The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-08
The Law Laid Down.

The prohibition love feast, held at
Topeka last Saturday, was grand sue
cess in its way. There was large
crowd, a great deal Of enthusiasm and
speeches from the three Stalwarts,
Judge TEACHER, ST. JOHN and y.
b. CAMPBELL. 1t is needless to say
that it wasn't a JOIN y. MARTIN meet
ing, and that pre-eminent straddler was
not 50 happy last Saturday as he is when
drinking book beer with the boys.
Judge TEACHER touched upon this
little peculiarly of JOINS after the
following fashion
MAY we not fervently hope that all
the political parties Of the state will
embOdy these two principles i'll their
platforms, namely: prohibition, the set
tied conviction of the state, aIEl no step
tObe taken seeking to reverse or disturb
this faith. and with these there should
come that other affirmatiOn-the mOdi
ficatiOn Of the present statute SO that
while its unnecessary friction as to
Druggists and Physicians may be re-
moved. its severity and certainty as to
the dram shops and all viOlatoTS of the
statute may be enhanced and intensified?
These are the fundamental questions
for good men to assert and demand
from every organization asking their
suffrage. No party should fear TO take
these positions, for they are first of all
right. Beyond this it may be set down
as a fact that any platform wanting
these features will never merit the re-
gard of the true men of the state.
EquivOcatiOn or silence will be a token
of disaster. So far as Kansas is con-
ceTned this temperance question is 10y
far the most conspicuous and important
one presented for its consideration.
Ex-GOv. ST. JOHN said that 75 per
cent. of the republican party of Kansas
are prohibitioniStS and that they must
dictate the policy of the party. He
also said that prohibition was a matter
of principle with him; but he does not
seem to be in much of a hurry to rep
resent Kansas at the head of a delega-
ton at the National Prohibition Con-
ventiOn which meets at Pittsburg, July
23d. His profession Of principle may
be taken for all it is worth.
Mr.. CAMPBELL lays down the law III
vigorous manner, and serves notice
upon those republicans who believe in
freedom of action, or like an occasional
glass of beer. that they must leave the
party, when they may be at liberty to
join the despised democrats, bag and
baggage. and hereafter be known as
''rummies' and ''whiskyites. He
says:
The republicans who oppose prohi-
bitiOn as the settled policy in Kansas
are in hopeless minority in the repub-
lican party and yet they are assuming
to dictate and control the policy of the
party. They are pushing and elbowing
themselves to the front this year. and
unless the men who respect the cOnSti-
tuition and laws of the state, attend the
primaries and assume the control they
are entitled to, these marplotS will make
shipwreck of the republican party in
Kansas and prohibition also.
The only way for us to avoid the ty-
ranny of a minority in the republican
party is to be wide awake to the Situa-
ton, attend the primaries and see that
men are selected as delegates to our
county convention who are true and
loyal to the principle of prohibition as
embodied in our constitution and laws.
Until this question is settled and set
tied right i'll this state the rule of the
majority in the party must be absolute.
Let us not deceive ourselves; this cry
of compromise and concession is a de-
fusion and a snare. We cannot COM
promise with this spirit of lawlessneSs.
1t must be subjected absolutely. 1t
has no honor andWill stand bynO agree
ment 1t is treason and deserves no
concession. 1t is rapidly drifting to
the old decayed hulk Of democracy
where it belongs. and the republican
party can get along without it. The
genuine moderate element: that hon
orable conservative class of Tepublicans.
Will remain in the ranks and accept the
logic of events, and they will be recog-
niZed and treated fairly by the majority
of the party. but the rule or ruin fac
ton in our ranks we do not need and
will make no concession to retain"
Seriously, the keynote of the fall
campaign has been officially sounded.
None but prohibitioniStS need apply to
the republican party. The time is
ripe, now, for our esteemed contempt
rarieS, the Gazette and. Chronicle. to take
a decisive position on this question. 1t
would be specially appropriate for them
to do SO now, since we understand that
MeSSrs. TEACHER, ST. JOIN. CAMP
BELL and others will, at no distant day,
pitch their tents in Abilene, the city
of the plains"