Abilene weekly reflector., 1902-02-06

the Kansas Day banquet by Col' w.
H. Rossington Of Topeka who is .
representative Democrat Of Kansas
one who Is not an office.seeker and
never has hssn. He may be supposed
to speak for the better class Of Kan
sas Democrats and bis words have
much significance. He said;
ITO the votes and influence OF the
Democrats who refused to go into the
the fusion scheme is 1t largely as
cribsble that the destructive tide Of
Populism was stayed in Kansas. i
is seli.evident that the success Of
fusion in Kansas and Nebraska in
spired the more dangerous scheme Of
national fusion with the Pop"lists,
hatchsd by Altgeld and bis fellow
anarchists In the so.called Demo-
cratic convention Of 1896 in Chicago.
That it came to q just aud overwhelm'
Ing defeat is largely ascribable to the
votes and influence Of Democrats who
held the honor and the welfare Of
their country above the mere success
Of party. Issy so'csllsd Democratic
convention, for the reasonable con-
spiracy could not be made effective
until there was excluded from that
body by sort Of Pride's purge every
Democratic delegate honest enough
to refuse to repeat the new shiO'
boleth. | Iassert further, that the re.
peated attempt at Kansas City to en-
force the theories 81 the Chicago plat
form and its fit exemplar. Mr.
Bryan, upon the nation, was largely
If not entirely, prevented by the
same body Of voters, formerly Demo-
cratic. The campaign Of education
Of 1896 did not begin to make head
way until the country was furnished
the high example Of that assembly Of
patriotic Democrats who met In con-
vention in indianapolis. 1t 10 an
open secret that the Democrats repre-
sented by that convention did not
vote In the air, either in 1895 or in
1900, and the large Republican ma
jority 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 Re-
publican ticket.
"Some effort was made after the
election in 1900 to reorganize the
Democratic party. The true leaders
Of that party had been discredited
and retired. Mr.. Bryan insisted that
reorganization 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 II
we came in on our knees, clothed in
sackcloth and ashes and humbly sat
on the edge Of back seats. This kind
ly and hospitable invitation came too
late. We will not return. We have
come to stay with the Republican
party unconditionally, save in this
That the Republican party shall be
true to itself 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 public
office and have never sought one.
Party iealty is virtue and commend
able only SO long as the aims OF the
party are honest and patriotic and 1t
presents for the suffrage Of the voter
men worthy in their private charater
to represent those aims. 1t is not
enough to say that party discipline
iorbids 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 denomin-
ated the 'usuiruct Of party patron.
age
I'VE have every inducement to
stay 10 the Republican party now be-
cause the Democratic party, in ito
present attitude, 10 = party Of mega
tions, 4 party Of obstructionist''
while 1t is obvious to any iairminded
citizen that new and vast rssponsi.
bilities have been forced upon the
government, and that the Republican
party, under the providence Of Cod
is called upon Tor their solution. No
marty ran obtain. Aad no party long