Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-11-25
DEcRYINa KANSAS.

pop gun sheet to the most widely circu-
lating metropolitan papers IN the larger
cities. Probably one of the most indie
cent attacks upon the people of Kansas
is found in the following editorial from
the st. Louis Globe Democrat, which
was clipped and published by nearly ev-
cry republican paper in the state. Were
seems to be second nature to the av-
erage Kansan, the class of men who are
thus endeavOring to bring our grand
commonwealth into disrepute would be
driven from her borders by an outraged
people:
One of the principal surprises, as well as one
of the principal reproaches, of the election is
to be seen in the action of Kansas. There was
not the least excuse former to place herselfon
the side of Organism. Her people are above
the average in point of intelligence, and so
could not have committed such a folly from
lack of knowledge to do otherwise. She has
an abundance of churches, school houses,
newspapers and other agencies of civilization.
And yet when put to a square test of honesty,
with more at stake than any other state in
some respects, she has deliberately played a
silly and disreputable part. The wonder and
the shame of it are both Increased by the fact
that she knew all about Populism by practical
and calamitOus experience. She has seen her
population decrease, her property depreciate,
and her credit disappear by reason of an ex-
pertinent i'll that relation, and instead of profit
ing by that bitter lesson she voted to have it
repeated with a degree of recklessness that is
nil, loI -,
Ii is not to be doubted that disastrous conse-
qUenses will follow this strange and discredit-
able proceeding. A state that thus disappoints
pubic expectation and becomes it's own worst
enemy cannot expect to avert the penalty of
such conduct.
To be sure, the majority against sound mon
ey and good government is not large, and the
republicans deserve praise for the industrious
efforts by which it was kept down to compar-
atvely low figures; but the fact remains that
the control of the affairs of the safe is 10 pass
absolutely into the hands of the Populists.
at least two more years of hard times modified
only by possible gains from the general pros
perity of other states. The recollection of her
better days will inspire sympathy for her in
many hearts. but she will have to bear the
full effect of her own extraordinary folly all
ahead of her will bring her to her senses and
make it impossible for her ever again to turn
her back upon the principles and policies to
which she used to be so strongly and advan-
tageously attached.
The accusations and falsehoods here
thrown out are ineXcusable. Coming
from an institution like the Globe Dem
Ocrat, which is controlled by the Power
of Wealth, 1T is what might naturally be
expected, but when we see papers in
our midst which claim to be standing
up for Kansas and laboring for our
general and mutual welfare, endorsing
such diSloyalty, we are Disguised. 1t
proves clearly that If it were within the
power of the republican press of the
state to lnJure our people and their in
situations, their property, both public
| and private, every available effort
| would be put forth to bring about such
a disastrous result out of sheer revenge.
| But happily these worthless hoodlums
are powerless to accomplish their fiend-
| iSh desire, and the honest, tolling yeo-
manry Of our grand state will receive
| such treatment as tree Americans
| should receive, while the tools of Plu-
| tocracy and organized Wealth will have
their hlthy vomit forced down their own
| throats.
Now what are the facts? Only seven
years ago Kansas was a republican
state with a majority of $4,000 strong.
That majority was built by republican
promises. The people of the state once
had faith in the republican party and
they were 10th to lose hope. They suf.
Tered oppression and discrimination
each year expecting that the party
would yet change tactics and carry Out
some OF the numerous pledges made tC
the producers and industrial forces OF
the land. But as dav followed day an6
year followed year they saw their cause
ignored in legislatures and saw thell
trusted official servants laboring only
for their own political advancement re-
CARELESS of what their constituency de
manded. They petitioned legislatures
and congress for laws which would pro
tect them against the encroachments Of
greed and robbery but their petitions
were treated with silent contemplated
lmplored their public servants for re
lief but their supplications were mo-
heard, they asked for equality between
capital and labor but were answered
fwlth additional discrimination in favor
of capital and against labor; they en-
treated the republican party tofulfill its
promises but were silenced by the weap
on of rldicule, and instead of receiving
bread they were given stone. The PEG
pie of Kansas, being patient, forbear
ing people. endured this maltreatmeni
until the pressure of political corrup.
ton threatened to annihilate them as q
free race, collectively and individually
1t was then that cloud of indignation
spread over the state and the rascals
turned out of responsible positions
The whole state was suffocating an6
strangiing in the clutches of republi
canlsm and Populism came to the res
cue. Populism means peopleism anG
peopieism is thing in which the rights
OF the people protected. and while the
Peoples party has never yet been in full
control of the law makino nowar Of tLx