Addresses: by John A. Martin. Delivered in Kansas. — John Shaqi
Addresses: by John A. Martin. Delivered in Kansas.Martin, John Alexander
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Addresses: by John A. Martin. Delivered in Kansas.
Martin, John Alexander
Kansas
And now, having given you the reasons for “the faith that is in
me”—having told you why I am a Republican, and why, in my judgment,
every good citizen ought to be a Republican—I want to add a few words of
personal import. I am the candidate of this great party for the highest
executive office in the gift of the people of Kansas. I was nominated by
the unanimous vote of the largest delegate convention ever held in the
State; by a Convention representing every county, city and township in
the State; by a Convention whose proceedings were distinguished for
fairness, decorum, intelligence, and sobriety; by a Convention whose
delegates were chosen with almost unprecedented unanimity, and who
fairly, I think I have good reason for saying, voiced the preference of
a vast majority of the Republicans of Kansas. I was nominated by this
great Convention, not only with entire unanimity, but without pledges or
promises from me, and without trades, combinations, or any manner of
political trickery. I was nominated on a platform which any honest,
self-respecting, law-respecting, law-obeying Republican can indorse, and
ought to indorse. Yet I am told that there are men, claiming to be
Republicans, who say they are going to vote against me, and vote for my
opponent, because they don’t like the platform.
To this class of men, and to all others, I want to say a few words. All
State officers are required to make solemn oath that they will support
the Constitution of the State, and the Constitution specifically sets
forth that the Governor “shall see that the laws are faithfully
executed.” The Republican party, in its platform, simply affirms this
plain Constitutional duty. The people of the State, in their sovereign
capacity, and without distinction of party, have adopted a
Constitutional provision known as the prohibitory amendment. It was
voted for by nearly one hundred thousand citizens; it received a
majority of nearly eight thousand of the votes cast on the question; and
it received the support of nearly nine thousand more voters than cast
their ballots for the present Governor, whose election has never been
challenged. The Supreme Court of the State has affirmed the validity of
this amendment, and of all the forms by which it was adopted. Yet it is
asserted that because the Republican party recognizes, in its platform,
these unchallenged, unquestionable facts, and demands that State
officers shall faithfully and honestly discharge the duties imposed upon
them by the Constitution and by their oath of office, I am to be opposed
by men calling themselves Republicans.
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