The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-17
Democratic State Convention.

In another column viii be found the
call for a democratic state convention
to meet at Topeka, May 26th, for the
purpose of selecting eighteen delegates
to the Chicago convention.
The convention will elect four dele
gates and four altenateS at large, and
each congressional delegation will elect
two delegates and two altemates. 1t
is highly important that the democrats
Of this county should comply with the
suggestions embodied in the call. An
important campaign is to be fought,
and harmony, prCmptnesS in action and
enthusiasm should characterize the
democratic party. None recognize this
more than democrats themselves, and
the esprit de corps OF the party is such as
will make give a good account of itself.
Probably more important than any
thing else to the democrats of Kansas,
is the calling of the Convention for the
nomination OF state officers.
The actions and traditions Of the dem
ocratic party unequivOcally commit It'll
favor of the resubmissiOn of the pro-
hibitory amendment to the constitution
of the State, and the party, in the COM
ing campaign, will declare itself unmis-
takably in favor of reSubmisSion. This
issue is to be made plain, square and
direct so far as the democratic party
is concerned.
Having accepted this direct issue, it
is the duty Of the democratic party to
assume the offensive and force the fight.
The republican party, cowardly to de-
gree, has shirked, evaded and disgraced
the question while claiming to be its
especial friend and champion. TOhOld
the prohibition vote, the republicans
will attempt TO straddle the issue this
fall as they have done since 1880. They
will endeavor to satisfy the voter 10y
simply declaring for the enforcement of
law! Great Caesar. for three years
they have made that declaration, but |
every term of every District Court dur
ing that time has been full of whisky |
trials. The republican party forced |
the amendment upon the State, but it |
has signally failed in enforcing it, The |
last three years have been full of hui
initiation, shame and disgrace for Kan |
sas. Prohibition has not decreased the |
amount of liquor drunk in the State. |
but has made whisky free and lowered |
its quality. neutrality-suspicious. |
prohibition-has piled up as mUch costs |
against Kansas as whisky has piled ND |
against any license state. and has fur |
ther deprived her of hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars revenue.
The people are right in demanding
that this question shall be settled for
good, and the democrats must take the
Initiative. The delegates from this coun-
ty and congressional district must use
all their influence to get the democratic
state convention to make its ticket and
promulgate its platform before its OPP
ponents are in the field. In other words.
the democratic state ticket and platform.
the latter declaring boldly for resubmis-
sion must be published before the repub-
lican state ticket and platform make
their appearance.
Then, the republicans will have to
either support the principle which they
have heretofore profeSSed to champion.
or else accept the alternative of alien
ating the prohibitionistS who form the
largest portion of the party. 1t is
truth, that the real prOhibitionists have
grown heartily sick and tired of the
pretenceS tovirtue with which !
the republican politicians have been
fooling them in the past. a point has
been reached where actions must agree
and accord with professions. and the re-
publican party must directly oppose the
platform or take the conse-
quences of vacillating policy. (
Fer these reasons, which could no :
amplifed. the REFLECTOR asks for AN s
aggressive movement ON the part of the
democracy: and it is to be hoped that
he delegates from Dickinson county i
and this congressional district viii see ,
the strength of the position taken and
act accordingly.