Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-12-04

lie result VI lue eleCllOu Seeuieu u
be surprise to everybody almost, but
the republicans. Up to the last minute
both sides claimed everything. East
Of the Mississippi and north of the
Ohio 1t was a republican landslide.
Notwithstanding the fact that the re-
publicans have severely criticised Mr..
Bryan for intimating that the question
would be decided on sectional lines, the
result proves the correction Of his
judgment. With the exception of Cali
fornia and Oregon the Mckinley states
are grouped in bunch in the east and
north, and extending as far west as
Wyoming.
The result further shows that where
the silver question has been agitated
most Mr. Bryan received his best sup
port. In the east the issue was new
and the people had never studied it.
Another four years of gold standard
administration, unless 1t is great i'm
provement on that Of Grover Cleve-
lands will likely give them an object
lesson which will induce them to give
the question serious consideration.
There is one element in the result
which is fortunate for the opponents Oh
the republican party. They have Shift
ed all responsibility from their should
ers. The full responsibility is with the
republicans. They will have both
branches of congress and the president
They have placed themselves on record
as the advance agent of prosperity
They have pledged their words that
the gold standard will bring 1t. The
whole country will watch for the re-
suits predicted and if the party fails
to redeem its pledges its doom Is
sealed.
We are not of that class, however,
who believe the country has gone to
irretrievable ruin because the election
did not go as we wished it. We have
heard that cry for sixteen years. We
have confidence in the intelligence ana
patriotism of the people as the great
balance power that will be able to save
the republic at any crisis. The harder
the times the sooner the party in power
will be voted out, and when it be-
comes evident that the party cannot be
trusted then the people will revolt.
Great things are not born without
great travail, and truth has always
had to fight for every inch of ground
it occupied. What education lacks in
accomplishing, oppression and tyran-
ny will supply. But the work of edu-
cation is necessarily slow. But the OBJ
ject lessons educate very rapidly. That
times will be better for short time
we do not doubt. When the beacon
strictor loosens his folds for another
grip the victim feels easier until the
pressure is renewed. Money will flow
into circulation and enterprise will be
stimulated. but woe unto the unwary
who lose their heads and indulge in
sneculation. The trap will close again
and another batch of mortgages be add
ed to the burdens Of the people.
How will the election affect the peo-
ple's party? is question now upper
most in everybody's mind. At this
early date (Nov. 10y it is difficult to
tell. We find disposition on the part
of some to continue the alliance with
the democratic party. We do not think,
however, that this will meet with the
APPRECIATION of the great majority of
members of the peoples party. There
was strong opposition to any alliance
with the democrats during the recent
campaign and that opposition has be-
come intensified since the election. 1t
is more than probable, however, that
in such states as Kansas Nebraska,
and Colorado, where the local tickets
have been successful, that continued
alliance will obtain, but in those states,
the democrats cut but little figure so
far as numbers are concerned, and
their influence consists only in holding
the balance of power. They are per-
haps now practically absorbed by the
populists.
In all the southern states the situa-
ton is different. To make an alliance
with the democratic party means
total and absolute surrender of our
party machinery. The same condition
applies to Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Min
nesota, Indiana, Ohio and other north
ern states. The peoples party must
draw its recruits from both old parties.
An alliance with the democrats not
only prevents disguised republicans
from Joining our ranks, but drives out
some of our own members who never
expected to be thus conveyed into the
democratic camp. The same can be
said with regard to an alliance with
the republicans. 1t prevents disguised
democrats from Joining US. The his
tory of reform parties in this country
is full Of experiences Of this kind.
There is evidently strong feeling
toward a reorganization of the party
4 L. oil 4bat