Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-05-25
The Situation and Duty.


Popullst party and middle-of-the- Popu-
list party. Both parties stand for the same
principles. The division is on lines of action,
or the best way to carry forward Populism.
1t was Western influence that nominated
Bryan, and Southern and Eastern influence
that nominated Barker. Populsts in the West,
by large majority, believe in Bryan, as do
Western Democrats. Populists in the South
and East are acquainted with ring bosses and
gold standard Democrats 1t is the close ac-
qnaintanceship that, largely, makes the differ
ence in the inability of the two wings of the
party to work together.
believe that boss Democrat is no better
than boss Republican. Bosses are simply
after office. A boss Populist would be no bet
ter than boss Republican or boss Democrat.
The South IN or Eastern Populist is not so
much to blame as some men imagine
Boss Croker is no better than Boss Patt.
Beasly Democratic majo;ties in Louisiana
are just as much menace to free institutions
as beastly Republican majorities in Kansas.
The Populst party in the South is the rally
The political salvation OF the Negro and the
poor whites lies within strong opposition to
Democratic DO s rule. To-day, the wholesale
disfranchisement of the colored voter (and
many white) is accomplished, or is IN fair
way of accomplishment There is more dam
ger to republics in Southern Democratic meth
ods than in Hanna trust methods. The Hanna
crowd have corrupted the ballot, but, as yet, no
one has been disfranchised.
A gun can be fired in more directions than
one man without gun can fire in no di-
rection. corrupted balot-boX is better than
no ballox-box. 1t is easier to cleanse than to
create.
William E. Curtis, Chicago Record cores
pondent, claims that he has conversed with
Southern United States senators who admit, in
private, that but for the color line, they would
break away from the Democratic party. 1t can
easily be believed that the scions of the old
slaveocracy are in sympathy with modern Re-
publicanism. Before the war, the slave-hold-
inp class ruled the South, The few ruled the
mauy. Legislation was in the interest OF the
few Modern Republicanism legislates in the
interest of the few
The Cleveland stripe of Democrats dominated
the Democratic party in the East for many
years. They stood for the idea of the few over
the many. The Cleveland Southern aristocrats
are not Democrats, never were Democrats and
never can be, unless they are born again. The
Hanna Republicans are not Republicans, have
not been and never can be, unless they are
holm again. Cleveland Democracy and Hanna
Republicansm are parts of the same political
organization, in all but name. They have the
same aims, and work for the same ends.
It will not be surprising if the descendants
Of The old Southern STAKEHOLDER Join hands
with Mckinley and Cleveland; and when tha!
time comes, Populism is the hope of the South
and Of the West; and Populism will not die in
,r, Sm,h, or West till dies the love of freedom
and justice.
To sum it all up, Bryan stands for the peo-
nle. Fusion on Bryan is both wise and polite.
When Lincoln Repubicanism was in the
,rocess of formation, the Wings and Abo!ltlonH
ISIS acted in concert. great principle was
daudled by those two antislavery grandmoth'
ere IN one and the same assembly.
The men who earnestly believe in govern
ment of the people and for the people will
work wherever they can work, not being too
particular as to names and organization.
It may be all right to have Barker in the
field. If the Democratic party, in its national