Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-09-23
Gempsranff.
A Temperance Political Party.

=
A National Temperance Conven.
tion" was held in Chicago, few days
since, to organize temperance political
party. Judge Black, of Pennsylvania,
/ presided, and delegates were present
from many of the States. Rev. r.. NJ.
Hatfield opposed the formation of par
ty, believing that it would do more harm
than good. Edward C.. Delavan, the
veteran champion of the cause, also sent
letter dissenting from the measure
But Gerris Smith and others, after an
exciting discussion, succeeding in car
rying out the purpose for which the
Convention was called. The preambles
and resolutions adopted are as follows /:
WHEREAS, Protection and allegiance
are reciprocal duties, and every citizen
who yields obedience to the just com.
mands of his government is entitled to
the full, complete, and perfect protec-
tion Of that government in the enjoy
ment Of personal security, personal lib
! erty, and private property and
WHEREAS, The traffic in intoxicating
drinks greatly impairs the personal Sc
curity and personal liberty of the large
masses of citizens, and renders private
property insecure; and
WHEREAS, The existing parties are
hopelessly unwilling to adopt an ade-
quate policy on this question therefore
we, in national convention assembled,
as citizens Of this free republic, sharing
in the duties and responsibilities of its
government, in the discharge OF a solemn
duty we owe to our country and race,
unite in the following declaration OF
principles:
ResotUed, I. That, while we acknowl-i
edge the pure patriotism and profound
craftsmanship of those patriots who laid
broad and deep the foundations of this
government, securing at once the rights
of the States severally and their insep-
cradle union by the Federal Constitu-
ton. we would not merely garnish the
sepulchers Of our Republican fathers,
hyt we do hereby renew our solemn
pledges of fealty to the imperishable
principles of civil and religious liberty
embodied in the Declaration of ,Ameri-
can independence and our Federal Con-
stitution.
.. That traffic in Intoxicating bever-
ages is dishonor to Christian ciyiliza-
ton, inimical to the hest interests of So
ciety, a political wrong of unequaled
enormity, subversive ofthe ordinary OBJ
jects of the Government, not capable of
being regulated or restrained by any
system of license whatever, but impera.
lively demanding for its suppression eff
fective legal prohibition, both by State
and national legislatures.
s. That, in view of this, and inasmucb
as the existing political parties either
oppose or ignore this great and para.
mount question, and absolutely refuse
to do anything toward the suppression
of the rum traffic, which is robbing the
nation of its Observation-Disclosures DESTROY.
ing its natural prosperity and under.
mining its. very foundations, we are
driven by an imperative sense of duty
to sever our connection with these mar.
ties, and to organize ourselves into a
National Anti-Dramshop Party" bay-
ing for its primary object the entire ann.
preston of the traffic in Intoxicating
drinks. eRtf .sa.t RFP
4. While we adopt the name Of IA nti- |
DramshOp Party" subsequently chang |
ed to National Temperance PartynIs ss
expressive of our primary object, and
while we denouuce all reputation OF
the public debt, and pledge fidelity to
the Declaration of Independence and
the Federal Constitution, We deem II
inexpedient TO give prominence to other
political issues.
3. That a Central Executive Commit.
tee of one from each State and territorv
and the District Of Columbia be appojnf-
ed by the chair, whose duty 1t shall be
to take such action as in their Judgment
will best promote the interests of the
party.