Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-04

to in the Interest of Temperance
This was the Law in force at tie time of
the adoption of prohibition. In 1857 the
city OF Topeka, then but three years Of
age, adopted practical prohibition by
tnocking In the heads of the whieky
barrels, and emptying out some $3.50
worth Of liquors on the ground. My
friend, Col. c. K. Holiday wss the pres:r
dent OF the town company. and perhaps
aided in the sfsir, as the Topeka Tribune
then said the affair was "parti cipated in
by large number of our mos. pfomi.
nent and respectable citizens" But We
are told that prohibition will destroy the
Republican party and that it ought 70 be
eliminated from politi 9. The Republi.
can beirg the dominant party Is ra5.
ponsib.e for prohibition in this State.
and its enforcement II the laws are
not enforced and prohibition goes down,
in our Judgment the Republican party
will 90 down whit. So il Republicans
love the party, with all of its glory and
achievements, better than they do the
saloon, and desire to preserve il, the
only way to accomplish it lie 10 join IN AID
enforce the prohibition lars He is In favor of
eliminating temperance from the Doll.
tics Of the State; but the only way this
can bs done, in his judgment, is BY
enforcing the prohibition iaus. He would
enforce the laws and place prohibition
above and beyond all political parties in
this State, like it is in Maine, where it has
existed under legislative protection alone
fer thirty years, and no party dare to
assail 1t. This is the only way prohibition
will ever be eliminated from the politics
OF the S.a,e. The Republican who re-
fuses to aid in the enforcement of the
laws, and joins hands with the dis,oyal
nulliters in preventing the enforcement
of the same, is no friend of the Republic
can party, his pretentions 70 the contrary
notwithstanding.
1. is said that the Democrats party in
this State. is opposed to prohibition,
This, IS not true, there are two elements
in that party-one loyal, the other dis.
loyal. The loyal portion who loves the
Constitution and laws of the State more
than q saloon, headed by Martin, Bond,
Bennett and other honest, loyal Demo-
Gratis; while the other wing is led by
Click, Moonlight and otbers Of the came
sort. and have clasped hands with the
nuilifers and the saloons.
Prohibition is not partisan question,
but If supporting and sustaining The con.
stitution aud laws of my State is to des.
troy the Republican party then let it 90,
1t ought to die. Parties are made BY the
people, of the people, and for the people,
and ough! to be worth saving.
Taking it all in all, prohibition has
been quite success. 1t has been met
with strong and persistent opposition.
The whole rum power, with large sums of
money, aided by the official influence of
the executive ofthe State, have waged
q powerful and unrelenting war upon it.
When criminals have been convicted
for violating the law, they have received
executive clemency and been turned loose
While the constitution vests the pardon
ing power in the Governor of the State,
yet it is under ouch regulations and
as provided by law" In the
absence of legislative authority, the Gov
error has no power 70 pardon or COM
mute the punishment of a criminal.
The Governor committed the punish
nent of Murphy::of Pottowatomie county,
by reducing the fine from one hundred
dollars, the minimum punishment pre-
scribsd by law, TO five dollars. The
Statute restricts the Judge and the execu-
tive alike. The Judge could not have
imposed fine Of five dollars, neither
could the Governor reduce it to five
dollars by communication. If the Judge
had imposed fve-hundred dollars, the
NAHUM punishment for the first offense
'or good cause, the fine nj yht have been
reduced to one hundred by Communication.
But the Governor, in the face
Of the law, which declared criminal
should be fined for the first
offense, not more that five hundred dol
ars, nor less than one hundred dollars, said
by bis act, that although the defendant
vas guilty under the law, he should only
% punished by q fine of five dollars.
The Governor would 70. have Inter-
cred in this matter, lift had not been
\ whisky case. 1t was his prejudice to
he law that Induced him to interfere.
This he cannot do without prostituting
he pardoniDg power. This constituted
! mslfasnce in the law for which he
,ught to be punished. But there is no
legislature to punish him during his
ERIN of Office, for the Legislature that
anne il with him, goes out at the same
ine, unless he calls special session,
which he will not do. But the signs are
adorable that the Governor is alarmed.
he has gone to writing cards in defense
# his acts, in pardoniag those criminals.
n Murphy's case he says, "he would
lot have iDterfersd but for the fact that
ne petition was signed by two Method
st preachers, and their entire congrega-
ions in Westmorland." His admiration
or Methodist preachers is so strong,
hat when they signed the petition, it
,ecame overpowering, and he was COM
,elled to do it. But these facts were cor.
ect, except that only one Methodist
Preacher lived in Westmofland, and
leither he nor.any other preacher signed
he petition.
Again that he pardoned Mrs. Brown
# Marion county, an act of justice, che
icing poor widow, with large family
o support, and was unjustly convicted;
which was correct, except that che WIS
ct a widow, her husband was in
sill at the same time, for the same Of
ense; and she was justly and properly
so says the Democratic County
Attorney of that county, who prosecuted
he case, and voted for Click for Gov
rnor last fall. That he pardoned the
'oor one armed soldier in Barton county
VLich was correct, only the man has
ever been soldier.
The issue is not merely question Of
M pvobi hit on huk of lou