“Abolishment of fees (a blow at every grafting officeholder); no more railroad passes for public officials; a bipartisan tax commission that shall haul the rich dodger out into the open—­all these matters are covered here.  But into your hands, young man, I put the one measure that is to be the most savage test of our honesty.  I have put the most thought on it.  Every lawyer in this State will try to find a flaw in it.  But if I know anything about constitutional law it is framed to beat them all.  I’ll not bother to read it to you.  Carry it away, and guard it and study it.”

He held it up, waving it.  His heart was plainly full.  He talked as one addressing the careless multitude—­and talking, at the same time, to himself.

“You may divine what it is.  It handles the great topic in our State.  The source of dishonor, corruption, perjury, and hypocrisy!  The prohibitory law!  Let me tell what it will do when it has been enacted into law.  It will make the Governor of this State the grand high sheriff to enforce personally and actively this one law; it’s in our constitution, and the State should enforce its own.  He will have all the resources of the State treasury behind him.  He shall have for the first time PROHIBITION.  Prohibition enforced, prohibition as the statutes have ordered it, prohibition in actuality instead of its pretence.  The pretence has satisfied the rumsellers who sold, the rum-drinkers who drank, and the radicals who have boasted of the law, for all have got out of it what results were desired:  appetite was catered to, vanity was satisfied, and graft engendered for the benefit of the office-holding class.

“I’m not going to predict what I think will be the result of this enforcement—­not now.  What I propose to do as an honest man is to put the prohibitory profession of this State to the test.  When this is law, Luke Presson cannot pose as an honest man and continue to sell liquor to all-comers, he cannot bribe sheriff and police; I’ll send my own men to smash every bottle in his place, and I’ll put him into just as dark a cell as any Cheap John who peddles poison from his boot-leg.  The rich man must stand on the level of the poor man.  It’s the test of our State’s honesty—­that bill is—­and it shall be called ’The Thornton Law.’”

He arose, and placed the document in Harlan’s hand.

The young man received it rather gingerly.  He held it with somewhat the appearance of one who has the custody of a loaded weapon.  His face expressed consternation rather than appreciation.

“Study the measure.  I think you’ll find it interesting.  Introduce it in the House day after to-morrow.  Our gallant lawmakers will be sleepy after the ball.  That will wake ’em up.”  The old man’s nostrils dilated.  He had the air of one who saw battle ahead and yearned for it.

“Move that it be referred to the Committee on Temperance,” the Governor went on.  “The fight will be on then and there, just as soon as they get their breath.  They’ll want to get it before a safer gang!  Let ’em refer it to the Judiciary Committee if they’ve got the votes to do so.  I’m not afraid they’ll find any constitutional flaws.  And that first vote will give me a line on the general situation.  I’ll find out just what men need to have the gospel put to ’em straight!”