The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-19
THE CANT OF CAN'T.
The Copperheads Used to Say in
the SOS
You Can't Put Down the Rebel
lion, SO Compromise.
GOV. MORRILL'S PLEA
Is the Same, Says Major I. O.
Pickering
In Another Letter to the Jour
naI'' Today.
THE LAW Is THE LAW
And as Such Should Be Held
Sacred.
Most of All, Should the Governor
Uphold 1t.
THE LAW Is THE LAW
And as Such Should Be Held
Sacred.
Most of All, Should the Governor
Uphold 1t.

The following letter from Major 1. 0.
Pickering showing up the utter weak
ness of Governor MorrilPs stand in re-
gard to the enforcement of the prohibi-
tory law and the seditious results to
which it leads has been received by the
JOURNAL
Mr. Pickering says:
"The reply of Governor Morrill, to my
letter published in the JOURNAL regard
ing the non enforcement of the prohibit
tory law in localities where public senti-
is adverse, is fatuous. He does not, and
cannot deny the analogy between his
position as governor and that of Buchan-
an as president, and is content to lay
down in the presence of a handful of
evil disposed men, congregated in few
cities of Kansas who falsely claim to
represent the local public sentiment in
those cities, and publicly declare that as
to those localities the law cannot be en-
forced
In the history of this country no SINH
lar declaration has been made by the
governor of free people. The senti-
ment is not new, but heretofore has
found expression only through saloon
keepers, their friends and allies; unfor-
tunately for the people the cry is now
repeated from the capitol, and good men
are humiliated and made to blush with
shame and indignation at this puerile
surrender of the functions of govern
ment
"The laws constitute the life blood of
the body polite; if they are dormant or
defiantly violated in any part, that part
becomes a fostering sore, and it is only
question of time when political gangrene
destroys the state.
But, says the governor, in some local
tiles juries will not convict on the strOng-
est kind of evidence. They ought not 10
convict on anything less than sufficient
evidence, but failure to convict when
guilt IS proven beyond reasonable doubt
shows simply that those jurors are fore
sworn, and a criminal has thereby es-
capped the penalty Of violated law. The
remedy is to rearrest as soon and as often
as he commits another offense, empannel
another jury. and another, so long as the
oHense is committed, until you convict,
and he who claims the cost is too much
is enemy Of society and his state.
C"No more beneficent use was ever
made of taxes drawn from the people
than in paying the legitimate expenses
Incurred IN the enforcement of their
laws and the educative force of the nav
ment of these taxes made necessary bv
the prosecution of these enemies Of so.
clal order is incalcu!able. Better a de-
hcIt for this cause, than mountain of
municipal revenue drawn from indul-
gences paid for the privilege of debauch-
ing the people.
''There existed in this country during
the war of the rebellion creatures who
were fond of asserting: I'm as good a
union man as you are, but you can't put
down the rebellion, and we should make
the best terms possible with the southern
rebels These were Copperheads.
Governor Morrill, says he is as good a
prohlbitlonist as l am, but the prohibi.
tory law cannot be enforced in Atchisoa.
LeaVen~orth and Wichita, and consents
to the continued violation of law for a
price paid to those cities. The parallel
is deadly as the reptile whose name
adorned the unpatriotic, rebel
Ing ghoUls who, safe from shot and she'll
assaulted the moral standards of the
Union in the rear of the brave bows in
blue.
abraham Lincoln did not direct Gen.
eral Grant to cOnfine his fighting to ter
ritory where the local sentiment was ia
vorable to the Union. The way to figh
rebels was to go where the rebellion wa,
organized and entrenched. If rebellion
IN Kansas today is organized and en-
trenched in the cities named, the batter
les and munitions of war are amply pro-
vloeo IN the metropolitan police law and
the courts.
~Let the governor marshal his force,
ana march against the enemy supported
Dy the loyal, patriotic men and women O
Kansas who for fourteen years hav.
frowned down every proposition howeva,
specious to wipe out the constitutions
amendment or prohibitory law"