Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-02-10
About Temperance Mon Holding
Office.

Ab,ut Temperance Mon Holding
Office.
We notice that a certain portion
of the people in certain communi-
ties in the State of Ohio have very
suddenly become temperate, that is,
they have organized Temperance
Societies. This is all very good
we think some men ought not to be
quite SO incorporate; we would
rather not see them so-but that is,
or should be, every mans own bust
ness. Now, we notice, that in all
these temperance organizations, in
Guiding we believe the one in Near
thur they prohibit the use of bad
whisky and introduce politics in its
stead. The Ohio Statesman says the
80 called temperance men of Ohio,
who are annually affected with an
itching for Office, have tried again
and again to make a temperance
party in politics to control all the
offices of the State. Except in a
few instances, and a few localities,
these efforts have been failures. -
And, because of this dabbling in
politics--offlce seeking on the part
of those who manage, Or attempt to
managethe temperance organization
in Ohio, instead of directing their
efforts to the reformation of men by
moral suasion, temperance has not
been q success.
The late State temperance conven
ton at Columbus discussed more
politics than temperance. A large
minority favored political action,
and the majority would have dwin-
died to minority had not portion
of the members living in strong
Radical counties, where the leading
politicians we're, If not in the whisky
ring, at least "ardent" politicians,
who treat aud are treated, declared
the impossibility Of voting for a
Democrat under any and all circum-
stances.
One year since, the temperance
convention resolved to support no
man for Office who used ardent
spirits. Atthe Presidential election
this pledge was forgotten. As it
was then, so it will be again, when
such pledge is fodnd to initiate
against the Radical party.
1t is the conduct of men such as
these, who seek Office on the tenn
perance hobby, who make pledges
but to be broken, that causes the
temperance movement to be viewed
as one that is more of q thing of
contempt, rather than of admiration.
In almost every speech of these
political temperance men, the Dem
ocratic party, with its members,
were arraigned as intemperate.--
This, too, from members Of a party
whose candidate for President, and
for whom these so called temperance
men voted, was charged by lead.
ing member of his own party, as
having been drunk in the streets of
Washington, within one year--who
could not sta I'd up before whisky
|, bottle, but would fall to the ground
from its effects--a party that has
just reelected Chandler, Senator
from Michigan, after he was de-
nouncod as a drunken sot by His
own party press--a party, whose
leading Senators, Yates, Wade,
Sprague, et0l., are Of an e imbiJsng"
nature. The Constitution Of Ohio
prohibits the licensing Of men to re.
tail spirituous liquors. The law Of
Congress, which does license liquor
dealers, was passed by the party
friends Of mon who thus denounce
the Democratic party, and yet, the
Republican party, If their word is
to be taken, is the only temperance
one, and tho Democracy tho only
anti-temperance party In the land.
When these ISLANDERS cease when
temperance men are temperate in
denunciation, and honestly seek the
good Of their follow men adopt
moral suasion, and no slander and
vituperation, then, and not until
then, good men, who tonch not, taste
not, handle not, ardent spirits, will
enlist in the cause and urge II for
ward, s N
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