The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28
4 sAEGUI1E BOURBON.
AIr. Clicks Views on the Political STU.
alton In Kansas.

alton In Kansas
The views of GoVernor-elect Click
upon the political situation in this STATE
are set forth in the following Letter
which is in response 60 certain inter
negatives propounded to him by the edi-
Tor of the New York Mail and Express
ATCHIsoN, KAN, Dec. 5-DEAE SIR:
Your favor of Nov. 18th. referring 70
the political situation ia Kansas. aud
asking certain questions Ms 10 The fu-
lure policy of the Democratic party ol
tRis stale and nation, WAS duly received,
only press Ol correspondence, etc, pre-
vented n reply "a this date.
FIrst-The result ia Kansas, l. e., the
defeat of Governor ST John, in the esii-
ihaIiUn OF shreWd observers, is atirihut-
ed especially 10 TWO causes, namely. OPP
position 10 the ''pfohibition ISSUE" and
the transportation question.
OF these, the we'll known radical
views OF Governor 81. john upon the
prohibition issue, Iav0ring extreme
sumptuary legislation, probably IN.
flnenced the most conservative Republi-
cans TO yote for the Democratic nnmi-
nee, while the interest manifested by
the body Of the voters IN the tTanSporia-
lion question, and the fact generally
known that Gov. st. John sustained
close relations with the railroad corpe-
rations, and WAS actively supported Hy
them for governor in tue RI cent cam
paign, undoubtedly had "A powerful ei-
iecl, especially ia the ruEal districts. in
changing the votes OF Republicans upon
the head of the ticket.
In regard To the future politics of
Kansas, it may be confidently asserted
that from this date this will be debata-
bic state.
There will be several causes for a
substantial increase in the Democratic
vote in Kansas in the future.
Among these would mention that in
The past the great preponderance of the
Republican vote and the absolute COR
troll of the politics of the state by that
party has prevented thousands who came
10 Kansas as Democrats from an
nouncing their political faith, or even
from voting the Democratic ticket.
These voters, with the German element,
numbering 10000 to 1900 voters, as q
class, in the future will vote with us,
and in many instances will prove active
workers.
Again, the question of prohibition.
which has been made part and portion
of the Republicans creed, by being in
coTporated in the last platform, is likely
to prove a vexiHg question, leading
probably TO Il division of the party. An
Irrepressible conflict upon this issue be-
tween the two elements of the Republi-
can party has been InaUgurated- A
prohibition mass convention has been
called by ST. John and his followers, To
convene in Topeka ut an early dat.
Great preparations are being made
Tor this gathering, which will bc at
tended by distinguished advocates OF
prohibition from all parts of the union.
That q new political party, with The
prohibition principles as its corner stone,
will then and there be inaugurated. Is
highly probable; in which case the Re
publican party of Kansas would be
equally divided, neither element being
sufficiently strong TO carry the state.
Shrewd political observers thus fore
cast the future, reasoning from purely
local causes, while the growing proba-
bility OF q Democratic president in
1884, would naturally stimulate and add
strength to the Democracy of Kansas.
Having thus written at length con-
corning the political situation in Kansas,
time will permit me only britly tu reply
t. your several interrOgations.
Second-The recent splendid viCto-
rics achieved all along the line by the
Democratic party, extending in almost
uubroken succession from ocean To ocean
are undoubtedly the surest possible in-
dicatIOn of the general desire upon the
part of the voters of this nation for u
change OF the national administration.
That the Democratic party will make
the next president OF the United States
is accepted as q probability of the future
by all classes.
Third-Respectinga proper platform
for the national Democracy in the resi-
'irIstiAl ampaign two years Thence, an
ImporIant plank should be - general re-
durlion of the tariff tor revenue only,
Increasing the free list To the greatest
possible extent There should be re-
muVal of the internal revenue tax upon
n great many articles entering into the
daily wants of the community. Upon
whisky and tobacco the revenue tax
should be retained. Another plank
should be unlimited coinage of silver
and the continuance of the issue of gold
and silver certificates. The present
vulume of greenbacks should be- re-
tanned. The national policy should be
the gradual exlinguishing of the nation
a. drb,.
Respecting internal improvements
care should be taken 10y congress That
appropriations should be made only for
the Improvement of the more Important
rivers and harbOrs, thus preventing tile
squandering of the public monty in
questionable schemes to enrich class
OF plundereTs who are seeking tai live
Off the national government
1t is important that our great Va s'ern
waterways should he improved and
made navigable at all seasons, so that
nur agrIculturIsIs wuuld be able Ia eef
their prOducPs-fo the markets al The
world without b ing wholly dependent
upon railroads and forced TO submit TO
the eXIoTtions of these monopolies Re
GREETING the haste which compcls The
brevity in the expression of the above
views, and thanking you for your in
terest manifested in Kansas poiIr!cs, /
remain, with sentiments of esteem.
Your obedienl servant,
a.,