Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-03-02
JUDGE YE NOT HASTILY.

selves-a disposition to judge toe
hastily, and 70 form decided cOnclu.
sion and pass judgment upon important
matters or measures on the impulse
without even making an effort to in
vestigate or inform themselves as to
whether or not there is more than one
side 70 a question.
This failing has been exhibited by
men of all parties, and the mistake OF
too hasty condemnation has been
made more frequently of late than
usual.
During last fall, when political quef-
tiOns were being discussed, and political
parties were being arraigIed by their
political enemies, we heard many
fniddle-of-the-road peoples party men
make the un2arranted assertion that
''there was no difference between DEM
ocracy and republicanism," ;" that ''Gro-
yer Cleveland, if elected, would be or
do no better for the common people
than had Benjamin Harrison" and that
"Doth the old parties had proven them
selves unworthy of the trust or con-
fidence of the people" These were
favorite themes narped upon by many
of the popuiists who by their nnreasOn-
able prejudice demonstrated that they
were not sufficiently just themselves to
deal justly by others.
What We ask of such men, is to culJi-
vate spirit Of fairness and honesty;
to learn that sober thought and not
long nursed prejudice should be their
mentor. We will have democratic
president and democratic congress,
after the 4th inst, and we will be in a
position to fulfill our pledges as demo
Gratis Give our party fair show to
prove whether or not it is worthy the
confidence and support it has gained;
give it a trial before you condemn it.
Then. there is the legislative trouble
at Topeka, and all the complications
and sensational developments that have
followed the fight between two political
parties for possession OF the lower
house. What sane man Will say it is
right to take only partisan view of
the matter? Is it fair or honest, or an
exhibition of the true American spirit
to condemn sweepingly all that is done
by the republicans, if you happen to be
populist, or all that is done by the
popuiists if you ohappen to be repuD-
liean?
We sag not. 1t is neither just, right,
sensible or American, to let prejudice
rule and by its blighting influence blind
you To ali sense Of fairness. Be not too
hasty to condemn. Investigate care:
fully all sides of the questions that have
arisen, and in due time. ii you and all
good people of Kansas let honesty and
fairness direct your acts at the ballot
box The guilty will be reDuked and the
innocent upheld.
TIE DEMOCRAT will not knowingly
uphold wrong nor condemn the right.
1t is our aim to deal fairly by all parties
while gorking for the advancement Of
our own party. We know that there
has been too much OF parJisanism in the
press of Kansas for the last few weeks,
and our object has been to take a more
conservative view of the questions in
dispute than Is taken by either the peo-
pies party papers or the republican
papers. We hope that, by the time
another state election is before US
both parties will have placed with the
people all the evidence obtainable that
may justify the acts of their followers
in Topeka this winter. We believe that
neither republicans nor pOpulists can
prove themselves totally blameless, but
that cne will be held to be more ac-
countable than the other.
You men who believe in good govern
ment tor the people, and not for any
party, be honest with yourselves and
your fellow men, and carefully investi-
gate both sides of the questions.
Kansas is peopled by a race of in
dustrious, fearless, enterprising men
and women, and she can be governed
by them safely and successfully il sober
thought is cultivated and bitter, un-
reasoning party hatred is discouraged.
Extremists and alarmists are of no
benefit to any party or any people; they
are unsafe as leaders, untrustworthy as
officers, and a constant disturbing
element that is the greatest menace to
our republic.
We want more men of thought and
fewer men of mouth.
We want more investigation and less
grand stand oratory or meaningless
braggadocio.
We want in Kansas more men to
work for universal benefits and less for
party supremacy.
We want every farmer and working
man to study his neIghborss needs, and
when he learns them to join with his
neighbor in a united effort to gain them.
We want ''equal rights to all and ex-
elusive privileges to none."
We HAVE arrived at that period in the
history of the American government