The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-02-19
ST. JOHNS COURSE DOES HURT

Several Journals ia the State, noticca.
bly, the Commonwealth, are condonne
Gov. ST. Johns ofiense against the Re
publican party by claiming that his tcn.
perance crusrdc is a matter which affects
him only and that il in no wise concerns
the Republican party. We have been
surprised that none of the leading daily
Republican papers of the State have en-
tered protest, ihc direct sui of the
so-called personal policy inaagurated by
him if successfully maintained mnSt
lead TO discussions in the party and uDr
Seemly strife in lis conventions. A.
the head og The official state roll, as the,
IN certain sense, recognized Standard
bearer Of the Republican party of Kan
sas. ST. John cannot divest himself D,
party responsibility. and il is folly to
declare otherwise. Already through
out the State there is an underground
swell Of protest which. as the day OF
threatened disaster approaches, viii sis
lence all else and sweep away all oppo-
.ition. The Republican party NJ ans n
code of living political principle, I'M
tainted by isms and unniao! with
sumptuary. religious OF moral questions,
per Sc. For one. SO far a his lolIical
status il concerned. we rass not what a
mans religious or moral beliefs ma. be-,
If he sdheres Ia the principles of ia"
Republican party We take him by the
hand, be he a Bishop Simpson or Il Bob
IngersOll. but in the parry We want nei-
thcr the orthodoxy of the one Gor the
infidelity of the other. As Repab'i-
can believing that the political princi=
Piles laid down By The Republican pariy
will best conserve the interest of the
wholc people as Il Nation we do not
stop 10 inquire whether individual
members are for tobacco ~ against to-
bacco. for or against all forms 81 D.oN-
icating liquors. for or agaiGs, Drthc.
doxy. Gov. st. John may deny, and 50
may his mistaken friends, bal have we
work. and are bel HcpuDlie9ns all over
the State drcading his attempt to con-.
anti the party in the next convention
which. IL successful, womld inevitably
rupture the organization that has
made Kansas the bright particular star
of all the galaxy: " hat would To-
thought OF n Baptist Governor who
shoul attempt IL force the party TO IN
corporate in lis platform the declaration
that immersion is essential to salvation.
or a PRESBYTERIAN Governor who would
attempt to make the Republican party
swallow infant daiDuaI.oa. or IA Meth
odist Governor who would demand =
plank setting forth that backSlding rs
possible? The truth or ialsiiy of AL
these have no necessary connection with
political party principles. neither have
the questions Of whisky. TOBACCO, NOR !
prostitution, ccl.bacy. or any |
other such evil.
st. Johr is the Governor of Kansas,
the Republican Governor, and As such |
is. or should be. held anicssbie 10 ihe |
party who placed upon hln 20 great
n. Ii he loves personal hob
by more than such an honor. or cstec,ns
as greater. some moral question, than
the principles of the party thai e.evat-
cd him. let him say so. aud not only 50 /
say, bu, SO act. and no, longer attempt
To cmbarrass an organization that has
made him all that he is to-day, at least
all that he Is more than the average law
yer ia the State. As a State we hasG
borne the bur,ben of his negro hurraa
and stood up like young stalwaris un-
der his vast volume Of exodusters while
he received all the aiery. even 10
the mention Of his name ia connections
with the Vice Presidency, and now. 10:
one. we think the time has come 10 stay
he knife that is splitting open the goose
hat has laid such splendid golden eggs
Tor Gov. ST. JOHN.