National Republican (Washington City

THE CAMPAIGN IN KANSAS.

St. John's Weakness at Home-Blaine Sure of the Biggest Majority Ever Given in the State.

TOPEKA, Oct. 8.-During a recent trip through several of the eastern states I was surprised to find not a few republicans who indulged apprehensions with reference to the issue of the pending contest in this state, owing to the fact of St. John's candidacy and his supposed home strength. Having sought to convince all such of the absurdity of their doubts, let me also have the privilege of placing the situation briefly before the readers of THE REPUBLICAN.

Kansas, as you know, is perhaps the sturdiest republican state in the union. Her majority has, in fact, been too large for comfort; for, in the absence of a formidable enemy, republicans have wasted themselves in personal and internal wrangles not always creditable. Besides, they have felt themselves so strong that they could afford to take up side issues and make the party responsible for policies which they would not have dared to advocate in the face of a dangerous party opposition. It is thus that the dogma of prohibition became fastened upon the republican organization as a party measure, championed by St. John and his fanatical associates, but still more materially assisted by the cowardice of thousands of republicans who were really opposed to prohibition, but did not dare to say so. There was, however, something very attractive in the new battle cry to the farmers of the state, and it was sufficiently potent to give St. John a second lease of the gubernatorial office and a nomination for a third term, for which, it will be remembered, he was ignominiously defeated by an extensive republican revolt.

There is always a certain degree of strength in acknowledged sincerity, even though it go to the extreme of fanaticism; and had St. John adhered to the republican organization he would have continued to be a powerful factor in state politics. But he was tempted with the empty bauble of a presidential nomination, and had neither the intellectual nor moral strength to resist. The result is that he is politically as dead as Julius Caesar at home, and his absurd pretensions are only laughed at.

The best judges here do not believe that the ex-governor will receive to exceed 5,000 votes in the state. The thoroughly posted editor of the oldest paper in the state estimated the total vote at the coming election at 250,000. Of these he gives 150,000 to Blaine, 75,000 to Cleveland, 20,000 to Butler, and 5,000 to St. John. This allowance to Butler is evidently too high, but the relative vote of Blaine and Cleveland will be about as stated. Kansas gave Hayes 50,000 over Tilden, and Garfield 61,000 over Hancock. She will do considerably better for the man who has always been the favorite of her republicans.

The canvass for the state ticket is exciting marked interest-indeed, is somewhat overshadowing the national contest. The state convention resolved in favor of the enforcement of the prohibitory law and practically against the resubmission of the constitutional amendment. There is, however, a strong and growing feeling in favor of another popular vote on the question, and a considerable number of republicans are supporting Gov. Glick for re-election on that platform. A large number of candidates for the legislature have also been nominated with reference to their views on this question, and the next session will doubtless be a lively one. Without arguing the right or the wrong of prohibition, no one can truthfully deny that the attempt to enforce it in this state has not only failed utterly, but has resulted in fearful demoralization, the increasing of heavy municipal indebtedness, and practically the unrestrained sale of liquor in all the populous localities.

No more popular republican could have been chosen to head the state ticket than Col. John A. Martin, long the editor of the Atchison Champion. His war record is a brilliant one, and he has been a faithful and unselfish party leader for twenty years. Owing to the unfortunate complications on the liquor question, the majority for the state ticket will fall considerably below that given for Blaine and Logan, but the best-informed politicians look to see Col. Martin chosen governor by at least 40,000 majority.

The republicans will elect their congressional candidates in all the seven districts. There is considerable show of opposition in the first district, but Mr. Morrill will be returned by a substantial majority.

For the senate no one is mentioned but Mr. Ingalls, and he will have the undivided republican support. There could be no stronger tribute than this to the estimation in which he is held as a brilliant and magnificent political leader, for the senator does not court mere personal popularity, and as a demagogue he is far below par. He will owe his third election to the splendid record he has made, and to the pride which 1,250,000 Kansans take in his career.