Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-06-24
COMMUNICATED.
THE PROHIBITION MOVE NIENT.

EDS. GAzETrE.-In the last Herald find
this political item
"On the Ist inst, a convention of forty
Delegates met in COlum bus and putin nom
inatiou q State Tenn perance ProhioittDn
Ticket. The Radicals claim that the move
ment was organized expressly to create a
division in the Republican ranks in favor
of the Democracy"
AS I mad the honor to be one of the dis
Inguished 4fOrty," it seems proper that l
should reply to this charge, in dong so, 1
shall not consider the question of prohibi-
ton on it, merits. But only its rel alton to
the Republican party. Think, however, the
Herald man is a little mistaken, as to who
makes the charge, or else he uses the term
Radical in much broader sense than Web
ster allows, apply ing it 10 the Republican
party in general, instead of it's progressive
eIemaut no man who is at an entitled 10
be called a Radical IN any true sense of the
word believes any such nonsense. He
k9lo10s (IntuitIvely If he be Il true Radical)
that the prohibitiOnists are moved by prin
ciplrs, that tower far above any principle
in the creed or platform of either the Re-
publican or Democratic party. He knows
that they regard the QUESTION or prohtbi-
zion, not only as paramount to any other
QUESTION of pubic policy, but far Surpass-
ing in the magnitude OF its Importance, OU
other questions put together now before the
public, or likely to ever come before it, And
he knows, moreover. that they have no
more affinity for the Democracy (as a par
ty) than OIL for Wat-F. This charge comes
much mo- naturally fruIn the cOnserva-
tive element, of the Republican party the
grumblers and GROWERS, the tsloW coaches
that have to be dragged forward, in every
progressive movement OF the party. And
ia~hed like lazy oxen by the 7stern exigen-
cles of party necessity to the performance
But viii the prohibition movement and
the agitation or that question at this time,
prove detrimental to the Republican party.
In my Judgement, thaG depends altogether
on the action of that party itself. Il wise
couns-ls prevail it. viii proceed with alac-
rity, at its coming State Convention 10 as
sert an unequivOcal prohibition plank in
iIs platform, and nominate an uneQuiYOcal
n, ,0hiDitiou ticket This would give II new
VII a If 0Ts5F rezpr
Now since the issues oulle war are settled,
and the results secured in The organic law,
it presents the anomaly in the worlds his
tory, OF the greatest political party ever or
ganized, now at the acme of its pOWeF, in
the glory OF IT'S triumph, without a single
well defined, living principle. Now that
the question of manhood suffrage IS 30 well
settled that the Democracy drop it cut OF
their platform as a dead issue, and the va
lidiIy OF The National debt Is no longer Sc
riOuSly questioned
What are the principles of the Republi-
can party? Where dues it stand on the tar
III, the finance, and other ordinary QueS-
tions of public policy? If the speeches and
OF its press are indicative of its position, it
is considerably scattered on all these ques-
tiOns. And the New York election looks as
though it were Slightly demoralIzed. The
idea that such party as the RepublIcan,
com posed of such elements, with such
history, grand, glorious, and sublime be-
yUnd a parallel, can be kept together for
no higher purpose, than JO keep It's leaders
in offfce is too absurd Tor respectful consid-
ture, as in the past grand pr1nclpIr 1of lts
raliyingcrN. A principle higher than paltry
dollars and cents, or any other mere tenn
DoFary mater ial interest. A principle IN
VoIVinK the elevation and progress of the
human race, toward the goal of ultimate
txcellenCe. Such a principe 1t can nave
by declaring for prohibition, and "h<htlng
II out on the line" where it can achieve
victories, more Curious than AppomatJOXs
and more triumphant Than the Fifteenth
Amendment. As it delivered the black
man from bondage of African slavery TO
striking down the monster. Let II now de-
liver the white m n from The faF more de-
grading bondage of Alcohol, by similar
process of determination.
know that some have honest doubts
about the security of the issues OF Ihe var
and the war debt. These doubts are rea-
sOnable, and respect them. But nave
no fear on the subject. No party could live
two years that would dare attempt To undo
4hts work Revolutions never go back
ward" Prohibition is but higher deVel-
upement, Il purer refinement Of the same
great pIinefple on which the war was
b. ought on and fought oub--Human Free
d0m-The emancipatiu OF man The
elevation of the human race, is the GOD
given principle underlying both move
ments. One has for deliverance from
and passions, and the other is for de-
liVerance from the effect of unbrt-
died human appetites and passions of the
same class, and very nearly the same KIND.
Why should the party, that overcame the
one monster, hesitate to attack the other.
Democracy To take q "n~w departure" II
they would succeed. This advice is now all
needed at home, and unless il be applied
to ourselves and acted upon, they are like
ly to get ahead of us.
CONCLUDED ON % PAGE.l