The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-30
sTTrK 10 PROHTBTTTON.

the passage of the prohibitory amend
ment, when there was a good reason for
placing an endorsement of prohibition
in the Republican platform of the state,
that reason exists with as much force to-
day. The opposition to the enforcement
of the law Ii just as strong as ever 1t
was. The law is being violated as widely
and as openly today as ever it has been
Its enemies have abated none of their
activity. Why then do we hear so much
talk about leaving prohibition out of the
platform? 1t has been in there fourteen
years, during which time the Republican
party has won it's greatest victories,
reaching the magnificent plurality OF
81, 900.
The people who are now threatening to
leave the party if prohibition is endorsed,
have made the same threats biennially
since 1880. In 1890 they did leave and
we were enabled to count them There
were about 10000 of them, but the cleo
ton was followed by two more years OF
Republican supremacy.
This class Of voters are saying this year
that we must redeem Kansas" and in
order to do that there must be no issues.
In other words we are asked to formulate
a platform which will be mass of gen
eralities, meaning all things to all men
and nothing to anybody, and ignore every
vital issue. But they say prohibition is
not an issue How will they reconcile
this statement with their criticism of the
Populists during the past four years for
ignoring this same question? If it was
an issue four years ago, or two years ago
it is an issue now.
10 Rpr n
can party is going to play the part of
coward in this campaign and forsake or
espouse a principle merely for the sake
of holding a few votes, the platform
makers would better look well before
they leap. There is another class of
voters that has stood by the party through
thick and thin, never wavering in its
allegiance, because it was believed that
in the Republican party lay the future
moral welfare of the people. The class
referred to is made up of the member
ship OF the evangelical churches, and
probably includes a much larger number
of voters than any other class. Might
not these voters, believing themselves
forsaken. conclude to vote for a party
known to espouse the cause dearest to
their hearts?
If it is proposed to make platform to
catch the largest number of voters then
it would better be made to accord with
the views of the moral and temperance
element because in the language of an
old aud we'll remembered citizen, there's
more of 'em.
This is not good year to make exper-
iments. Two years ago the Republican
party tried to cover every question with
its platform. and wandered far and wide
into untried fields.
The result is with US today. Now it is
proposed to go to the opposite extreme,
and forsaking all the time honored prin-
ciples Of the party in Kansas. to make a
platform that does not cover any thing
What good is hoped for from all this
fioundering around? The time has gone
by when a party can win the votes of the
people on its past history. Living issues
cannot be ignored.
Redeem Kansas is all right az far as
it goes, but what shall it profit a party
that wins state for two years and loses
it for all time thereafter?
Who will redeem Kansas from the
curse that will inevitably follow the
abandonment of prohibition by its only
friend?
There could be no greater humiliation
for the party than to sacrifice its princi-
pies for success and then lose the state
An honorable defeat with our faces
turned toward the enemy is near to vic
tory. Victory so won becomes a triumph.
Be careful what you do, gentlemen of the
convention. One more mistake as great
as that of two years ago and the diff
Guilty of redeeming the state will be
greatly increased. They never come
back-that is some of them don't Better
stick to the bridge that has given you
safe nassaua in the mast