Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-04-26
10 MCDILL'S MUSINGS.
A ONE-IDEA PARTY.

1t is unfortunate for the cause OF reform that
there are SO many faint t-hea1ted, lukewarm and
sailtrnmers Already there are men who sup
ported Bryan who are ready for such change as
will call for new men and different measures.
1t is the weak part in the structure of the Dem
ocratic party that its leaders are too ready to
change issues and bid for votes on questions
that force the party to take the wrong side
Take, for illustration, the liquor question. In
every state where that party has fought for the
saloon, it is hopelessly in the minority,
Iowa gave Boes the govenorship for Demo
cratic support of the saloon, but eventually
took away two congressman.
We had our Click, but the party eventually
lost thousands of votes, and the Click campaign
is still stencil in the nostris of many stall
wart ant-imperialist.
Hill captured New York in license. issue
that victory?
Cleveland out Heroded Herod in his efforts to
serve the money power.
What Is the good of striving for the flesh
pots of Egypt when the other party is greasy
to the eyes in all sorts of fat? Why not espouse
the cause Of the great common people, as did
Jeffe son. and then stick to principle, through
calumny and defeat, until the party goes down
to hopeless extinction or wins an eternal victory?
The party has its lesson; and how will it con-
tinue to bid for the support of the lofty and lib
erty-loving portion of our citizens, or will it
adopt the old tactics of trimming its sails to
catch votes? 1t looks suspicious, and yet the
keen eyed can readily see that the whisky power
has joined hands with the money power, the
transportation and the manufacturing power.
The whisky power will never be found in the
battaions of any reform party. In The long
run, the Democrats in the South will gain no
permanent advantage in their action disfranchis-
ing colored voters. True reform would have
suggested organized effort looking to the train
ing of the Negroes in the duties of good cti
z,nship. 1t is the party of high principle that
gains strength.
To large extent Bryan fills the bill of re-
quirements Under the leadership of such men
as Bryan, the Democratic party would be sure
to win in the end, and, having won, it would
plac, our people upon the highest level of lib
erty and happiness yet attained to since the es-
tablishment OF our republic
The Democratic party has been reformed,
but ca it be kept in that position when there
are so many men in its ranks who would betray
great principles for the sake of temporary ad
vantage or office?
To save our republic, it will be necessary to
teach our people that great principle is being
fought for, under the leadership of good, true
men, and saloon fights and DISTINGUISHING Ne
groes is the woist of evidence of high aims or
noble purposes.
The saloon has always had its rights, and far
more. The Negro has never had his full rights,
and W. lake away the little he had. We bid
for the support of an impossible ally and
estrange possible friend.
When speak of a reformed Democratic party,
have reference to such Democracy as is held
by Bryan and Towne Such men may not hold
all the truth, but they hold enough of truth to