Smyrna times., 1855-01-24

your favor. linen, theses party leaders that
now urge you Qinder tho influence of their
fears) to stihe the subject, viii become its open
and active advocates-and you know, gentle-
men, better than lean tell you, how strong the
influence is which they can exert in its favor.
Pass it, and every American paper in the State
comes out at once a powerful advocate. And
all this influence combined, in active operation,
will make the law in favor of Prohibition the
most popular law that was ever placed on the
statute-book of the State. Pass it, and you
make of theiAmericpp party. the strongest party
that ever existed in the State of Delaware.
Now, gentlemen, glance at the other side. of
the picture. Refuse to pass this law--giye il,
with its thousands of petitioners, the cold shoul-
der-tell the friends of Prohibition that the
American party is too young party to take
such high ground in favor of this measure
that they must wait two years, to see what will
be the tone of public feeling in the State at
another election! This, you have in your power
to do; and this, | greatly fear, you will be in
duced to do. But stand with me here on this
eminence, and overlook the scene of future con-
flict: The friends of Prohibition will wait;
yes, OF course they will-they can't do any
thing else but wait! But, look at results: The
Democratic party undoubtedly the Rum party
of the State of Delaware. What will be the
game she will play! AS her leaders have ad-
vised the members of the party to abstain from
the signing of Prohibitory petitions, SO will
they advise them to sign applications for the
sale of intoxicating drinks, and do all they can
to extend tne run influence. Your Prohibitory
Law men ale waiting for you. Compel them
to wait! But two years hence, another politi-
cal conflict takes place. You will say again to
temperance men, "be quiet, gro wih as, neper
fear, you shall have all you want." You know
you have nothing to hope from the Democratic
party-but think you, they are fools enough to
be longer deceived or deluded! They will turn
upon you, and say, "we have no hopes from YOU
without your party is openly pledged to Prohi-
btion. And mark the prediction make, you
WiH have to make the open pledge. Some such
resolution as this will have to be passed by your
State Convention in the fall of 1856: Re-
solved. That the prohibition of the sale of in
toxicating drinks, as a beverage, is the only
means by which our State can be freed from the
fearful evils of intempcrance, and that the
American party, if elected, will pass a law pro-
hibiting their sale" What then? You 90 into
the fight, on the eve of an exciting conflict, to
battle for what your party leaders have so indus
trously been fighting against. In that fight
-
God that you may. But tell you, gentlemen,
1t will be an arduous struggle--a fearful con-
filct. You can no more tie down the friends of
Prohibition to your ticket without such pledge,
than you can stop the lghtnings of heaven, or
hold back, with the strength of a mortal's punv
arm, the descending avalanche. Do you saw.
the American party will make no such pledge (!
Then say, she will not receive the temperance
vote of Delaware. And without that vote, she
is doomed party and you, gentlemen, well
know that what | say is true. know the men
OF whom | speak, and | see the fearful storm
that is rising. Will you be wise !! Will you
look around you and scan the political horizon
| tell you, gentlemen, it is your destiny-I mean
the destiny Of the American party-to fight the
battle of Prohibition in the State of Delaware.
She is composed of such materials that she
cannot avoid the issue. VIII you, while You
have the power, place this great rum power un-
der your feet, and fight the battle over hisdead
carcas. with two years training Of your sol.
diers-or will you leave him to develope in
creasing life and vitality, and then 60 into bat
tie against him with great portion of your
men rG,0 recruits , That is the true question
at issue. Use your own good common sense,
gentlemen; and you cannot fail to see what
the interests of the State, of humanity, and
what the interests of the American party re-
quIre; for they are all identical. The friends
of Prohibition will be profoundly grateful, if
you will place them in position in which they
can, with conscience and honor, fight by your
side. But | tell you here plainly, what you
ought to know, that they have fought with you
the last battle. unless it be an open fight in
favor of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating
drinks. May God grant you wisdom to see the
right, and courage to vote in favor of it!
Most respectfully, yours, r
.a BESEDIcT.
IMPORTANT BuI RELATIVE ro FoprIcx p .,,