Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1894-07-26
The HarringtOns' Letter.


HIAwATHA, KAs., June IA, 1894.
Hon. John W. Breidenthal Chairman Populist
State Central Committee, Topeka, kas.;
DEAR SIR-After mature deliberation,
we have decided to support the populist
ticket this fall, and it will be found at the
head of the columns of the Democrat dur
ing the present campaign. We have not
reached this determination hastily. Party
ties are strong, and it is not an easy mat
ter to change ones political affiliations;
but the time has come when men who think
alike should cease to divide their forces
and work together in unity. We are con-
WINGED now that this union cannot be
brought about in the democratic party
the forces which dominate it will not al
low it.
We believe the populist party stands to-
day the party of the people. We admire
it for the pluck, earnestness and enthusi-
asm with which it is meeting the questions
of the day; and, when its convention at
Topeka declared in favor of equal suffrage,
we decided to cast our lot with it.
Two years ago, when the democratic
party came into power, it was in posi-
ton to have wiped out the populist party
by giving the people the reforms they
asked for, and which the Chicago plat
form promised. Instead of bringing back
its followers who had gone into the pop
ulist movement, its course has served to
strengthen them in their new allegiance
and to reinforce them with many who
still believe the democratic party was the
party of the people. 1t had pledged the
people legislation in favor of silver lts
unconditional repeal of the Sherman law
completed silver's overthrow. 1t prom
ised the repeal of the tax on state banks;
it has killed without debate a bill looking
to that end. Its shibboleth was tariff re-
form it has bill now pending that no
tariff reformer can defend. Having re-
pudiated its platform, we do not see how
it can again go before the people under
its present leadership with its record OF
broken promises and expect the people to
believe in its sincerity. The demand two
years ago was for a change, not so much
of men but of measures; but we have not
received what we voted for. Gold bug
BENJAMIN Harrison has been succeeded
by gold bug Grover Cleveland. Foster,
who printed the bonds, has been sue
ceeded by Carlisle who issued them. Mil
Ter, who refused to prosecute the trusts,
has been succeeded by Olney, who owns
stock in most of them. The billion-dol-
lar republican Congress has been sue
ceeded by the billion dollar democfatic
Congress, and the Wilson protective tariff
is to take the place of the Mckinley pro-
tective tariff.
The republican party, on the other hand
has never been in sympathy with the Ia
boring masses of the country. 1t has been
the friend of trusts and combines, and|the
present industrial depression is the rebuilt
of its 80 years legislation. 1t goes into
the present campaign with an open bid
for the depraved element of the state. II
has said that it wants the votes of the nen
who run the joints and the gambling
houses, and it has sacrificed prohibition
and woman suffrage at their demand.
We believe the present state admins
tration has been an economical and wise
one. Mistakes have been made; some lap
pointments have been bad; but, be it taid
to its credit, that no effort has been made
to apologize for them; but the bad TIM bel
has been cut out as fast as it has been dis
covered. Governor Lewelling has giver
the state one of the best administrations
it has ever had, and his reelection will put
quietus to the silly campaign twaddl'
that Kansas has been turned over to crankt
and anarchists, and will be fitting rebuk'
to the party which has outrsgeously de
famed the fair name of the state. The
issues are made. We cordially indorse thu
platform made at Topeka, and shall us'
our efforts to help elect the candidates
there nominated. Very truly yours,
GRANT W. HABRINGToN,
W. p. HARRINGTON,
Publishers Kansas Democrat