The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-12-17
Rum and Politics State Temper.
ance Convention.

recent address to his constituents,
tells them that SIXTY THOUSAND DOL.
LARS were expended IN extraordinary
drinks at three hotels in the city oil
Baltimore, during the last Democratic
National Convention, for the purpose
of advancing the interests Of certain
prominent candidates for the high
Office of President of the United
States. And we are assured upon
good authority that the scenes of
drunkenness and dissipation enacted
in that city during the session of that
convention, are unequalled save by
those of the other convention held in
the same city a few days afterwards,
It's well known fact, that perhaps
the majority Of our politicians, when
candidates for Office, resort free to the
bottle in their electioneering efforts,
thus aroueing the patriotism Of the
people by appeals to their lowest pas
siors. The habit thus freely INDUCED
Inbefore the election, follows the sue
cessful aspirant into his official posi-
ton, and fastens an indelible stigma
upon the character Of but too many
holding stations of high responsibility
in our State and nation. 1t were
perhaps inyidious to specify instances
of this fact amongst our public men
it is enough that we refer to the dissi-
patton Of our national legislatures.
1t was, probably, not without refer
ence to this degrading vice that Mr..
Venable assured his fellow members
on the floor of Congress, that if the
people but understood their real char
acter, they would come up to that
Augean stable, and hurl its occupants
into the Potomac. 1t is true, in no
very limited sense, that ram makes
our Legislatures, and controls their
actions. Were this not so, would
the petitions Of hundreds ofthousaadS
Of the citizens of Ohio have lain
for almost an entire year unanswered
and unheeded upon the tables of ou'
legislators?
But despite all the unfayorablC
circumstances, we believe that the
real sentiment Of the masses of tht
people is opposed to this entire busi
ness that they at onco loatho ant
despise these political demagogues
and the artifccs by whiohthey elevate
themselves to office. Hitherto thil
feeling has been to great estcn
kept in obeymcc by the stronger in
huences of party policy, and mel
have not dared to express their senti
ments at the ballot-box. While run
has all along been an active agcnc.
in political strifes, temperance princi
ples have been for the most part disrc
parded in the elevation of men t
Office. But should this state of thing
ontinue Can we indeed, Cs Temper
ance voters, longer occupy a position
Of neutrality on this question No
n few individuals have nobly steppe,
forward in advance of any genera
movement in that direction, an,
openly avowed.their purpose to "carr
the war into Africa" by making thi
test question in all elections. WhO
these haze done, every friend of ou
cause should do. We will not be tn
aggressors in such movement as this
Our opponents have always made thi
a test question, steadily refusing thei
political support to those suspected o
hostility to the traffic in ardent spirits
In this they have shown a consistenc
worthy better cause.
And does not prudence dictate th
prOpriety of making this great ten
perance question a political issue
When the wisdom of assisting to elt
vate to Office men known to be hostil
to our principles, and these humbl
petiHoning them for a bo n we kno'
they will not grant Such a cours
is worse than folIy--it is absolutel
suicidical to all the best interests
our cause.
This subject viii naturally press i
self upon the convention soon
assemble in the city Of Columbus
and will perhaps be one Of the mos
interesting topics of discussion befor
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