Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-16
RESUBMISSION RALLY.
4 GOOD-SIzED CROWD AT THE CRAW-
FORD LAST NIGHT.
Speeches Made by j. M. Steen, Of King
man, A. L. Allen, of Topeka, H. L..
Gordon and w. R. Payne---In-

there was a large crowd at the Crawford
at the Resubmission rally. Mr. George II.
Blackwelder. president of the Republican
Resubmission club, promptly at o'clock
reached the stage accompanied by Judge
c. Reed. F.0M. Willard, of Leavenworth,
A. l.. Allen, of Topeka, T. Ii. Martin, of
Topeka, j. w. Steen, of Kingman; H. w.
Alden. j. B. Evans and d. Stair of To-
peka; w. ID. Mccormick, A. T. Carpenter.
L. d. Skinner, w. A. Thomas, A. W. Oil
yer, After music by the orchestra Mr..
Blackwelder presented Judge C.. Reed to
preside over the meeting, and in taking
the chair he spoke as follows:
Fellow Citizens-The program for this
evening does not demand, strictly speak
ing, an address from myself, but with
your kind indulgence l shall speak very
briefly,
When the executive committee of the
Republican Resubmission club of this city
invited me to preside over the delbera-
lions of this evening l consented to do so,
because | regarded it as an honor TO pro-
side over any representative body of my
fellow citizens. / was induced to do so
likewise because | was fully in accord
with those of my fellow citizens who be-
lieve that 1t is the right of the people to be
heard, not once but twice, and thrice if
necessary, upon any great question of
state policy
In view of the fact however, that I oc-
cupy judicial station | think it is due
myself to say that my presence here this
evening does not mean, and | do not de-
sire that it shall be construed to mean,
that am not in full sympathy with the
enforcement of the laws of this state on
the contrary, in order that there may be no
misunderstanding L desire to state dis
tlnctly that both as a citizen and an Off
Ger am in full sympathy with the enforce
ment of all laws, including the prohibi
tory amendment and all acts made in pur-
suance thereof. When l entered upon the
duties of my position l took an oath to
support the constitution of the state of
Kansas; Aye this oath without mental res
ervation, and have never yet sought an
opportunity to avoid it in its fullest scope.
But while this is true it is equally true,
my fellow citizens, that | recognize and
make my obesience to an important fun
damental truth, principle upon which
rests all free institutions, and that princi-
pie and that truth is that all laws must
emanate from the people, who alone are
sovereign. To use the strong accurate
language of our forefathers, which we find
imbedded in the declaration of indie
pendence: Governments are instituted
among men, deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed, and
that whenever any form of government
becomes destructive of these ends it is the
right of the people to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute new a government, laying
It's foundation on snch principles and Or
ganizing its powers in such form as to
them shall seem most likely to effect their
safety and happiness"
1t is this fundamental truth, this sound
political principle, upon which rests our
boosted liberties, and it is the observance
at this truth that must preserve our free
institutions.
To have concrete case of these abstract
statements. l will say that there are peo-
pie in Kansas, good people, honest people,
who sincerely believe whether correctly so
or not is immateriaD, that this funda-
mental truth of free government, viz: that
governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed, !" is being
daily violated in the state of Kansas. In
PLAIN words, there are many people in
Kansas who honestly believe that the pro-
hibitory amendment. and the acts made
in pursuance thereof, are not endorsed nor
by the majority of the citizens
of this great commonwealth; and
believing thus they petition, they
urge, they demand that this great question
of state policy be resubmitted to the peo-
pie. And herein lies the alpha and omega
of the resubmission movement in this
state; herein lies its origin, its strength
and its hope. This demand on the part of
the people is not accompanied, as | under
stand 1t, with any expression OF a desired
result in the contest which may ensue. TO
myself the resubmission movement means
only what l have expressed ard nothing
more, and as such give it my approval.
Let me inquire II this movement should
not commend itself to all fair minded
members of the Republican party. The
is reasonable, the movement is
loyal 1t is reasonable because it is based
and rooted in a great fundamental truth
upon which free government rests; a truth,
a principle by which and through which,
as through an open door, prohibition was
to pass before it reached the
free soil of Kansas. 1t is loyal because the
movement appeals only to Republicans
and is being conducted solely within party
lines, The spirit of the movement is not
to rule or ruin, but to enlighten and re-
move the obstacles which lie across the
of the great Republican party IN
this state. Those who advocate it, if they
are animated by motives like myself, do so
because they desire to preserve intact the
of free government, and safely
keep on the track free from harm the great
party.
We are told, however, by the adver-
saries of this movement, that no principle
of free government is violated by refusal
of the people to be heard on this question;
that in opposing the movement we neces-
sarily ascertain the will of the people. But,
fellow citizens let US see If this is true.
Your common observation teaches that in
the selection OF delegates at your primary
elections who, in turn, in county conven-
ton embed select the delegates to rep
resent you in the state convention, which
in turn formulates the platform of the
party, a very few, or at least small por-
Z ION IF Z he a X
equally true that in the selection of the
delegates at the primaries who, III turn,
in county convention assembled, nominate
persons TO represent you IN the leglSiatI re,
"A very small portion of the people partlcl-
pate. so that IL cannot be said that all the
people have expressed themselves IN
clean cut way, through their delegates,
in state convention assembled, and like
wise it can not be said that all the people,
free and untramule.ed from other conSld-
eratious; have expressed themselves IN the
choice for the mem bers for the Legislature,
for this very plain reason, that II the work
of the state convention on the pronounced
opinions or the candidates OF the leglSla-
Iure Is not in harmony with the views of
the members of the Republican party they
are placed in this dilemma, they must
either vote with their party or be COM
PEELED TO make this great question OF re-
Democratic measure. And
this, in my Judgment, means Its death
blow, and consequently. as you must OBJ
serve. in either event, the free, untram-
meled, full expression OF the people is not
Let this question, therefore, be
resubmitted to the whole people undec cir
where they can express them
selves without restriction, and if the con-
test ends favorably TO prohibition then
is majority principle, and
should remain in the constitution, where
il belouss. Ii. on the contrary, the contest
should be uufavorable TO the cause OF pro-
hibitlon, then undoubtedly II Is a minority
Orlnciple and should be out of the constl-
Il IT, III