Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-09-21
From the Ashtabuls Sentinel.
A TEMPERANCE PARTY.

/ a hANAE
We feel disposed to be liberal to-
wards all temperance men, because
they mean well and aim at what
| seems to them to be right, and there
fore we give place to articles intended
to prove what we cannot accept as good
political doctrine, and with which we
must take issue. This week we pub
lished an article signed Franklin, the
writer of which goes over all the old
beaten ground OF a thousand Prede-
cessOrs, complaining that the laws are
defective and the civil officers Of the
country cannot or will not enforce
them and then that all parties are
corrupt, and have no principles but
4" loaves and fishes" It is very easy
to talk in this strain, but it is well to
consider whether such charges are
really true, and whether a new party
will be formed that is pure, by the
destruction Of the present ones. We
reminded a Temperance correspond
ent, some time ago, that he could not
secure efficient temperance laws by
making a third party, because such
party would only draw votes from
the Republicans and il il produced
any effect, il would be to put the
power into the hands Of the Democ-
racy, whom he and Franklin both
knOlC never would enact stringent
LIQUOR laws as long as they had the
control. A third party temperance
movement will never do anything
but weaken itself-break its own back
by trying to lift too much-and Grip
pie its friends. Now it is an undenl-
able fact that the Republican party
embraces the great majority OF the
sober men of the country, and the
majority of the drunkards are in the
Democratic ranks. In other words
the temperance party now is the Re-
publican party and every sensible man
sees that whenever more efficient stat
utes are required by the circum-
stances, and there is a reasonable
prospect Of their being enforced and
applied to the cases in hand, the Re
Dublicans will enact them. 1t Is also
plain 10 every one Of our over-zeal-
Gus temperance politicians, that they
never can get anything Of the Demo-
Gratis. Now, how soon do they expect
to get a third party in the majority?
Let them think over the history Of
like movements and tell US how
many members they have elected to
the Legislature of our State2 And
as to corruption, it is a curious fact
that as rotten a politician as ever
breathed-Samuel +. Carey-was the
head and front of the temperance
movement in Ohio for years. Moth
ing could be done without him and
this movement now would have him
as q champion, if he didn't expect to
be sent to Congress by the DemOc-
racy. AS to the charge that the prin-
ciples Of the party are the lOaves and
fishes, il is false and silly, and it is
unworthy of q serious, honest man to
make il. There are men governed by
such motives in all parties; but they
are exceptions, and not the rule; and
they are likely to be Just as plenty in
q Temperance party as in any other.
And further than that, these third
parties are very liable to be taken
control Of by small men who fancy
they can manage a small party
Weak minded fellows, who are never
trusted when there is anything to be
done, take the lead in breaking down
majorities in some party that they
may do something; and they are, Of
all others, the most liable to be i'm
posed upon by the promises of the
''loaves and fishes" hunters. 1t is a
very small style of clap-trap 10 be
making this charge; and we cannot
avoid thinking unfavOrably Of any
movement that starts OFF by making
it. And then what sense is there in
talking about the people rising indie
pendently Of parties, and making
reforms, when the whole people is
embraced within the parts?
Seriously, we would do anything
we could to promote temperance
perfect tempeTance-but in all can
dor and kindness we mutt say to our
friends who are moving in this diree-
ton, this is not the way to secure
temperance. You and we want tenn
perance TO prevail; and we shall
employ our time much more prof
itably if we direct our efforts to
bringing about that state of things
in which the drunkard can be re-
formed without depending upon leg
islation. Temperance is a personal
virtue that each individual must ae-
quire for himself; and they who
would promote it should try to assist
those who fall before the temptations
to drink, to battle with and overcome
those temptations. Now we are well
aware that it is a great labor to over
come the appetite for strong drink,
and it will require all the effort the
individual himself and his friends
can put forth to achieve the victory /; /.
but great labor as it may be, we doubt |
if IL will require more effort than it |
would to build up a political party, |
and get it Into such working order as /
will secure the general sobriety of the I
community. And after all you will /
not really have conquered the evil, /
in a fair stand-up fight with the /
monster, but simply fenced him out |
where one of his victims dare not /
venture. We insist that the love of /
strong drink can be conquered, as the |
" socialn or any other evil may be ; /
and it would be a noble thing for /
those who love their neighbOrs to /
direct their efforts in that channel, so /
that we could show the world men .
who had grown strong enough to I
wrestle with the vice in safety and .
walk unframed through the fumes of !
the Internal stuff. Direct your con-
fiict so as to strike the evil, and apply |
your labor to break down drunken /
ness rather than political parties
You may do something in that way, /
and you may depend upon doing .
nothing politically.