The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-26
STAYING AWAY FROM THE POLLS


1t has long been a practice with par
tisans to rebuke their offending party
by remaining away from the polls on
election day. It is not a pleasant or an
effective practice In the first place, it
shows deplorable want of American
shirt in the man. and in the second
place. it often fails TO accomplish that
thing which staying at home intends to
accomplish.
Just now the report is current that the
farmers of this and surrounding coun-
ties. who have affiliated with the Popu-
list party in the past, and now believe
it deserves a reprimand, will take no
part in the election, but will remain at
home on election day.
No man of spirit and freedom of con-
yiGtion should enter upon such resolve,
or. having entered upon it, should hesi-
tate to foreswear his decision. If he re-
mains ali home. he proclaims 10 the COM
munity in which he lives that the disci-
pline of his parry still imprisOIs his con
science and makes of him petty polit-
zeal coward. The leaders Of his party.
who will certainly be informed OF his
conduct, will understand his weakness
and despise him for it. Those leaders
know the Populist party deserves a rep
finland, deserves a singing, overwhelm-
ing rebuke. LeWelling and none Of his
followers can blame for an instant, any
man in the Populist party for rising in
rebellion against that record of lnfamy
and incOmpetency at Topeka Last Win
Ter. Lewelling and none Of his follow
ers can conscientiously ask a mans
support, again, when. after securing 1t
once and being elected, they went TO To-
peka and in face Of the old, reiterated
and emphasized promise, in platform.
on stump. in private conversation and
in public print, that they would vote for
a maximum freight rate law, voted
against it. and worked against it, and
talked against it. There is no escape
from rhe verdict which stands against
them-the records are plain for all the
world 10 see. Lewelfng and his men
can not deny that they promised GER
tain things in platforms; they can not
ileny that on account of these promises
they were elected. They can not deny
that they went 10 Topeka and voted
against them. And, now, in another
campaign, they can not deny the right
of every man, whether he be Populist
or not, TO declare with his ballot
whether that sort Of betrayal is TO be
endorsed or condemned, whether treason
to campaign pledges is to be rewarded
or punished.
They expect condemnation. They in
vited it when they took the step Of be
travail in Topeka last winter. And the
way to condemn them and their con-
duct Is to do it speedily and fOrcibly.
The way 10 prevent a recurrence of
such conduct is not to remain at home
on election day in disgust, but to march
out and up to the polls and administer
a good, strong, singing lash 10 the backs
of the reasonable faction.
In Kansas the farmers have not had
their say yet on the conduct of that last
legislature In little over one month
more they will have their say. And they
ought to say it with a voice so terrible
and mighty that it Will ring as a warn
ing forever, in the ears of all Kansas
politicians, Populists, Republicans and
Democrats. that a party which is untrue
10 its platform declarations shall not go |
On its way unregenerate, uninjured and |
unrebuked.