Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-02-09
KANSAS LETTER,
T. WINTER. THE GREAT FUTURE
OF KANSAS. &C,

This has been as remarkaOle winner
sofar, as was last winter, with the ditfer-
ence that this one instead OF being re-
markable on account of its severity, is so
because of its warmth and pleasantness.
For the past month the weather has been
beautiful in the extreme. "Sunny Kan
sas" is no misnomer after all. We have
had but little cold. the thermometer in
dicating five degrees below zero on our
coolest morning and what little we have
had has contained but short time. Cen
orally it has not been so cold but that
overcoats have been luxury rather than
a necessity, and frequently the fires have
been forgotten and left to go out because
they were not needed. In fact, this is
certainly a "Kansas winter" il there ever
was one. The majority of the people pus
in the time in working at their spring
blowing and many of them have it done.
But perhaps our mild weather is to be
explained by the theory of that Cleveland
astrono ner (Ohio man again to the front
you see) who says that the world has
turned over and that Kansas is now in
the Torrid Zone, and that in few years
oranges and bananas will be staple
production of this favored cline, and al
lligators will swim il the waters of the
"Big Muddy" and birds of paradise will
fit through the dense forests OF mahogo-
nv and rosewood that will cover our
broad prairies, while from the tall feath-
cry tops of clumps of palm trees, chatter
ing monkeys will pelt the passing traveller
with cocoanuts and bread fruit.
Kansas certainly then, if not now, will
be the utopia" of which the poets sing,
the 'Eldorado" towards which all, with
out respect to rank, wealth or previous
condition of ..servitude, will turn their
weary steps and hasten to reach this land
of rest-and alligators.
One scarcely needs prophetic genius to
surely predict that then Kansas will be
the social, political and intellectual center
of the United States, as it is now the
geographical. The capital will be here
TOO. and the Kansans will then no longer
have to maintain their weary watch
around the post that marks the one spot
in this country, where as every true Kan
san says, should be located the capitol
building, viz: the geographical center.
But in the meantime, we do not propose
to put on any airs but to go on in the old
way attending to our own business, and
assisting other people to attend to theirs,
taking events as they come. and living
as all good Kansans do without fear and
without reproach.'
OF course the great topic of interest
here is the temperance question. Kansas
seems to be the battle ground where the
great questions of the century are settled.
First the slavery and now the temperance
question is made the object of battle.
And as Kansas disposed of the first, so
will she dispose of the second. First by
vote, and then by force of arms was sla-
yery driven out; and now, first by vote
and then by force of law will whisky be
driven out. The temperance men have
zone to work with will, and to-day one
can scarcely take up paper, but be will
read of convictions, fines and imprison-
ments of saloon keepers. Salina has es-
tablished stone pile for their benefit be-
sides asking them to contribute several
thousand dollars to the public treasury.
In most of the towns of Kansas the ga
loonists that have not already gone are
making ready to go, and some of them
are not "staying upon the order of their
going" either.
In Butler county over five hundred
dollars have been collected in fines since
May 1st. One druggist who had per-
init was convicted of selling for other than
lawful purposes, also one physician was
fined for prescribing liquor, when the
patient was not sick. Public opinion is
in favor of the enforcement of the law,
numerous stories to the contrary not
withstanding. The State Grange which
met few days ago, passed strong reso.
lutions in support of Gov. st. John, and
favoring the enforcement Of the law.
The Leavenworth Times strong opposer
of the temperance movement, admits
that the law is generally observed ex-
cept in the large cities; and that drunk
eness has not increased since the act took
effect. The ".Standdrd," of the same
city holds that prohibition is total fail
ure, and that more whisky is drank than
ever before; 80 you see that the force of
the whiskyites are divided in opinion.
It is my opinion that the man who was
fined three thousand five hundred dollars
and set to work in the stone yard is pref.
ty we'll convinced that the law is some
thing more than dead letter.
The action of the students of the uni,
ve 81 has attracted much comment,
and, among saloon men and their friends
much adverse criticism. But have not
heard of any of the temperance people
finding fault with them. On the con.
trary, as I mentioned in my last letter,
the faculty of the University support the
movement, and the chief business en-
in Lawrence signed paper heartily in
dorsiny it.
]t true that some uncharitable peo
pie (perhaps it would be better to say