Abilene weekly reflector., 1898-01-20
The Spirit Of fusionist Populism.

When seat TO the United States sem
ate goes to the highest bidder, Is 1t not time
to proclaim, 1--WE are on the verge OF moral
and political destruction" Monitor.
1t is not surprising that the Moni-
itor, together with all other anything
neutrality-suspicious. sympathizers
are sweating over the humiliating
failure Of the treacherous conspiracy
to defeat the expressed will Of the
people which the fusion gang az
tempted in the Ohio Legislature.
At the November election in 1897,
the Republicans Of Ohio. in manner so
open, in terms SO emphatic, in method
so representative Of all the people,
made its selection for United States
senator that he who does not see is
blind from choice. Prior to the elec-
tion the Republican party Of Ohio
said through its accredited delegates
In convention assembled that in Mar
Gus A. Hanna it recognized the man
who should represent it in the senate
Of the national congress. That recog-
milton was ratified and emphasized at
the polls by the vote Of the people as
direct an expression is possible, and
when the Republicans Of Ohio, on last
Wednesday, voted for Mr.. Hanna,
they simply voted as they were in
structed by the conventions which
nominated them, and in accordance
with the solemn pledges they had
made to the voters before their elec-
tion.
1t is peculiar twisting Of matters
that ]ustiies even such whining jour
nails as the Monitor to howl "treach-
cry" at Republican who simply
stands by his party organization and
votes as he promised he would do be-
fore his election.
To compass the defeat Of Mr.. Han
ma and thereby thwart the will Of the
people as expressed at the polls in
November it was necessary to breed
treachery in the ranks Of the Republi-
cans. To accomplish this purpose
there was attempted as disgraceful
conspiracy as was ever concocted by
a concert Of renegades within a party
and conscienceless foes without it.
The spectacle Of men who posed and
masqueraded as Republicans for the
sake Of office consorting with the par
ty's opponents to defeat the will Of
the people Of great state Of this
Union Is one to sicken the soul Of de-
cency.
With the wonderful recuperative
powers Of political parties in this re-
public, party can survive honorable
defeat-it cannot survive treachery.
invincible in battle, have sue
cumbed to treason's invidious touch;
beleaguered cities, in whose massive
walls and lmpregnable lines Of defense
The guns of the enemy made no breach,
have found the gates swung open to
The unseen and still more dangerous
Zoe that lurked within.
The treacherous conspiracy which
was attempted by the opposition to
Mr.. Hanna in Ohio, is but the legiti-
nate outgrowth Of the teachings of
nongrelism and the fusion spirit
which has taken possession of the
Monitor and its ilk in Kansas and
elsewhere. Fusion in politics can on
y be accomplished by the sacrifice
md surrender of principle. And that
,arty which is willing to sacrifice
is political principles for the sake of
,lllce, is willing to sacrifice honor
or the sake OF office. 1t is no more
to trade and barter one
political office for another than it is
% sell vote for for money consid- |
,ration, and II a party is to do one
why, il opportunity offers and oc-
,asion requires, should it not do the
Dtherp
Politics is a principle, or it is a
profession for selfish profit,
For eight years the leaders Of the
TO which the Monitor belongs
have met in secret caucus-hurled |
their principles to the winds, and
battered, traded and disposed Tor Of
Tered to do SOY Of the public offices Of
this State, as men barter, trade and
dispose Of cattle. Only last week