The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-24
NOT MANY BUT
VERY SELECT.
Gold Democrats Not Sure of a
Big Crowd,
But Those Who Come VIII Be
lawfully Select
TOM FENLON'S LETTER.
He Says He Can't Support the
Republican Ticket,
That Would Be Out of Purga-
tory Into -.

Eugene Hagan who has. largely had
charge of the arrangements for the
meeting of the national Democrats as
they term themselves, was asked as to
the number that are expected tomorrow
said:
4 can't say exactly, as I have said
before there is no organization of those
that are not going to support the Chi
cago platform and its nominees and
we cannot tell how many will come
here to this meeting. We can say
though that those that do come will be
the Well-to-dO business men and inf1u-
entail citizens of the communities in
which they live. I have received many
letters from men who have always been
prominent in the party and the one
that Mr.. Kimble received from Tom
FenlOn is a fair sample of the feeling
of those who will attend"
The letter that Mr.. Hagan refers to
reads as follows:
Leavenworth, Kan. Aug 20, 49,
Samuel Kimble, Esq, Manhattan, Kan.
Dear Sir:-YOurs of the 18th inst.
came to my office when I was absent
from home, hence the delay in reply
ing thereto; do not claim to deserve
the kindly words you have uttered in
regard to myself and my devotion to
the principles of the Democratic party;
in all the long and weary years have
devoted to them in Kansas, away back
as territory and since its admission
into the Union as a state, 1 only claim
that have been faithful to the princi-
pies of the party and its organization,
and as a candidate frequently have
been a vicarious sacrifice to the prin-
cipiees of the party-that is all.
If I had simply desired high public
office at the sacrifice, of what I believe
to be the best interests of the people, I
would long ago have been RepubH-
cantor it was apparent to me and ev
cry other sensible man in Kansas that
if a man, ambitious for distinguished
III -1T-
must be a Republican. According to
my views I could not be so unless I be-
came false to every conviction of my
duty as a citizen-SO that, during all
the trOublous years that have mari<
ed the marvellous history of Kansas, !
have been and yet am a Democrat ac-
cOrding to the faith and doctrines of the
fathers of Democracy, from Thomas
Jefferson down to the present time; you
and 1 know that adherence to these
doctrines for the past 80 years in Kan
sas has been sure way to Obscurity in
public affairs-but in all these dark
days, with no hope of reward, I may,
I think fairly claim that I have been
true to Democratic measures and Dem
ocratic nominees.
But what now? Our party meet in
convention in Chicago in July, and ac-
cording to my convictions that conven-
ton forgot that it was a Democratic
conventional set aside and trampled
upon the time honOred principles of
the party as announced and carried
out by Jefferson, Jackson and Cleve-
land.
I feel that the tendency of the doc
trines announced in the Chicago con-
vention are threatening and dangerous
to the best interests of our people,
have remained in Obscurity, cOmpara-
lively speaking, all my manhood days,
because I believed 1 was right, and I
believe I am right now, and though it
is like parting from an old and valued
friend, wish frankly to say to you I
cannot, as I see my 6uty, support the
Chicago platform or ticket or advise
others to do so.
OF course it is not necessary for me
to say to you that I cannot support the
Republican ticket; high tariffs-protec-
ton to classes, rohibition-scoundrel
ism in every shape and fOrm-carpet-
bagism and oppression of the south
the crime of '76-an are children of the
Republican party; whilst as have said
I cannot support the Chiago platform,
for it is not Democratic nor honest,
much less could support the RepubIi-
can platform-it would be out of the
frying pan into the fire, out of purga-
tory into hell hope you understand
now what my views are.
THOMAS P. FENLON