The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-14
Governor Troutman's Reply.
Topeka, Kan, Jan. 10. 1888.
I'll.

than
of the coming campaign should be its de-
thronement-
There is a demand, however, that the
penublican party take a decisive stand
for the enforcement OF law. The continued
defiance Of the prohibitory law IN our
state is precipitating a crisis Wnlch VIII
result in its enforcement, or us repeal
Tho Generalization, relative 10 the en-
tenement of this law, acquired IT'S great
est momentum Turing the hrst fopelist
administration. This was continued WIN
i+e restraint throughout the succeeding
Republican administration, ana pas IaiI
m reach its disgraceful culmlnaLloh our
ing the present political scourSe Fre'a-
lent conditions are arousing the people oi
the state and the political party that
evades this isue in the next coEhpdisH WIZ
do so at its peril. The Republican party
i a Marty of mettIe and will face this
question without evasion or apology
II is sometimes asserted that the prom
l;tjorfsts have been dislOyal to the Re
nubIican party and their demands emitted
10 no consideration. AS Republican
Prohibitfonist who has participated IN eV-
erv campaign, national state and local.
for seventeen years, standing on every
platform promulgated and voting for ev-
cry ticket nominated without scratch
I claim a right to speak upon this SUD-
iect Republican prohibitionists have not
sought to inject their views into pollucal
contests in the past and shall not attempt
to do so in the future. We have stooo
side by side with anti-prohibition Republi-
cans upon the stump and at the polls IN d
united effort for Republican success
The so-called third party Prohibition
lists maintained an organization and nomi-
mated a state ticket long before the pro-
hibitory amendment campaign OF 1880
They have always been hostile TO the Re
publican party, but are insignificant IN
numbers. the average vote of the party
for twenty years has been less than 1900
A large per cent of these voters will al
ways be against the Republican party re-
CARELESS of its platform or candidates. The
third party Prohibitionists have never
caused Republican defeats but they were
caused by the Prohibition voters VINO
joined the Populist party As against the
party Prohibitionists we place the 100000
Prohibitionists who are Republicans,
who are Republicans, without variable
ness or shadow of turning" They have
always rejoiced al Republican victory and
deplored Republican defeat. They have
accepted every platform and voted for
every candidate presented by the party
since 1880 They are earnest in their con-
victions, but not dogmatical They will
be loyal to the party in the future Wheth-
er it's policy on this question conforms TO
their ideal or not. They assume TO be the
keepers of no mans conscience, the guar
dian of no mans ballot, but their own.
The prescribe no prohibition test of Re
publicanism They know that freedom
means the right to differ. They accede p
means the right to differ. The concede the
same rights to others that are reserved
for themselves.
simultaneously with the advent of Pop
ism the Republican party began course
of alleged conservatism upon this question
which alienated many voters without any
accession to take their places. New issues
dominated the politics of the state and
party ties became fixed. thousands of tenn
perance voters drifted into the ranks of
the Populist party hoping for relief along
other lines. They justified themselves up
on the ground that there was no difference
between the two parties on the temper
ance question. The anticipated reform
along industrial and economical lines have
not been accomplished. The honest voter
who went into the Populist party, in good
faith. is now in despair. One by one his
cherished reforms have failed and he will
take advantage Of the first good excuse to
come back to the old party. He believes
in prohibition and will vote with tho
party which furnishes the best guarantee
of its enforcement. The enforcement of
law is a broad plank upon which he is
willing to stand. He knows that as par
" of reform, Populism has been the
crownng burlesque of political history.
he is disguised with the incompetency
and venality of his party leaders and hu-
inflated at their shameless collision with
the criminal classes. Give him good ex
cuse and he will embrace it and join the
Republican party.
The Republican party in 1888 should
stand for the enforcement of law. No
! question of expediency should stand in
| the way of a campaign upon this issue
! The iointist and boot-legger are political
bandits. They carry bludgeons for ev-
/ cry party and every candidate that are
! not subservent to their demands. They
! pursue a guerrilla warfare in every cam
/ paign. There is no tyranny so despotic
! as their impertOus demands upon public
! officers who dare fraterniZe with them.
Their vote and influence are for sale to
| the party that offers the highest price in
narfI4v and dishonor. There is no use
] for the Republican party to compete for
their votes. for the remorseless leaders OF
I
time. The Stun vote is now in the Popu-
list ranks. The party is complying with
| ,-h{sxv's demands in order to hold the vote
,,axt wear. and II will succeed. Upon the
question OF expediency alone the Repuoh-
{ can party should courageously meet TINS
issue.
The demand for the enforcement OF law
is not an approval OF Prohibition. but a
declaration Of good citizenship Il is a
/ broader and deeper question Of popular
| government. and the survival OF free in
stitutionS. Many ti-Prohibitonists in
| the state condemn the violation OF law
| and look with contempt upon the party
/ that tolerates or cOndones IL. They are
in favor of the abrogaton Of prohibition
by. constitutional means. but not by multi
featon. Resubmission is legitimate po-
Hrical issue upon which Republicans dit-
Ter. The wisdom OF prohibition Is ques-
toned by many good men but no 5000
Republican and no good citizen VIII or
80 rba execution Of law. Thirty-sever
years Of political history justIy the &c
c1s~ation that the Republican party
sands nv the Will OF the people IS eX
MESSED IN constitution and statutes
annie provision has been made fo1
,b,nrfne the fundamental or statutory
rs1-- az the state. Eight successive legs
/ -,t,.ras have been elected since the adoD
| .fo- Of prohibition. and each election was
/ y, -or,a measure. test Of the Fo3uia
MI. ,,no, this subject II the people ar
+;-os of prohibition let them indicate !
- tho election Of members Of the leg1sla
t1ra and their wishes viii be ooeyed-
conscientious and "a Gacious men difs
as 10 the merits Of our prohihi1oTy po'ieV
We DO not SAX that prohibition be mad