Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-11-20

for the leieRr
The Temperance Party.

l have been looking over tie large cartoon
in Hdrper'S Weekly for November 6, which
illustrates the New York Democratic platform
and / find it study that brings to mind
thoughts quite too grave for the evident inten-
ton of the ingenious delineator of the picture
am carried back through the war we have
had, and forward to the full completion and
settling of the reforms that have come of the
war; am carried back yet beyond the war to
the struggle that ante-dated it, and 10 recall
ing Of anti.slavery struggles, both in the States
and in the territory Of Kansas; think of the
results of agitation in the strugges of the Abo-
litlonsts, and Of the cost that secured these
results; then looking in the central back
ground of the picture that is before me, see,
half hid in the dark, what is there termed,
Democratic Inspiration" and it calls to my
mind the fact that (the question of slavery set
tleD a new cause for struggle is before the
csuntry-the cause of Temperance-now be-
coming party issue.
The agitation Of this question in a separate
platform has given it gravity las party
issue) that should not be, and can not be, ig-
nored. In Ohio II came before the people with
champions who claimed notice at the pells,
and 1t was, as was expected, defeated The
same was true in Minnesota.
But there underlies all this secret power.
that is yet to be felt, and that power is in All
tdton. The fact of small beginning is of no
moment. The defeat of the party in the late
election amounts to nothing. Even the fact
that so small number declared for it that IL
scarcely seemed to affect the general vote
argues nothing. 1t has gained a footing us
party measure, and has drawn the sword from
the scabbard. Tha! ether swords are drawn,
too in opposition, is in its favor. A bad cause
lives by ugitation-how much more will a
good onel All that is required is to gain adj
hercnts, When men are forced to reflection
on good cause they will become its adher.
ents.
Every bad egg, deceased cat, club or stone
thrown at the champions OF freedom to the
slave, in the early days of the abolition move
ment, was changed into stone in the founda-
ton Of the superstructuro of emancipation.
Each one of these oppesitons and even in
suits set men to thinking and through thought
good men were made champions of the cause.
So it is to be of this temperance movement.
1t may result in successful party, and il may
not; but it will bring about grand result for
the temperance cause, which shall be neces.
sary result of agitation, and which could be
accomplished in no other way than by bring.
ing 1t through just such party struggle.
Temperance orders have their work to do,
and they do it more or less well but to accom-
plsh grand result 1t is necessary to bring
pressure that will obiige men 10 notice, and take
sides on the question. People may ignore the
existence OF society that quietly carrying
on work of reform-they can not ignore
party that promises to affect political interests.
Even through the agitation has caused, this
party is doing and has done good even If it
stops where 1t is now.
a..