Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-04-19
REPUBLICAN, COUNSEL.
ADDRESS BY THE COUNTY CEN
TRIAL COMMITTEE.
PARTY POLICIES OUTLINED.
The Disgraceful Record Of the Dem
ocratic National Administration
Shown up-POpulist Mismanage-
ment at Topeka-Issues of the
Coming Campaign Clearly Defined.
To The Citizens and Voters Of Dickinson
COnntnt


The contest for political supremacy
in Kansas has begun. The principles,
the leaders and the plans for the com.
ing campaign are being canvassed by
each OF the parties.
IL Is fitting that at the threshold of
this campaign there shall be no mis-
understanding Of the real issues in
volved. IL IL apparent from the
tenor Of Populist and Democratic ut
tcrances that the opposition to the
Republican party in this State pro-
poses to unite its forces, not for the
maintenance Of any political princi-
pie, but for the sole mercenary pur-
pose Of securing the spoils Of Office.
Your committee deems it proper
at this time to set forth, in as con-
else form as may be, the issues upon
which the Republican party of Dick
inson county proposes TO meet this
unholy alliance Of oilicc-seckers. The
issues in this campaign are local and
national. The State of Kansas has n
political enemy which has succeeded
In fastening its poisonous fangs into
the body polite and has wrought in
calculable injury to the credit, the
good name and the prosperity Of our
state. The Populist administration
of Kansas during the fourteen months
OF its existence has exhibited degree
OF stupidity. lawlessness, dishonesty
and corruption unparalleled in the
history Of our State. Its leaders
] have ma rnen.,t f,r lane nos ,.,.,.
except rs they can be made to serve
their selfish and arbitrary purposes.
They are capable of resorting to or
/ ganized intimidation and processes of
open contempt for legal agencies and
methods in the accomplishment of
their selfish plans aud desires. They
have with force and with troops un-
lawful Y attempted to dispense and
drive out Of the State capitol the
legal house Of representatives; they
were only prevented from taking pos
session of the law-making branch of
the state government by the rcsolute
resistance of the Republican members
Of the Legislature and the storm Of
indignation which came up from the
people; they have appointed and
maintained in public Offices fugitivcs
from justice; they have corruptly
used the appointiyc power in reward
ing their adhercnts aud in furnishing
their political opponents; their polit-
ical teachings are inimical to the pub
lie interests Of our State by their
unholy war upon capital and enter
prise, and their destructive assaults
upon the rights Of all who do not
accept their revolutionary projects of
reform. They have driven capital
from the State, stopped the wheel Is OF
progress and destroyed our credit as
debt-paying people; they haze
taught the doctrine that it is no less
honorable to repudiate than to keep
contract; they have allied them
selves closely to socialism and an
archy, and socialists and anarchists
are among their leading counselors
today; while rotten money, repudia-
ton and paternalism are among their
most cherished tenets.
In fact, the administration of the
state OF Kansas represents today a
record that brings nothing but dis
honor to the people of our State.
Scarcely had the governor been in
stalled into Office before charges were
made by the press of our State that
money had been collected and brought
to the state house for political pur-
poses, charging certain parties with
its distribution among the members
OF the administration; and the charges
were considered so well founded that
the legislature appointed committee
to investigate them, the finding of
which hangs over the party today like
n funeral pail, while an Artz has
rendered his resignation to avoid
prosecution.
To eliminate from the public mind
these false doctrines and to eradicate
this unfortunate state of affairs are
among the local issues, upon which
the Republicans of Dickinson county
enter the campaign of 1894.
While IL is true the national issues
do not SO directly affect the honor,
the integrity and credit of the great
state of Kansas, they do materially
affect its industrial and commercial
prosperity. The history of this
country clearly demonstrates that an
injury to any of the great industries
OF the people materially Injuries all
other industries. 1t is absolutely
impossible to enact laws which will
throw out OF employment million of
laboring men, or materially lower
their wages without injuring the
farmer and every other industry of
the country.
The people of this country, for the
first time in third of a century,
have had II year of Democracy. And
what is its recordP Eighteen months
ago this republic was as prosperous
as at any period of its existence. In
November, 1892, when Grover Cleve-
land was elected president OF the
United States there was not an able
bodied American citizen who could
not obtain employment at good
wages, and an independence for him
self and comfort for his family; and
although the Mckinley tariff bill is
still IN force, the repeated threats of
the Democratic party to change the
policy OF our government from pro-
teetiNe to free trade policy has re-
suited In general depression and dis
aster' Manufactures OF all kinds
were running on full time; wages
were higher than they had ever been
IN the history Of our country and