Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-06-28
The Populist Platform. ;,

Comment upon the Populist plat
form would be superlluous. There IL
nothing in II that is ambiguous oil
that needs an interpreter to make II
Ineligible. Every declaration in II
Is clear, distinct and unmistakable In
its meaning. II is a declaration oI
principles, not jargon Of word,
designed TO deceive voters. No plank
in II is susceptible Of two interpreta-
tions. Not even a Republican will
say Of it that 1t is 'all things to all
menu
The Advocate may be able to
"hoodwink the people" by the itera.
ton and reiteration Of this kind OF
balderdash, but the probability Is
that before the campaign is over the
intelligent people Of this State will
have learned that the most contempti-
bic specimen Of straddling dema-
goguery that has ever been promul-
gated by any political organization is
contained in the Populist platform
sent out by the Populist State con-
vcntion Of last week.
1t is only necessary to examine one
plank Of the platform to show the
hypocrisy Of the men who framed IT,.
One plank in the platform reads as
follows:
"Resolved, That we favor the pend
ing constitutional amendment, but
we do not regard it a. a test of party
fcalty."
Mr.. James Russell Lowell gives an
account Of presidential candidate
names "Bird-o-freedom" Sawin, who
based his claims TO popular favor
upon services rendered in the Mexican
war. lie caused his friends to whoop
him up under the cndcarlng and
martial title Of "The One-Eyed
Slaughter and the Bloody Bird-o-
freedom" In those days before the
war it was of the highest Importance
to know how the candidate stood
with regard to the absorbing
question OF slavery. Mr.. "Bird-o-
freedom" Sawin instructed his man
agcr to state that on that question he
was right" Lest there might be n
doubt rs TO what he considered
right he stated that he was "pinted
north by south"
The plank of the Populist platform
above quoted makes the position of
the Populist party on the question of
woman suffrage equally explicit and
clear as did the declaration Of Mr..
''Bird-o-freedom" Sawin on the
question OF slavery. The convention
attempted to dispose of one Of the
burning questions Of the day." by n
double order resolution, which, like
Terry boat, can be made to go both
ways at the option Of the rover.
This plank was not inserted in the
Populist platform with any view of
committing the party to woman
suffrage. In fact, ii was an explicit
declaration to the members of that
party that the cause of woman
suffrage was in no sense tenet of
'opulist faith.
tits true that the Populist conven-
ion made an effort to deceive the
women of Kansas and it appeared for
he moment, during the excitement
II the convention, that Miss Anthony
md probably other ladies were de-
uded into the belief that the Populists
we're endorsing woman suffrage; but
10 sooner had the convention adj |
burned and Miss Anthony and the
'ther intelligent ladies who have been
n earnest in endeayoring to obtain
woman suffrage in this and other
states, saw the deception that had
'een practiced upon them, than they
enounced their intention OF stump
ng the State in the interests Of the |
'opullst party, There will be no effort
m the part of the Populist speakers !
Tor ON the part of the Populist editors
o explain the meaning of this plank.
I is utterly without meaning. The
position OF the Populist party upon
woman suffrage would have been just
IS definitely stated il they had omit
ID to say one word about woman
outrage in the platform. They say
rankly that it is no part of their
reed and that any man can vote for
II against it, just as he pleases. This
exactly what the Republican party
aid by not saying anything.
What would the Advocate think of
church organization which estab-
ished as part of its creed of faith
declaration that it was n part of the
reed of that church that its members
hould believe in the divinity of
Jhrist, but should add an addenda as
ollows' 1--WE do not regard this
'elief test of church fealtyP
II the divinity of Christ is not
est of fehltv IN such , cburch ,,,L,, l.