The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-08-19
THE CRITICAL MOMENT has AR
RIVED.


so much talked offor months past. Next Wednes-
day, the 18th, six delegates and six aiternates
are to be elected to the State Convention. The
delegate ticket which we print IN another
column is composed of men who, if elected, VIII
vote against the denomination of Gov. ST. John.
The question is TO be decided, whether an aeei-
dental public officer shall be allowed TO force up
on the Republican party an issue not recognized
by the party, and compel it TO carry HIM and his
hobby The time to act is in the election OF del
egates, and thus save the loss to the party that
would result from bitter fight on the part of
large number of its voters against portion of
the ticket. Il will not do to allow the COnven-
tiOn to go by default, with the expectation of
beating the candidate at the polls; for that can
hardly he done in Kansas, although the nOmina-
tion would cause the loss of thousands of votes.
Here in Kansas, we find the highest official in
the State backed by an organization outside of the
Republican party, attempting to make the party
the instrument in carrying out hobby upon
which he Is a amonOmaniac, which is no less an en-
terprise than setting themselves up rs the guard
ians of other peoples tastes and apetites and at
tempting to dictate to others what they shall
eat and drink. If whiskey were the sole object
aimed at, there might not be much cause for
opposition; but the endorsement of st. John and
the adoption of his policy mean the extreme
length of fanaticism to which the hobby is car
ried, wherever such men have been allowed to
gain foothold. Whenever they commence reg
ulating mems eating and drinking by law,
they will set up their own tastes the only
trae standard, and make il crime or a misde
meanor for any one to have a different taste-or,
l,,I.. :. /. alyax-.
go, bnt that fayorite and refreshing beverage,
beer, will keep it company. Even the surplus
apples, which our farmers will have in their
orchards will have to be fed to the hogs, or per-
mitted to rot; for these men have already placed
cider in the catalogue of intoxicating liquors.
Wine of course, will he hustled out with rush.
All over Doniphan County, the farmers who have,
after years of labor, established vineyards, and
are just beginning TO reap the benefits of their
industry, will be compelled to abandon their hill
sides to their primevial barrenness, pursue
their industry under false pretenses-will have
sneak around it ny lying, and say they are man
ufacturing only for mechanical and medicinal
purposes. They cannot manufacture for the pur-
pose of selling outside of the State, for the pro-
posed law is very positive in its language, pro-
hibiting the manufacture as well the sale of
liquor in the State, for other than mechanical OF
medicinal purposes. Let it he understood that
the law is aimed only at the industries of the
State-the owners of vineyards and wine-press-
es Ofdistilleries and breweres and at the dealers
who pay thousands of dollars into the public
revenues, in the way of licenses. These indus
tries must be swept away, and the thousands of
laborers to whom they give employment must
l,a inf iufo nfh al
ready overcrowded channels, while the persons
whom the fanatics pretend to be concerned for,
remain untouched. We mean the liquor drink
ers. 1t will require something else, not yet con-
ceiyed, to reach the pretended object of this pro-
hibitory crusade; for while Kansas manufactures
are destroyed, and revenue from license abolish
cd, the dealers of neighbOring States will profit
by it, and every private house and cellar will be
stocked with liquors, Us is the case now in Kan
sas towns where anti-license prevails Drug
stores and other establishments authorized to
sell only for "mechanical and medicinal purpos-
es,r will take the place of saloons, and reap the
benefit, without paying the license.
We believe the people of Kansas will break
the back of this prOhibitOry amendment. But
the way to facilitate that end, and at the same
time rescue the Republican party from the base
uses of cheap demagOgues, is to break the back
of the contemplate upstart who is using all the
weight of his official position to force it upon
the people. The Republicans of Doniphan COun-
ty will have an opportunity to do their part,
next Wednesday. If any man is deceived this
time, il will be his own fault. The issue is
squarely presented. The men who come around
whining about "Cliques" and Rings" or hold
ing nm his own old sores TO he ayenred is work