Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-03-08
EDITORIAL.
GOVERNOR LEWELLINGs IDEA.

GOVERNOR LEWELLINGS IDEA.
The Wichita Beacon's Topeka CORES
pondent quotes Governor Lewelling as
saying:
Some people call it fusion. It is
not fusion. We had no fusion in 1892
and we will have none in 1894. It is
simply a drifting of the Kansas dem
Ocracy toward the popuiists. The
western democrats are breaking away
from the eastern wing of the party.
They may not be in full sympathy
with us and they still class themselves
as democrats, but they are nearer in
accord with US than with the men who
are in control of the party machinery.
They are administration. The
populists will get more of their votes
than any stalwart ticket that can be
put up, provided of course, that we
adopt judicious platform-one in line
with the St. Louis platform and en-
phasizing the demand for free silver.
am not fusiOnist, but If it is fusion
for our party to nominate ticket, as
we will do, and for the democrats to
vote for it, l, as a populist, shall not
discourage it. We want all the votes
we can get. We want them from all
sources. We expect to get a good
many republicans also. That would
be fusion with the republicans, / sup
pose. But no matter what it is called
we are satisfied to get the votes Ct re-
pubhcans, democrats, mugwumps. pro-
hibitionists and everybody else."
Possibly the Governor thinks he is
right in asserting that Kansas demo
Gratis are or will be willing to do in 1894
exactly as they did in 1892. Very
likely his wish is father to the thought.
But when he says that western demo-
Gratis are breaking from the eastern
wing of the party" he gets the ''cart
before the horse" It is Sthe eastern
democrats who are going back on the
teachings and principles of the demo
cratic party; it is the few hot-house
congressman and senators who have
never known a realization of the true
principles of democracy who are today
falling into line with republican ideas
and disgracing the name of democracy
by attempting to ignore party pledges
and by frittering away their time il
obstructionist practices for the sol'
purpose of preventing legislation in th'
line of democratic demands. Western
democrats are not breaking away from
democracy; they fully realize that OF
them depends the future of the party
and they will stand firmly for tn,
right and justice and in time bring tn,
eastern boilers to taw or drive then
out of the game.
The Governor says he sis no fus
ionist," but wants all the votes b
can get" for his party. The true demo
Gratis of Kansas are the men VIII
consistently fight for the advancement
of democratic teachings; who are de
termined to maintain an organization
and who realize that to do so they mus
abide by the decision of the majorit
of their party when that party throug
its conventions and its platform
asserts its wishes. In 1892 the over
whelming majority of Kansas demo
Gratis decided it for the best interest
of democratic advancement to refrain
from putting democratic ticket in tn
field that year, for the very good reason
that by thus leaving the field to tn
populiss and republican parties and a
individuals supporting the least of tn
two evils-populism instead of reput
licanism-they could aid in nations
democratic success. which would be dc
ing more towards strengthening dem
ocraey than Kansas democrats ha
ever before been able to do. No homes
democrat regrets having done what W
did in 1892, and if the occasion de
mands similar action in the future
may be repeated.
1t should be kept in mind, however
that Kansas democrats surrender n
party organization; they renounce n
principles; they acknowledge no part
and adopt or sanction no ism that !
contrary to true democracy. If POI
ulists think that democrats aided ther
in 1882. or will aid them in 1894, bt
cause of believing that populism
superior 70 democracy-ss the Governc