Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-05-14
Rspublicsaism and Victory.

Nothing in the future Is more Ger
tain than that the combined elements
OF Democratic misrule and In
competency, Populistic corruption
and political heresies, socialism,
anarchy and all the cohorts Of evil
will endeavor to fuse against the Re-
publican party this year.
The Democratic party Has been
tried in the nation andi found to be
the greatest aggregation Of in
competent political hacks that ever
disgraced the government OF any free
people on earth. The members Of
that party are falling over each other
in their mad attempts to deny all
responsibility for the maladministra-
ton Of their party. In every state in
the Union in which Populism has
reared Its Shiny head 1t has been re-
pudiated and cast out as a stencil in
the nostrils Of Republican govern
ment, the very first opportunity that
the people were permitted to be
heard.
There is not a state in the Union
north Of Mason and Dixon's line that
the Democratic party has the re-
hottest hope Of carrying this year,
unaided by Populists, Prohibitionists,
socialists and anarchists. There is
not state in the Union the Populists
hope to carry unaided by Democracy
and the unAmerican element Of the
people.
Neither the Democratic nor Popu-
list party advocate the principles they
did four years ago, when under false
pretenses, they were entrusted with
the care Of the government. These
parties have nothing in common to-
day, except their insatiate greed for
office. There is no way to satisfy
that greed but by the combining Of the
disgruntled element and malcontents
in American politics, and dividing
the spoils Of Office between them.
This they will attempt to do.
To win against this aggregation Of
malcontents the Republicans must
present an undivided front. They
must close up their columns all along
the line.
1t should be the purpose OF every
Republican to promote harmony, and
to frown down all attempt at discord'
Neither desire for office, ambition to
win, nor jealousy of another's success
should be permitted to lead any Re-
publican this year to give aid or COM
fort to the enemy.
Every candidate before the Republic
can convention should before deciding
to become a candidate, calculate his
chances Of defeat and make up his
mind that, win or lose, he is going to
be man enough to stand by the ticket
which is nominated by the conven-
ton. II a candidate cannot form in
good faith such a resolution, he is in
honor bound to stay out of the con-
vention altogether. II there is more
than one candidate for the same Office
before the convention, someone is GO
ing to be defeated. And every candi-
date should consider that he may be
the one that will be defeated.
There are voters enough in Dick
inson county in sympathy with the
Republican party and Its principles
to carry the ticket to victory. There
are voters enough in the State in
sympathy with Republican principles
to elect the State ticket over the COM
bined opposition Of Democracy. Pop
ulism, socialism and anarchy. Let
every such voter resolve that what
ever may come Republican principles
shall be again triumphant and peace,
happiness and national and individual
prosperity once more come to the