The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-01-20
THE GREAT sNuBBED.

Gov. 81. John has been snubbed again-this
il like Kansas weather; liable to extraordinary
freaks The denomination of st. John and the
adoption of the prohibitory amendment were
like one of our cyclones or billiards.. 1t was not
because public sentiment was in favor Of either,
but because they happened to come in the path
of the cyclone at the proper time, and were car
ried along by it. Perhaps the same thing would
not be done again in twenty yevrs. But st.
John imagined that il was his own immense pop
uIarity and influence that carried both himself
and she amendment through. He made jour
ney to the East, where he told how he had taken
God into partnership, and how lie had done this
and that, in starting and carrying to success the
temperance cause. God seems TO have been Of
no use in the arrangement. St. John simply
took Him in, as n matter of gracious eOndescen-
sion, to fatter and favor Him. The old maids
of the East took to displaying the portrait of
Gov st. John at their temperance meetings.
their tea-parties, and their baekbiting conclaves
He really began to think that he was tine centre
of the universe, and doubtless, in a short time,
had he not been set back, would have kicked
God out of the firm. The Kansas Legislature,
having been elected upon the ticket with him
and his amendment, and majority in favor of
the amendment, he took it for granted that they
belonged to him, and would be overjoyed to
dance whenever he whistled, and to come when
he called. Common usage, from the earliest
years, has been for an Executive to transmit his
message in writing to the two Legislative branch
es and has only been departed from rare and
extraordinary occasions. st. John deemed this
an extraordinary occasion. The two Houses
notified him that they were organized, and ready
10 receive any communication he had to trans
nit. He sent them notice to meet in joint
sion, when he would deliver his message in per-
son. He would graciously let his light shine
upon them all at once. The Senate fatty refused,
and the House got into a squaLble, which would
have resulted in a refusal, when the Governor
magnanimously sent the message in to the sepa-
rate Houses. 1t was a tremendous tumble from
his high horse. In his humility, he concluded
to let God remain in the firm for yet brief
season.
st. John has set his longing eyes upon the
United States Senate and expected to ride there
upon the temperance tide. But he has lost his
grip, and henccforth his star will be the wane.
A Legislature elected upon his own issue has
snubbed him, and he could not be elected Sena-
tor, if they had the doing of it. Another two
years, and he will have subsidized to his natural
position. In the next Legislature, he will not
rise much above scattering" barrel of rot
ten fish may shine and startle people, and excite
wonder, for a single night; but the next day
will reveal its true composition and properties,
and it will be eunceremOniously buried from sight.
The future that st. John has before him, is
easily predicted. He will become the saint of
strong minded but superanuated old women he
will become fanatic and orator at Sunday
school conventions; and his portrait, for n while,
will figure at temperance meetings, then be con-
signed to some cobwebbed garret or barn loft, or
be used to replace a broken sash in some wash
hOuse