Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-07-21
a PICTURE OF ST. JOHN.

former governor Of Kansas from the
Chicago Inter Ocean. The ring which
toisted that man on the republican party
Tor third term, when he was beaten,
and which lead to the defeat of Blaine
in 1884, is now trying to foist A. w.
Smith on to the party. The motto OF
The aforesaid ring is "ruls OF ruin" But
hers is the picture.
Nobody ever descended the slope oil
Avernus more swiftly than John P. st.
John, sometime governor of Kansas.
Honored citizen, political adventurer,
hired scold, professional slsnderer, pur-
veyor Of the gutter-snipes of political
falsehood to the democratic party;
through all these metamorphoses Mr.. st.
John has passed with the speed of fun
gold putrescence.
As Satan is said to clothe his secret
agents in the livery of heaven that they
may do more successful work for the
king Of sheol, go Mr.. st. John wears the
vestments Of prohibition and serves the
purposes Of the great whisky trust Of the
United States. The platform of the pro-
hibition psrty and of the republican
party resemble each other in
this; the former demands instant
repeal OF all taxes upon into1i-
cants from considerations which are
based in ethics, the latter contemplatee
the possibility of such repeal from con-
alterations based on economics. The
whisky trust is opposed to all reduction
of taxes on spirituous liquors end would
spend millions to defeat the prohibition
party if there were any prospect of ito
success. But as the prohibition party
can not succeed, and as the republican
party is likely to succeed, and as the
prohibition is sure to be made up-st
least in nine-tenths Of its total-!rom
the republican party, the sympathy Of
the whisky trust is with the prohibition.
lists, and it's money would be at their
service if they would accept it.
As to Mr.. st. John, it is to
be said that the democratic newspapers
have placed their columns at his ser
vice; his speeches are quoted by them
with approval; his work is regarded by
them as auxiliary to the election OF
Cleveland and Thurman. Paid or un-
paid, regular or volunteer, he is doing
democratic work, the unproftableness
of which is due not to lack of zeal but
to lack of influence. Mr.. st. John
would be dangerous if he were not con-
tembtible.
Mr.. st. Johns criticisms of the re-
publican platform are merely amusing
effervesenoes of impotent malice. His
SANDER of the personality of the repub-
icsn party it's vulgsrly venomous and
msliciously mendacious:
The most ridiculous thing of all ID
that after weeks drunken revelry, the
like of which never was seen at any
previous convention at Chicago, inter-
spersed by several disgraceful fights,
and after an all days Sunday political
caucus at which the nominee of this
great party of moral ideas was agreed
upon, the convention just before it al
iourned insulted the intelligence of all
thinking moral people by the declsra-
ton that it sympsthizes "with all wife
and well directed efforts for the promo.
ton of temperance and morality"
That is what Mr.. st. John has to say,
after three weeks reflection, upon the
personality and proceedings of the re-
publican national convention, and, pos
sibly, after consultation with democratic
leaders. Neither the convention nor the
party needs defense from Mr.. st. Johns
vencmous drool. It is irrefutsble that
all 1.-THE wise and well directed efforts for
the promotion of temperance aud NOR
ality" which have marked the history OF
the last quarter of century have either
originated in the republican party, OF
have gained the support of majority OF
it's members, and have met with the op-
position of majority Of the members Of
the democratic party. 1t is aa
true that q majority of the re-
publican party has been con-
stantly devising, and a majority Of the
democratic party constantly opposing,
s.wise and we'll directed efforts for the
promotion of temperance and morality"
as it is true that all the republican party
vigorously supported the war for the
Union and believed in it's success, and
that the majority of the democratic party
doubted its success and gave its feeble
support OF actual opposition. A thou.
sand slanderers of Mr.. st. Johns char
acter and caliber cannot impeach the
truth of history.
Nor do the members of the conven-
ton need vindication from Mr.. st. Johns
Islander. No more honorable body OF men
ever assembled in elaboration. Neither
in the great hall of convention, nor in the
hotels, nor on the streets, was there signs
Of drunken reve.ry" during the week.
session. The delegates and sltsrnatef
and the thousands who came as specta'
tors and counsellors of their delibera.
tons were, with hardly an exception, de-
cent. grave and honorable citizens. The
Inter Ocean gladly absolves the major
ity of members Of the prohibition party
from suspicion Of approval OF st john
fetid and feoulent sruptions, and Pltle.
the democrats that they are compelled