will be the talisman, The
one road to royal favor with the occu-
pants of the White House.
The certain effect of all his power
and influence upon the vote two years
hence n Kansas. is not difficult to i'm
agine.
What has become of the once yaun-
ted sagacity and wisdom of the repub
iican party?
The curtain rings down at the close
IF the legislative contest, on the well
nigh total extinction Of the republican
party rs a political power in this state
There must be better leaders, and
broader and wiser councils in the flu
ture, or the republican party never will
Tin another battle in Kansas.