The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-09-07
THE TROUBLE AT IMP0RIA.

THE TROUBLE AT IMP0RIA.
As nearly as we could ascertain from the
thoroughly Disguised and disheartened Dem
oeiats passing through Atchison yesterday
on their way home from Emporia, and from
the still sicker Democrats Of our city, the
bottom facts concerning the hoo doc at En-
poria are as follows:
There were three clements in the conven-
ton. The first and largest faction favored a
resolution demanding re-submission Of the
prohbitory amendment; declarations that
the present prohibtory law is ''unwise. OPP
pressivc and tyranncai in its provisions;"
that it is "a hindrancc and obstruction to the
growth of true temperance - and that it has
been and still is the cause of neighborhood
quarrcls, contentious and strife, and Of fraud,
corruption, perjury and Violence" and de-
manding 'sueh amendments. changes and
notifications of the law AS will make it ef-
fectiyc and useful for the purposes for which
it was designed;'' and square resolution
that 'fidelity TO the constitution and obedi-
ence TO the laws made in pursuance thereof
is the first duty of good citizenship" that
coincidence TO law shields from anachy and
protects from lawless violence and confu-
sion - and that 1--WE do and shall insist and
demand of all public officers, fair, honest
| and impartial enforcing of every law of the
| land, not for political purposes or reasons,
nor to crafty the c!amor and mandlin senti-
mentality of bypocrites, dsmagogues and
shallow pretenders, but because patriotism,
| oil spryafiOn de-
mands it and the safety and happiness of the
yeope requires it,
The second faction was made up of bitter
nti-prohbitionists. 1t was led by Tom
Moonlight, of LeayenwOrth, and George W.
| Click, of Atchison, and its sentiments were
embodied in the majority report of the COM
miltee on resolutions, published yesterday
morning.
| The third faciion-a very small one-was
made up OF prohibitionists, including Van
Bennett. of Cherokee, and Hudson, of viii
son. Ii, however, united with the tirst-named
faction. which submitted the minority report
| on resolutions.
| She minority report was written by John
Martin, of Topeka, who was the first choice
| VI S'i wv hh'.oii's VI NV 'Vh'S"-
! ton for governor. MIR. Martin cmphatically
declared, to every one, that he preferred not
to be II candidate: that he could make the
canvass only at great personal sacrifice; and
that he would under no circumstances accept
| the nomination unless the platform embodied
such declarations as he would be willing 10
endorse and defend.
/ ba,, ba .,.a .r,l,,nitfpd the
convention. by vote of Us to l2S-iifty ma
jority- substituted the minority for the ma
jority report. and the question then REQUIRED
on the adoption of the former. Mr.. Click
moved 20 insert in the sixteenth resolution,
in the clause demanding of all public officers
"a iaig. honest aud impartial enforcement of
every law OF the land the word '.just" be-
fore the word .'law." This was finally with
drawn. but the words ..honest and impair
| tial'' were, on motion, stricken out. The
section thanking the President for his veto
of the river and harbor bill was stricken out,
as was also section ten, with its seven sub
| divisions: and section fourteen was amend
ed TO read, "that until the women of the
State demand the right OF suffrage, we are
opposed to thrusting the duty upon them. +"
Thus amended, the minority report was
adopted.
The convention then proceeded to nomi-
nate ticket, headed by Hon. John Martin
| Cor governor, and committee was appointed
to inform that gentleman of his nomination.
Mr. Martin had, however, ascertained how
| the platform had been amended, and objected
| to the striking out of the words ''honest and
impartial in the resolution demanding the
enforcement OF all laws. lie informed the
committee that he could not accept noIn-
nation on such a platform; that il could not
be defended by any law-loving and law-abid-
ing citizen in canvass; and that he must
decline the nomination. This decision he
stated to the convention, shortly afterwards,
in his speech. Thus the most popular man
| in the Democratic ranks was forced to retire
by the adoption of a platform which he could
not endorse, because it eyades Il declaration
in favor OF the enforcement of law. 1t is al
so stated that Mr.. Martin found the conYen-
ton so divided in sentiment, and the antago-
nisms so bitter, that he feared the same lack
of harmony would be manifest in the cam
vass.
II is always safe to bank on Democratic
stupidity. We have confidently anticipated
just such muddle as has resulted at Empo-
ria. The Democratic party had, for the first
time in many. many years, an opportunity to
gain some votes. There was very serious
dissatisfaction in the Republican ranks. 1t
is useless 10 disguise the fact that many Re-
publicans were angry and discontented,s some
| with the platform and more with the head of
| the ticket. The nomination of a popular
Democrat on any reasonably moderate and
sensible platform would have induced hun
| dreds Of these men to support the Democrat
| ic nominee. But the amazing genius of the
Democratic party for laundering has again
been conspicuously illustrated. The things
of all others it should not have done, it did.
The things of all others it should have done,
it omitted to do. Its platform is a mess of
sush; its candidate is malignant Bourbon,
who has a. he says, lived in hopeless de-
spondency during the two decades that have
most exalted the American name, golrified
the American Union, and given nnexampled
growth, prosperity and power to the Ameri-
can republic.
The canvass, henceforth, will be devoid Of
interest. The Republican ranks will move
on, solid and enthusiastic. to an oyerwhelm-
ing victory. Better fifty years Of Europe
than cycle OF Cathay," says Tepnyson.
Better hundred years of st. John than two
of such Bourbonism as Geo. W. Click would
give us. The Republican party Of Kansas
will roll up. this fall. its old-tmc majority.
The campaign will be mere formaiity. We
shall ''go through The notions" but the re-
suit is already settled, just as certainly as if
the votes had been already canyassed.-
Champion.
OUR CAPITAL LETTER.
TOPEKA, September .. 1882.
10 tie Editor Of tie Eagle: