Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-07-05
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

The REPUBLICAN FAK1Y.
AS we have observed heretofore, in its leader
ship the Republican party is coward. When
its leaders wish to head off popular move
,nent or reconcile all of its adherents to GER
tain line of action, it does not do so openly,
but the managers SO manipulate its conventions
and public assemblies as to avoid discussion
where the members are not all of one mind,
and its newspapers, with few exceptions, are
furnished by bureau of information with the
policy mapped out by the bosses, and its speak
ers are instructed as to what shall be said from
the platform. Thus, free speech is suppressed
and the truth is withheld from the class of vot.
ers who wholly rely upon their leaders and
speakers for their political opinions.
In Kansas, Iowa and some other states, the
Republican party would have majority i'll ia.
vor of either free silver or prohibition, but un-
der the skillful leadership of the managers, the
Republican party placed Iowa in the ranks Of
licensed liquor, and eventually would do the
same for Kansas
Its work has not been open, for, if it had not
been open, large numbers of voters would have
gone into the ranks of the opposition. If SEN
ator Plumb were alive, under his leadership, a
majority of Kansas Republicans would be for
free silver, but, as it now stands, there is no
question but that Kansas Republicans are in
the camp of the gold conspirators-led there
by men who are paid to mislead-who have a
perfect plan of operations, and who work the
machine with military precision that would
do credit to great warrior. To be sure, there
are still few men left who have not bowed the
knee to the gold Baal of Wall street.
Blindness has stricken the eyes of the voters
of the party Of Lincoln, and knavery has taken
possession of the men who claim to be states
men of the party of Lincoln. Neither the
blind voter nor the knavish leader is worthy Of
name Republican.
We can recall time when Republicans
fought with all kinds Of weapons, from the fist
to the knife and pistol for the privilege of say
ing Just what they thought at all times and in
all places. Then, Republican had no boss,
because the party was led by men who, with
entire disinterestedness, battled for freedom,
justice and humanity Every voter was his
own DOSS, anu huCW just Whal hS was NotiuS
for. To be Republican then was to be hero
and patriot
Alas! the glory Of the grand old party has
departed. Love of monopolies stands in that
party for love Of country; greed, for patriotism;
office, for principle, and chicanery and knavery,
for craftsmanship. The party that fought to
lberate an obscure and degraded race now la
bors to reduce to serfdom the children of the
dead heroes. The party that had conviction
and the courage of conviction has neither con-
yiction nor courage. Plutocracy has eaten up
its vitality. So far as patriotism is concerned,
it is dead carcass, obstructing the onward
march of a higher and better civilization.
THE San Francisco Examiner, the leading
Democratic paper of the western coast, speak
ing of the rottenness of the courts, says: "The
sugar trust and income-tax decisions have hand
cuffed the national government. The only
power in the United States which the courts
have left free from harrassing restrictions is
that of aggregated wealth."
CONGRESSMAN BRYAN said in recent speech
down south that If the Democratic party de-
clares for gold standard, he will not vote with
the party
JOHN ]. INGALLS, upholds Atchison saloous,