The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-27
Kansas State Temperance Union.


While the REFLECTOR believes that
ST. JOHN made a mistake in attending
the annual session Of the State Tenn
perance Union, held at Topeka last
week, it is yet Of the opinion that the
meeting wouldn't have been half so in
teresting and breezy if he hadn't been
there. He and his followers wcro
thoroughly snU bbed and even insulted
by the august body of morality, virtue
and sObriety. The row was started by
the third resolution. which read:
Resolved, That as long as the attitude OF the
two parties in this state remain unchanged, we
are unalterably opposed TO the formation or
maintenance Of an Independent Prohibition
party, and we cordially invite those who have
separated from Us to return and act with Us in
the future.
This resolution was objected to by
Mr.. ST. JOHN, Mr.. NJ. D. TENNEY and
others as proscriptive, and quite a
heated debate was the result. Mr..
TENNEY said that he had fought for
the right to vote as he pleased, and he
meant to maintain that right. Another
member wanted to know if it was the
intention to OStracise the 5000 men
who supported prohibition in the last
canvass. Mr.. ST. JOHN said:
AS PrOhibitiOnist l am willing to
unite with every temperance Organiza-
fion, every temperance man and woman
in this state and in the whole country,
for the suppression Of the dram shop,
but if | have to surrender my right as
an American citizen, and vote accord
ing to the dictates of the Republican
party, or any other party, I'll step out.
| have yet to hear of a reason why |
should not vote as | please, and | pro-
pose to vote as my conscience tells me
50 long as | have power and WELD the
ballot. [Cries of ''BoSh"I Gentlemen
you may call it "bOSh'' but it is princi-
pie. 1t is the same principle, the same
conscience which led me to vote for
Fremont in 1856 and men said it was
"bOSh' then. God was behind the
work then, and he is behind it yet.
They may parade the streets and hang
Us in effigy to the telegraph poles and
burn us in effigy, but they cannot burn
up conscience. For me, as an Ameri-
can, there is no fear Of any party, no
more than there was when voted for
Fremont. There was a God then and
there is a God now, and to Him shall
look and know that the Prohibition
party of this country will triumph in
the end.
After further remarks the last clause
of the resolution was changed so as to
read, land we would like all to cooper
ate with u.s. Then the convention
settled down to hum-drum and uninter-
esting action.
This prohibition fight which the re-
publicanS have on hand doesn't concern
the REFLECTOR nor the democratic
party Of Kansas. All during the late
the republicans kept shouting:
Let's settle this question within our
own lines" To get in shape to do this
the reSubmiSSiOniSt was made to be-
lieve that Mr.. MARTIN S election would
insure the resubmission of the prohibi-
tory amendment, and the prohibition
st was made to believe that his cleo
lion would strengthen and make per-
the principal of prohibition.
The JANUs-faced policy won an over
victory. The party was uni
ed and Mr.. MARTIN elected. Now
comes the settling" process. How
viii it be settled?
Judging from the abuse which is be-
ng heaped upon ST. JOHN and his fol
overs, one would be led to believe that
was Oh top. If it is, the
candidate for Governor two
ears hence will poll more than five
INES 5000 votes, and ST. JOINS ma
iOnal party will come to the front in
S6S in vigorous and healthy state.
IN with the fight. Democrats have
zen kindly relieved from action.