But in another sense, the Republican party is responsible for
prohibition. It was always and is everywhere the party of law and good
government. It stood for the constitution and laws during the dark and
desolate days of 1861–5, and grew to manhood amid the perils and trials
of a monstrous rebellion against a people’s government, and the people’s
verdict that the aggressions of human slavery must cease. When the
people of Kansas adopted the constitutional amendment of 1880, and
decreed that the saloon, with its corrupt and demoralizing influences,
must go, the Republican party accepted this decision, and a Republican
Legislature enacted laws to enforce it. The Democratic party, from that
day to this, has constantly and persistently endeavored to nullify the
constitutional amendment and the people’s verdict against the saloon.
History, it is said, repeats itself, and certainly the history of the
Democratic refusal to accept the decision of the people of Kansas on the
question of prohibition, and the Democratic refusal to accept the result
of the election of 1860, afford striking parallels. In 1860 slavery
crouched behind armed rebellion; in 1886 the saloon crouches behind
Democratic nullification. The Republican party was the party of the
Constitution and the laws in 1861; it is the party of the Constitution
and the laws to-day. In 1861 the Democratic party advocated and defended
that sum of all villainies, human slavery; it is to-day advocating and
defending that fruitful source of vice, poverty, and crime, the liquor
traffic. The Republican party was right in 1861; it is right now. In
1865 it made every man beneath the flag free and equal, and to-day it is
striving to make every home in Kansas a happier home. It has loyally and
honestly accepted the solemn duty devolved upon it by the people’s
verdict against the sale of intoxicating liquors except for certain
specified purposes, and it intends to enforce this verdict faithfully
and firmly.