The Portland daily press., 1884-11-25
ST. JOHN IN HOT WATER.
The Temperance Unisn of Kansas DE
clRres in Favor of the Republicans.
From the Chicago News)

khTom Inc CnlcagO NeWsl
TOPEKA. Nov. 19.-The Kansas State Tenn
perauce Union met in its third annual session
today, With nearly 200 delegates and members
in attendance, including Ex-Governor ST. John
and wife. The annual report of the president
and secretary showed total membership OF
100000, gain of $4,000 during the year. This
includes churches Sunday schools, lodges, and
individual membership, the latter numbering
about $4,000. The treasurer's report shows
$1,000 collected and expended by the union
during tho past year, q large part being used to
carry cases through the State Supreme Court.
Upon the question CT prohibition and the Re-
publican party, President a. b. Campbell
spoke as follows:
81 cannot forbear congratulating the Prohi-
bitionists upon the fact that when the issue be-
tween the Republican and the Democratic
parties was sharply defined in Kansas-the
former repreeesting law and order and loyalty
to the constitution as the people need it, the
latter representing lawlsssness and crime, and
disloyalty 20 the constitution; the former rep
resentng the home, the latter the saloon-the
Prohibitionists almost universally stand by
the party in and through which they had la
bored for success in the past, and in and
for success in the future. Out of more than
100000 Prohibition voters there were only
found 4431 willing to stab the party of pre-
gress and reform and assist the most corrupt
political organization in this or any other land
to tha control of the nation. The man who
desires the Republican party of Kansas to en-
gage In the third-party prohibitory movement
does SO to the great Injury of prohi-
bitton in the Stale. He gives strength
to the arm Of the party that would
strike death blow to the cause OF prohibition
without twinge of conscience. The man
who advocates resubmssion and other patent
remedies TO doctor up this matter is simply
advocating the destruction OF the Republicans
in Kansas. The clamor against this prohibit
ory amendment a. d for resubmission comes
from the men who want to get rid of II. The
makeup of the Republican party in Kansas
will not admit of a halting or doubtful policy
on this question. Every saloon keeper ia
Kansas fought the Republican party in our
last election, and il the leaders of the Repus-
lican party comprehend the situation there
will not bo a saloon in Kansas or saloon
keeper out OF jsil to fight the Republican party
two years hence. Prohibitonists must stand
by the Republican party; every other party
and faction is our enemy. No State can afford
to surrender to the spirit OF rebellion. No
political party can afford to cater to this
spirit, which demands the repeal of constitu-
tional aud statutory laws because the criminal
classes refuse obedience TO them."
The resolutions adopted declared that the
Republican party Of Kansas, in adopting q
platform that was satisfactory to Prohibitions
ists, and electiDg State officers and Lsgisla-
ture pledged to carry out the constitution so
that the effects OF prohibitiou may be fully
realized, has done all that reasonable Prohibi-
tionists can demand, and is at this time en-
titled to the cordial support of temperance
men. One resolution read as follows:
Resolved, That as long as the attitude of the two
leading parties in the late remains unchanged, we
are unalterably opposed TO the formation main
tenance Of an independent Prohibition party, and
we cordially invite those who have separated from
US to return and act with us in future.
All the resolutions were passed without dis
cussion except the last against the adoption of
Which st. John made a speech. In the:course
Of his Iemarks he said:
II am lot here to defend third party or
any other party, but | am here to enter pro-
test against the resolution now under conaid-
Grafton. Confusion, cheers and hissss) 1t is
equivalent to saying that no man can be Pro-
hibitionist who is net a Republican. (Cries of
"Slt down" Go OF" "Get ont') This union
was nor organized in the interest OF any party.
Great confnsion.) II it is to be Republican
organization I will get out. A voics-"Get
out, then; you have been in too long now.')
have been engaged in this work for nearly 40
years, aud by the help of God shall stay in It,
AS Prohibitionist l ara willing to unit5 with
every temperance organization in the whole
but il | have got to surrender any rights as an
American citizen and vote according to the
dictates Of the Republican party, or any
other party, 1 will step out. 1 have yet to
hear OF q reason why 1 should not vote as
please, aud propose to vote as my conscience
tells me. (Gries OF "Bosb, - "Go it, old man"
"StuH, !, y Gentlemen, you may call it boEh,
but il is principle-the same principle that led
me in 1862 to vots for John G. Fremont, and
men said it was bosh then. You parade the
streets, and haug and burn us in efigy, but
you can't burn up conscience. (Greas confu-
sion, lasting several minutes,) For me, as an
American citizen, there is no fear of any par
ty now no more than there was when l voted
for Fremont. There was a God thon, ard
there is God now, and to Him shall look
and know that the Prohibition party OF this
country will triumph in the end"
st. Johns speech was replied to by President
Campbell, who said he considered it an insult
to tho convention, as not single member of it
had participated in the effigy burning or was
responsible for it. After long discussion. the
resolution was amended TO conclude as folloWs
"And We invite all to join us in the work"
The convention shortly afterward adjourned
st. John was much agitated during the dellv-
cry OF bis speech. There was q bitter feeling
among the majority OF the members against
him for his conrse in the recent campaign, and
it was rumorei ha would be asked to resign
his mem hership, but no such step was taken.
The ex-Governor did not appear at the even
ing meeting.