Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-04
GOV. ST. JOHN SPEAKS.
Arraigning the Republican Party for
its Misdeeds-LOgan's Black Law.

its Misdeeds-LOgan's Black Law.
The ST. John circuit of temperance
camps, says Port Jervis special to the
New York Sun, was opened here on Tues
day last in the Methodist Church. The
first speaker was ex-Gov. John 2. St.
John OF Kansas, the PrOhibitionist nomi-
nee tor President. In the afternoon he
addressed large audience, which had
assembled in heavy rain storm, on the
evils of licensing and the enOrmity of the
crimes that had cursed our nation
through the liquor traffic. In the evening
a larger audience assembled, and Gov.
st. John spoke of the political aspect of
the question, and arraigned the RepubIi-
can party for the misrule that has charac-
teriZed its work for the past twenty
years. We quote his words:
81 have been a Republican all my life
up to the 4th of last month, put l have
never lost an opportunity to say or do
good deed for this great cause of prOhibi-
tiOn. When the Republican party met at
Chicago to select candidates for President
and Vice President last month, they were
waited upon by the WOmen's Christian
Temperance Union, band of brave
women having at heart the advancement
of the race, and the Republican party
failed to take any recognition of them. The
day after the nominations were made |
told my wife lwould never again vote the
Republican ticket, and all my eXertiOns
would be for this grand cause of prohibit
tion. Neither party dared to take up this
great issue for fear of losing the whisky
vote. Shame, shame on our political par
ties. l used to lay awake nights, when /
lived in the border towns and was a Re-
publican, hating Democrats and Demo-
cratic principles. Since the 4th of last
month 1 have made up my mind that Re-
publican whisky is as bad as Democratic
whisky, if not worse. The Republican
party is false to all the teachings ad-
Vanced and inculcated when that grand
old party went into power.
"rhere was a law once in force in Illi-
nois to the effect that any white person
caught in the act of giving aid or susie
nance to any colOred man, woman or
child should be arrested, and, upon proof
of the charge, should be thrown into PRISON
for two years. l was practicing law at
that time in an Illinois town, when a lit
tie colored lad came to my house and said:
Please, mister, won't you give me some
thing to eat? l haven't had anything to
eat in two days. l called my wife and
told her to get the boy big slice of bread,
butter 1t all over, and get some meat.
would it not be BETTER she said, 'to
have the boy come into the house. as
everybody seems to be watching
usF SAUL NO, WANT JnlS peO-
pie to see that l am not afraid
to give and sustain any of Gods poor un-
fortunates.' The grand jury was in ses-
sion at the time, and an indictment was
soon found against me for giving susie
nance to a negro. l was accordingly ar
rested and brought before the court. and
pleaded guilty to the charge, and stated
in open court that would do so again.
and whenever found the laws of man in
terfering with the laws of God l would
violate the human law every time. The
testimony given had the desired effect.
and the court announced to the packed
court house that he found the prisoner at
the bar Not guilty Of the CHARGE and |
was set free. The man who was the
prime mover and factor in the passage of
this bill was none other than John A. Lo-
gan, the nominee for Vice President of the
Republican party"