Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-10
THE BURIAL DAY OF POpULIsM.

The people of Kansas are to be congratu-
lated upon the fact that yesterday ended
the second trial of ''the first Peoples party
government on earth" The first trial
of the first Peoples party government On
earth ended in a whirl of public indigna-
ton and contempt. and, if such a thing
were possible. its second trial finished in
even a more disgraceful fashion.
1t would seem that Kansas might have
acquired all of the experience needed in her
first experiment with a government ruled
by false reformers. After the Lewelling
administration had made its record as per-
haps the most corrupt and incompetent
that ever gained power in any state, It
seemed a natural conclusion that Kansas
never again would permit the Populists to
win an election, and the fact that she nd
so is a fact that demands some explana-
ton.
Paradoxical as 1t may seem at the first
glance. it nevertheless is a fact that the
Populists. did not carry the election OF
1896. 1t is true that the Populists gained
the offices and that after the election they
found themselves in full possession of gov
| ernmental powers. but they were placed
there. not by the voters who believed IN
Populist principles. but by voters who be-
iieved in something quite the opposite. In
other words, Governor Leedy and his Off
cial associates were carried into place on
the silver wave. Republicans and Demo-
Gratis alike who had been conjured by the
sorcery of free coinage forgot the lessons
of 1924. forgot the incompetency and cor
ruption of the Populist administration, FOR
got that Populism stood for governmental
| principles with which they had no SYM
| p~athy-forgot everything. in fact, but the
| result was that hundreds and thousands
cast their votes for a party with which
they wanted no dealings at all.
Populism was not on trial in 1896. 1t
ought to have been. but wasn't. Leedy was
fortunate in getting himself on the crest
Of a national wave. His party was for
tunate in finding the people so crazed by
| a national issue that they were blinded to
everything else. In vain the conservative
| element sought to have a hearing. Men
shut their eyes to the miserable record
| made by the false reformers and shouted
| in madness for a national issue with which
the local government of Kansas had moth
ing to do. When asked to reflect upon the
probable consequences of returning Popu-
| lism to power they clamored back free
| silver! free silver!' and refused to reflect
at all. And then came the second trial OF
the first Peoples party government on
earth, with its boodling legislature, its
drunken and immoral officials. its crimes
against humanity, its scandals in high
places.
1t is sincerely hoped and expected that
the gentlemen who assumed the reins of
the state a heightened administration such
as will stand In strong contrast with the
weakness, wickedness and incompetency
of the administration which they succeed.
If they do SO they will not go out of office
bearing the contempt of their fellow citi-
zens. If they do so it will be impossible for
the false reformers ever again to secure
a foothold in Kansas. One lesson may TO,
nave been enough for Kansas, but two
must certainly be. If honesty, decency
sobriety. conservatism and intelligence hold
sway at the Kansas state house, the Re.
publicans may expect the rewards which
await the doing Of deeds well done.