The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-02-27
sr, JoHN AND TEMPERANCE.

$780, @-~r-~ = ~F-l-r- 49, I
The Wichita (Kansas) Eagle has made
an onward move in the politics of the 1
state. and calls on Gov. st. John 10 drop |
side issues and devote himself TO the in
terests OF the party thai elected him TO
the high office he now holds.-kansas
City Journal.
The "side issue referred to above is
GOV. s. Johns active work for temper
ance. 1t is claimed, and correctly, too,
that the governors fem seTance work is a
matter personal to him, and that
the Republican party cannot be,
and is not held responsible
for his course on this question. Here
the Eagle takes issue with the governor
and his friends, who claim 10 be entirely
loyal TO the Republican party, and as
serts that the governors personal course
must bring dissension TO the ranks of the
Republicans. II believes that through
out the state there is already an under
ground swell of protest that will be
disastrous.
We are not at all fanatical on the tenn
perance question, taking what we think
/ DIACllNhl anu wow va AOf -
should be handled. We confess to a lit
tic surprise at the Eagles article, because
il goes on further with fsharp and raih-
er bitter criticism on the governor on
the assumption that he is endeavoringto
commit the Republican party TO his
temperance platform. We do not under
stand that he is attempting any such
thing. In fact, we know he has too
much sense 10 undertake such course
In this particular we believe the Eagle
is very unjust in its criticisms ON the
governor. II we mistake not, he is or
record in the most emphatic manner il
opposition to making temperance par
ty question.
He has been known for years as an &C
tive temperance worker. He was know
as such when he was elected governor
and did not deny il or seek 10 cover VI
his sentiments. He is now holding
= meetings, by iarifatioH IF the people, il
5 various places, and generally, so far a
we have observed, on Sabbath evenings
Has he right TO do this' or does til
!. Eagle take the position that because he
governor he must keep his mouth shut o
, a question Of so much importance to I'll
people-one that goes in its influence {
the hearthstones of society? In an il
:. consistent sentence in its article the FL
\ gle itself seems not only TO answer gu
d question, but to entirely overthrow ii
IL t. a,re
# "As n Republican, believing that I'll
political principles laid down by the n
publican party will best conserve the II
. terest of the whole people as nation "
If do not stop to inquire whether individl
q al members are for tobacco or against T.
haeco, for or against all forms of intox
eating liquors, for oragainst orthodoxy
&c And yet the Eagle condemns st. job
! because he is against all forms of il
toxicaiing liquors, "and has the manhoc
TO say so, Notwithstanding he is X
publican 'to the manor born"
Politicians are generally timid ON sue
. questions when they are prominently b
fore the public, and dodge them. It
such a rare sight to see "A man occupyir
so important position as st. John doe
~ squaring himself and striking stalwa
o. blows for what his conscience teach
lie him is right, irrespective of the questic
le of his own political success, that we a
u, u. rather proud of him. Henry Clay sa
1t was better 10 be right than to be PR
u ident, and ST. John evidently thin
. it's better To do what he can for the eau
| 81 -. ,nJ than IL
es truckle To the rum interest and flo
% along IN the popular current for the sa
of Office He must be for temperance
against il, and finding his conscien
will not allow him TO be for whisky,
he has the manhood TO take square pc
of tion ON the side he thinks right, and
he use his talents and opportunities
d: further the interests of right. Were
ut to do less he would be poltroC
st and would so be denounc
nd ing his course. He sees the army of
IS. 900 men, yea 10000, going pellmell
~ ruin in Kansas from whisky; he sees
'is 600 inmates of our Penitentiary, Sc
Nv there mostly from whisky; he sees
De- millions of money squandered on wills
sh in our own state; he sees the innoc,
~ women and children who suffer from {
rs traffic, the decentralization that folio
re- it everywhere. which facts nobody
TN Temps to deny or defend, and he belle
~ his voice and his work can help To 81
in the devastation. While we may not ag
III with him entirely, we firmly believe
ip- is conscientious in his course.
'a would rather uphold his hands than
ras pull him down. We say, God sp
ers him, and that the question of whether
ne will be governor at the hands of
7ri Republican party, or any other pan
3D. sinks 10 incompatible insignifican
All besides discharging God-given dl
eX- The honor he will receive from the |
"3 pie for discharging his duty fearles
as he sees it, VIII be ten-fold more 81
fo, factory, and more lasting than to re
re the highest pinnacle of political fl
ne through trucking and cowardice.