People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-08-01
CONSISTENCY.

people measure MS motives and SIM
certify of purpose. If he is weak
and vascilating, swayed from one
side of a question or principle to the
opposite by his own selfish likes and
dislikes OF men or parties, endorsing
and defending his own friends or
party for doing something which, if
done by his enemies, would be con-
demned as a rank outrage, it is fair
to presume that his influence with the
ipeople will be merely nominal. The
people would have no more conf
dence in his sincerity than they have
now in the editor of the Caldwell
News. On the other hand, if he
maintains truth, candor and corsis-
tency, regardless Of environment,
the people will have regard for his
statements Of fact and deductions
therefrom, as they do for the VOICE.
The South Haven New Era ques-
tons the VoICE's consistency be-
cause it stated that "the people had
already convicted the Republican
party Of boodling" in the Faurot deal
Of 1898, and expressed doubt as to
the expediency OF pushing the pros
ecution beyond the first preliminary
in the face of vague evidence and
heavy expense to the county. The
New Era thinks the VOICE was more
interested in convicting the party
and making political capital than in
going at the root Of the matter and
prosecuting the participants. Well,
now, let us see. If the VOICE had
wanted to make political capital it
would have encouraged the prosecu-
ton Of Faurot, and the consequent
widening of the yawning breech in
the Republican party, wonld it not?
We confess that at the time we wrote
the comment in question we had no
we'll defined idea of what was the
wise policy to pursue; we knew fur
ther that the county attorney would
not look to US for advice and that, il
anything, he would be more prone to
take the opposite course of that ad-
vocated by the VOICE.
In the language Of Lincoln to his
secretary Of war, we "don't seem to
have much influence with this ad-
ministration."
Had we been seeking political
capital alone, as Bro. Branscombe
alleges, we would have undoubtedly
advised and urged a second eff.
fort on the part Of the county attor-
ney to bind Faurot over, but acting
on the principle that the good Of the
people is the first thing to be consid-
cred, the good OF the party seconda-
ry, the VOICE advised caution in pill
ing up additional costs on the peo-
pie in these distressing times. If a
case can be made to stick against
Faurot or anyone else then the law
should be indicated. But it is ex-
tremely doubtful, in the light of the
vague and indefinite evidence that
has been given, and the result will be
$1,000 or $500 costs for the people
to pay and no other purpose served
except what has already been accom-
plished.
Again, it looks very much as if the
Republican party was trying to make
scapegoat Of Faurot. He did the
dirty work whereby the Republican
party profted and he is made to
suffer for it. The men who were
elected to Office by his deal are en-
joying the fruits thereof and laughing
in their sleeves at Faurot whom they
duped. The Voice thinks there is
good cause for desiring the convic-
ton Of the party, rather than the
person, in this instance.
And now let US give the New Era
point on consistency. Since it is
after the person rather than any |
party, why is it so severe on Faurot
who did what he did for the good of
his party, 1--WE have no information
or evidence that he got any personal
Doodle out Of it), and has not one
word to say against its friend Chas.
Sadler who by his own confession to
Billy Maddy, traded his deputyship |