The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-01
KANSAS STILL LEADS.

OF late the press of thecountry speak;
of Kansas with scant ceremony, evident
ly because in this state the maliciou!
foolishness of the Populists has come t.
a head. We acknowledge the fact, but
protest against what appears TO be the
consensus of opinion on the subject
The disconnected elements that com
pose the Populists in Kansas are not
lacking in any other state in the Union
and our neighbors must not forget that,
when they exercise their wit at our ex-
pense, that should the minority party OF
either of the two great national parties
in either OF many Of the states fuse with
the Populists the combination would get
control of the state, in which event who
can say that the foolshuesS of the Popu-
lists of Kansas would not be duplicated,
and embellished, even outdone. The sea
Of politics TO them contains unknown
depths and the channels through which
the ship of state, under skilful pilots safe
~ glides, have no marks to guide their in
experience. The result has been dual
house of representatives, the militia in
voked and the shedding of blood barely
avoided. New England in the earlier
DAYS of the republic had her rebellion, as
did Pennsylvania. The south attempted
rebellion. The unionists of the north
in the great rebellion was opposed by the
knights Of the Golden Circle in Illinois
and Ohio. Illinois in Chicago furnished
the Haymarkeu massacre and other
states and sections, one time or another,
have had similar experiences, notwith
standing the republic still lives, grows
and prospers. Kansas will not fail to do
likewise.
Inasmuch as this latest effort at mis-
government has come to q head in Kan
sas, and Oh Kansas soil it has been met
and overcome, common gratitude in
our neighbors should teach them that
their moral support and sympathy IS
cur due. THE political heresy had to be
met and overcome, and as it seemed TO
be prospering in Kansas, Kansas did not
shrink from the responsibility, and will
not, but will bury it so deep as 10 be out
of hearing of the trumpet of resurrection.
For what we have done and what we
surely viii do, we deserve the gratitude
Of each and every state in the union, for
IN our success lies their immunity.
This fight viii only be fought once,
and we greatly overrate the patriotism
Cf Kansas if we don't down it
forever and aye. As no man
no matter how moral and law
abiding, can, by means Of his own recti.
tude, be safe from sudden act of law
lessness, so Kansas has been surprised,
but, like the law-abding citizen, she
will see to it that no repetition is posi-
BILE.
In Kansas all malcontents are popu-
lists, which is by no means saying that
all populists are malcontents, but are by
a large majority good citizens, who are
endeavoring to have the government
consider their class and their needs, as
they have the undoubted right to do.
but it has been and is their great misfor-
tune that they are led by unpatriotic,
incompetent, irresponsible and reckless
men, who are the scum and dregs
largely Of the old parties or have
affiliated with Anarchists until they
are only fit for a political reforma-
ton. Like all irresponsible per-
sons these leaders are always
positive, and the positive man
in time Of excitement always seems |
right to the excited. To such leaders |
tens Of thousands of good men and true
in the Populist party have been mistak- |
emily loyal, and have stood up for meas
ures and methods because of that mis- |
taken loyalty, which their own better
judgment utterly condemns, and Of |
which they are secretly ashamed. 1t is
not assuming too much to saw that the |
rank and file of the Peoples party in |
Kansas now have had enough of disor-
der, of disregard of law, for courts Of |
justice and for human rights as provided |
for under Republican form of govern
Inent The government of the fathers ia
still good enough for them and for us,
and the larger portion of The Populst
A'-i '''O SNoN iiSh dhu due, VIII IAN
away from their self-sppointed leaders
and relegate them to the obscurity the
two great parties of the state had previ-
ously consigned them.
We reiterate, the states of the Ameri-
can Union owe Kansas a debt that
cannot be paid by discourtesy for having
brought this malicious nonsense TO
head, and will owe us more for having
settled it forever, which we will do
promptly and effectually.