The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-23
Convention OF Prohibitionists In
DestNu.

Desten.
The political campaign In Massachusetts,
this fall promises TO be almost strictly
temperance campaign, In which the issues OF
prohibition or free rum arc TO be thoroughly
discussed and settled for another year. On
the one side tho Democratic party and the
liberal Republicans, so-called, are fully COM
mitted against prohibition, while on the
other the temperance men are earnestly de-
termined not TO again lose the law which
the last Legislature restored to the statute
book. Composing as they do the majority
Of the Republican party, they felt the need
Oh q Tree exchange Of views before the
meeting OF the Republican convention this
tall, In order TO decide upon the best course
to be pursued In order TO carry out their
ylcws-ln the Republican parry, II possible,
and as an Independent political organize
Ton II necessary. Hence the prohibltory
committee appointed last year 10 watch over
the interests Of the cause few weeks ago
iscued call to the advocates of prohibition
TO send delegates to meet In convention and
consider the political duties Of the friends of
prohibition at the present time In that State.
The convention assembled on Tuesday In
fremont Temple, Boston, 800 delegates re-
porting. After organizing by the choice OF
Hon. p. E. Aldrich, Of Worcester, as presi-
dent, committee was appointed to nom
paign. A committee was also appointed to
select and report list Of delegates for Mas
sachusetts to the National Temperance Con-
yention In Chicago, which Is to be held the
first week In September, and list OF twenty
OF the most prominent citizens Of the State
were elected. The committee on credentials
reported that there were 1,42G delegates
present from gil cities or towns.
. The committee on an address reported at
n n taI Inn he al al
grounds for adhering to q prohibition plat
form during the approaching political cam
paign. After reviewing the history Of the
movement, II speaks Of the change In the
statutes to accommodate the mercantile In
terests OF the State, the effect Of which was
that the paupcrlsm Of the State increased In
a single year, according to the declaration Of
the State board Of charities, twcnty-four per
cent, or almost exactly one fourth. Our
jals grew so populous that the Governor, in
his message to the Legislature, declared
their enlargement would be necessary If the
license law was retained upon the statute
books. Misery sprung up In many DWELL
ing, both Of wealth and poverty. Young
men lay drunk along the sidewalks In Bos-
ton Common. The devastation swelled fear
fully on every side. This resulted in con-
only remedy for the increasing evils.
The address concluded as follows; "This
cause, fcllow-citizens, Is not confined within
our own borders. II is q reform to which
oil the world Is moving. All Its advocates
are looking to you, and at this hour every
State In New England hangs on your deci-
sion. The great West Is struggling after
the same end. In Oregon, Ohio, Pcnnsyl-
vania, New York, Illinois aud Michigan,
parties are bcng organized on the basis OF
prohibition. In England and Scotland the
reform is spreading. The Primatc Of the
English Church, the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, makes II q special topic OF considera-
ton at his conventions, and Archbishop
Manning, the head Of the Roman Catholic
Church In England, has ayowcd himself In
Its favor, while earnest Ihen OF every other
church arc uniting In this work. II this
State puts 1t on her banners, 1t will go forth
everywhere to conquer; 1t will renew the
South to righteousness 1t will expel the
greatest evil that now imperlls our institu-
lions; II will save our young men from the
ruin that overhangs them; II will deliver our
great and growing metropolis from the evil
that has so long oppressed II; 1t will repress
very largely, crime, paupcrism, and misery
Of every sort, and advance mankind along
the path Of divine progress to Its destined
perfection"
Accompanying the report was q series of
twenty resolutions. The first eleven, setting
forth the evils OF intemperance and uphold
ing prohibition, were unanimously adopted.
The twelfth resolution was as follows; We
hereby call on the political parties Of the
Commonwealth to insert In their platforms
the approval Of prohibition as principle,
right 10 itself, Of the highest benefit to the
people, that has been approved by the State
for the last thirty years, and In Its present
form for the last fifteen years, except in
single year Of falling away. 1t is, therefore,
so completely the policy Of the State that It's
representative parties should indorse II, and
indorsc II as their own.
This gave rise to an animated debate, some
of the speakers advocating, amid applause,
the formation Of q temperance party, but the
majority of the convention evidently pre-
fcrred to act within the Republican party,
and the resolution was adopted by large
majority. The thirteenth, fourteenth, and
fifteenth resolutions were accepted mem con.
A very sharp discussion took place In regard
TO the sixteenth resolution, some Of the most
earnest prohibitionists in the party thinking
that Major Jones, the constable of the Com
monwealth, was not enforcing the law as he
ought, especially In regard to sales Of lager
beer. IL was, however, finally adopted, eX-
tending thanks to the consiables for their
faithfulness and progress eyinccd In the eX
ecution of the law. Tho remainder OF the
resolutions were also unanimously adopted.
The Committee on Finance reported that
$4,000 ought to be raised for the ensuing
campaign. The report was adopted.
The convention Is said to have been the
most influential assemblage of prohibition.
lists ever held In the State, aud they evidently
mean to conduct vigorous campaign this
fall. They intend, contrary to their brethren
In Maine, to keep within the lines of tho Re.
publican party, whose leaders many of them
have been from the outset, and 1t Is far from
improbable that prohibitory plank will be
introduced into Its platform at the conven-
ton In September. 1t is proposed to start
cheap daily paper in the Interests OF prohl-
bition.