Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-10-17
Are They Afraid

EDITORS 1NDEX:-ErOm 50 ulO in
your las. weeks paper, gather that
the republican party through its organ,
the Cresset, objects because SO little
fellow as candidate for county at
torney should presume to talk about
national issues. do not desire to an
swer tie Cresset; that is something
cannot afford to do. We are after tie
great republican bloodhound and have
MT time to chase the fleas upon its
back But l want TO remark that such
sentiment is strictly republican. The
same class of politicians who have ad-
vised farmers, women, workmen and
every body else to keep out of politics
because it was too corrupt. while they
themselves gloated in its reekIng cor
ruption; Ike the imps of Satan himself
who only want to be let alone. have
left their echo in few nincompoop ed
ltors, who think any ordinary citizen is
out of place who asplres to discuss IA
tional or state issues. They have told
us the tariff question was too in
tricate for the ordinary citizen tn solve.
we must leave it to our statesmen.
We have done so, and now the great
toiling masses, daZed and stunned at
unforeseen calamities are rising to ask
where are we atP'' They have told US
we must leave the financial question to
our great Gods of finance, our Sher-
mans and Fosters, our Morrills and
Blues, because it is too deep for an
ordinary brain. We have done so, and
where, indeed, are we drifting? Eos
ter, bankrupt, Sherman, through his
school boy, Carlisle, sinking us in time
of peace into hopeless bonded indebt-
edness. Morrill,. with his goib- bug back
crawling In silver dust before the peo-
pie and Dick Blue with his $1,000 IN
returned to the bank and its creditors
he has defrauded under forms of law.
Great men indeed TO air their super.
ioTity to an ordinary citizen. And even
Jim Dobson's friends, [excuse me for
so sudden a jump Off are trying to air
him as silver man. Great whales
and little fishes! No, Mr.. Editor no
question of public policy is too deep for
the masses Of the American people to
solve. 1t Is not inability but inatten-
ton to public questions that has made
one class Of our people, the great army
OF toilers and wealth producers, infer
ior in our public affairs, to the favored
classes who have pilfered them while
they slept,-yes, slept like Sampson in
the arms of Diliah. rested in fancied
security in the arms of smiling par
tizans. and misleading politicians, who
wanted them to tend to their own
private business and let politics alone
What is politics! 1t is merely the
conflict Of policies, the question of
| management of public business, i. e..
the peoples business in theil collective
capacity. It is something every voter
should study to the best of his ability.
1t is something he must endeavor TO
understand, or he fails in his duty to-
ward his country, his fellow man, his
| family and himself. To a religious
| man, every ballot should be so much
| religion practically administered.
The idea that the ordinary citizen can.
not understand any important question
| of public policy is one of the most dan
| gerous delusions that ever gained a
foothold in any republic. It is the
stepping stone to enthrone aristocracy.
| the fore-runner of anarchy. Admit
that the people cannot understand
these questions, and you admit that
they are incapable OF self government
| They need guardians, monarchs and
kings. Such ideas are rank nonsense:
We are capable among ourselves of dis
cussing these questions and doing so
intelligently. 1t is for that reason, Mr..
| Editor, having faith in the great brain
| and good sense OF the bone and sinew
of our land, that invite our republi-
can friends to JOIN US on the hastings.
| Ii you have principles, don't be afraid
to join us in their mutual presentation
and defense before the people. This
course l have taken has been Endorsed
by the pOpulist central committee. 1T
is another pop trick" But whatever
it is, can you, dare you meet us half
way, meet us like men, and not run
off into some corner of ridicule or back
alley of mud and make faces at US.
What are you made of? Come out and
let US see you. Very Truly,
LEON E. BEALS.