The Iola register., 1902-02-07

prevented by the same body of voters
formerly Democratic. The campaign
of education in 1896 did not begin to
make headway until the country was
furnished the high example of that
assembly of patriotic Democrats who
met in convention at Indianapolis. 1t
is an open secret that the Democrats
represented in that convention didn't
vote in the air. either in 1896 or 1900,
and the large Republican majority in
the latter year in this State was in
great part produced by votes formerly
Democratic. We have now got into
the habit of voting the Republican
ticket.
"Some effort was made after the
election in 1900 toreorganize the Dem
ocratic yarty. The true leaders of that
party had been discredited and re-
tired Mr.. Bryan insisted that no re-
organization was necessary or could
be had. That as to Democrats, like
myself, who had opposed the Chicago
platform and national Populist fusion,
we might be permitted to return If we
came in on our knees, clothed in sack
cloth and ashes and humbly sat on the
edge of back seats. This kindly and
hospitable invitation came too late.
We will not return. We have come to
stay with the Republican party un-
conditionally, save in this: That the
| Republican party shall be true to it,
| self and its high behests.
"And this Is the kernel of my argu-
ment. | speak in the name of the
commonalty of voters to which | be-
long, who have never held a pubic
Office and have never sought one.
Party fealty is virtue and commend
| able only so long as the aims of the
party are honest and patriotic and il
| presents for the suffrage of the voter
men worthy in their private character
to represent those aims. 1t is not
enough to say that party discipline
forbids private judgment in such mat
ters. The party whip has no terror
| for any save such members of the
party as either are enjoying or hope
to enjoy what Mr.. Tilden denominated
the iusufruct of party patronage.
81 cannot refrainfrom asking where
the Republican party would be today
il the fidelity of those voters TO Bryan
ism and Altgeldism could have been
coerced by the Democratic organiZa'
ton? Politics ought not to be mere
sordid game of success. Party organ
ization is sacred thing, only less Sc
than the fabric of the government IL.
self. 1t is the sole method whereby
free men exercise their sacred rights
of sovereignty.
"In fine, Kansas is now firmly Re
publican and will continue to be so as
long as the party continues to deserve
the fealty of its members, for 1t mus
not be forgotten that theaverage vote
in Kansas is both intelligent and hon
est, and to the honest voter the wei
fare and good name of the nation anG
State is in the end more to be desired
than the success Of any party.
81 am not speaking the language o
the mugwump or the impractical re
former. | am not picturing an Utopia
When the happy time that | hav'
, presaged has arrived, one may say
paraphrasing Daniel Webster: Kan
sas needs no enconiums, much less de
fense. There she is. Behold her
bright shining as the sun which gild
! her symbolic flower. The land o
} plain living and high thinking, wher
= civic pride is firmly founded upon tn
patriotism and common sense of he
people and the brains and uprightnes
of her public men. "