The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-01-12
A pRcHlBIrIoHIsr Or 4 DEMOCRAT.

APRCHIBITY0NIsr OR 4 DEMOCRAT.
A certain writer of websteriau proper
tons, whose sheet circulates at the connu-
ence OF the Blue and the Kaw, gentleman
n often criticised for his crankiness a. COM
mended for his wisdom, yet whose sobriety
IL habitual, startI,s the political writers aud
party manipulators OF Kansas by the declar-
alton that whoever succeeds st. John in the
gubernatcrial chair. he will not be Repub-
.lican, or words to that effect. The computer
Of possible political composites has. by his
prophecy, evoked the laugh OF scorn. Po-
litical problems are ~ certainly soluble by
the application Of mathematical science rs
are any propositions in which krowr guam
titles are given. Sentiment and buncombe
are unreliable factors in close contests in
which are involved sharply defined priuci.
plies. In a certain, and not improbable, con-
tingency the predictions Of our long-hsired,
widowed friend at the mouth OF the Blue.
win most certainly be verified. The present
lead OF the Republican party Of Kansas tends
inevitably TO the disaster he indicates. Let
rs figure:
The vote OF Kansas, ia round numbers, is
100000, OF which the Republicans cast l2l..
900, and the Greenbackers 10000. The bal
ance of the vote. or about thirty-fve per cent.
Of the whole vote is cast by the Democratic
party. Six sevenths of the entire Democrat
ic vote may be safely set down as being OPP
posed, utterly and individually, to all forms
OF sumptuary legislation. In the same cate
CORY will be found one out Of every three
Republicans, and one out every two Green
hackers or Nationalists. Unite this element
ofthc three parties aud It will have an undis-
puted majority OF all the votes in the State.
Any reader doubling the correctness Of the
estimates given and who cannot satisfy him
self by observation that the per cents. named
are true, may be convinced by consulting the
returns Of the last State election. In making
up such estimates il must not be forgotten
that in the vote On prohibition, which car.
ried by seven thousand and odd, 5000 who
voted did not cast ballot one way or the
other upon the question, and the strong
probability is that about fifty two per cent.
OF the vote Of this State, in certain contin-
gencies would be found opposing the Repub-
lican party.
Now as to the declaration that the next
Governor of Kansas will not be Republic
can: As before asserted, two thirds Of the
: Republican party are Temperance men. The
temperance element is so strong that in the
event of that being made an issue within the
party, prohibition candidates, rs such, will
be nominated and placed on platform with
prohibition plank, in which case the fight
win be sharply defined as prohibition and
auti-prohibition. There will, in fact, be no
Republication or Democracy in the contest,
which will be the closest ever witnessed In
the State, with = majority OF one or two per
cent. OF the States vote, in the opening OF
the campaign, against the man nominated as
aprohibitionist.
For these and other reasons have we op-
posed all moves looking towards making the
question OF temperance party or political
issue. There will be a strong effort put forth
to force the Republican party Of Kansas to
this attitude, but il its controlling Spirits
are wise the scheme will be nipped in the
bud.
In conclusion, in our judgment it will
make no difference how strong temperance
ticket the Republican party puts in the field,
20 long as il 10 nominated as . Republican
ticket, it will be elected by the usual major.
ity. A recognized prohibition candidate for
Governor will make no difference in the re.
suit. IL he be nominated NJ n straight Repub.
licxn ssd not forced upon the party by the
convention ~ prohibitionist. great ma
jority of the Republican party being in favor
OF temperance, candidates known to be OF
that stripe will add strength to the ticket,
but the drawing Of the prohibition line
by convention would prove disastrous,
and for the reasons and by the majorities
given or course, it would be just as un'
wise Tor the Republicans TO nominate an anti.
prohibtionist, as such. Therefore must we
condemn the ideas and policy Of certain lead
ing papers in Kansas who, by their course,
seem to court contest in which inevitable
defeat must follow.