Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-07-26
The Kansas Democracy.

document and sets forth agrcat many
things with true Jeffersonian ponder
osity. Mt. Richardson has been ac-
customed to writing ponderous editor
ials for his paper, the Wichita Beacon,
50 long that he uses the same style in
getting out party address.
The article is dedicated "to the
people Of Kansas and has as its
opening sentiment the assertion that
1.-THE Democratic party has put in
nomination ticket worthy Of the
party and the State" and the further
incontrovertible and truly philosophic
fact that III 1t is properly supported
II will be elected" The latter asser-
ton Is conceded by even the Demo-
cracy's bitterest enemy and it is per-
haps not too much to claim to declare
that the identical words might be
said regarding any ticket that has
been put up since Cain elected him
self executioner by majority Of one.
But Chairman Richardson goes
further. He essays to use figures,
which it is said never lie, In order tc
back up his position and to encourage
his party's adherents. The figures
are curious ones and recall the liberia
estimates Of the old times before
Alliance picnics began to wear out the
underbrush in Kansas groves.
Mr.. Richardson goes into detail as
follows.
Since 1888, there has been in Kan
sas no exhibition Of the full strength
Of the Democratic party. That this
is true Is sufficiently tested by the
fact that the ratio Of representation
in the late Democratic State conven.
ton was based upon Democratic votes
cast at the election in 1888. At the
election Of 1888, the party votes were
as follows in round numbers.
Republican "...........,.t..,,.,.... 0W
llelnOcfatlc,.,,...,..... |WN
Union Labor (Populist). .....,......... 1900
Prohibition. Between 1900 and 600
TOTAL. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES iUU
At the election Of 1892 the Republi
cans had 1853, 600; Democrats-and Pop
ulists, 1853, 900; Prohibitionists, 1000
total. 5000. 1t therefore appears
that in the four years from 1888 tt
1892 the Republican vote fell off "a,
900. These men voted the Popuis1
ticket. So did the $4,000 Unior
l.aboritos Of 1898, making $1,000
Where did the opponents Of Republi
canism get their other 100000 votes
They got them from the l02,0O|
Democrats Of 1888. Now that thu
Democratic party has ticket in thu
field, these 100000 stand ready tt
support II almost to man. There
fore We say to our Populist friend
who express such desire to dcfea
the Republican party, come over ant
ally yourself with the only party ii
the State that can do it. II you ar
sincere you cannot refuse. In 1879.
the Democrats abandoned all effort III
a separate party, voted your tickle
and massed their strength through
the activity Of their organization. Al
to defeat the Republican party. !
You are as sincere as the Democrat
In your desire to defeat that party
you will adopt the only means to tina
end and vote the Democratic ticket.
These figures are ingenious AM
open great field Of light upon politi
cal events Of the,past few years, TIL
whereabouts OF the Democratic part,
has at last been discovered, 1t ha
been masquerading as the big end O
the Peoples Party and according t
the Democracy's own claims has fur
nished sixty per cent of the Populis
strength. Yet it has been notoriou
that the other forty per cent has he'll
the offices, reaped the rewards an
pocketed the Doodle during the fou
years in which Populsm has been o
| earth. Democrats have, If Mr. Rich
ardson is right, sold out their part
to another organization not third a
large and allowed 1t to be their mas
ter and use 1t as n tool for picking II
whatever was in sight in the way {
political preferment and rewards
The Populists have never shared wit
the Democrats in Kansas, They hay
always insisted on taking the Who'll
bakery themselves and have, as ho
been forcibly shown in Dickinso
county, succeeded in the attemp
Democracy has simply sold itself fc
a measly mess Of pottage an
its papers and orators have allowed
few Union Laborites and renegad
Republicans, self constituted leader
Of the new party, to dictate terms an
make of Democracy in Kansas a b,
word and a laughing stock
There is no sentiment or polite,
bias in these statements, They Al
| merely facts, observed by every SIT
dent of political history during tn
past half decade and reiterated by Nj
Richardson in his letter.
Now the Democrats have a chant
, ia show who thew are What wi