Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-09-21
Wendell Phillips Acceptance.

Mr. Phillips has NulIc"uN wv Wlv"'"b
letter to the Chairman of the Prohib'ory
State Central Committee. accepting the nom
nation for Governor.
BosroN, Sept -, 1870.
Dear Sir,-Whcn your convention nomin'
oted me for Governor of the State, 1t was
agreed for reasons satisfactory to 1t and to
me. that no official notice Of the nomination
should be sent me and no formal acceptance
asked
A maturer consideration Of the whole sub
icct couvincos me that it is best ! should eX-
press my profound sense Of the honor you 90
me, my entire agreement with you IN the ne
ccssity Of q distinct, special, political party,
and my willingness that in rallying such
party YOU should make such use ofmy name
as seems best.
As temperance men, You were bound to
quit the Republican party, since 1t has de-
cciyed YOU more than once. Any Prohibit
ionist who adhcrcs to it, proclaims beforehand
his willingness to be cheated, and, so Tar as
political action is concerned, botrays his prln-
ciples The Republican party deserves our
gratitude. 1t has achieved great results. It
will deserve our support whenever 1t Crap
pies with our present living difficulties. a
party must live on present service not on
IaureIs, however well earned
have no wish to be Governor Of Massa-
chusetts. But, to rally a political party dis
interested men must give years to the work
Of cnlightcning the public mind and orgaui-
zinr their ranks. In that work | am willing
to be used My inclinations would induce
me to decline the nomination, but dare not
do so in view Of the vast interests involved in
your movement, which call on each one Of us
to make every sacrifice to insure It's success.
No one supposcs that law can make men
temperate. Occasionally some sot betrays
the average level of liquor intelligence by
tancyiug that TO be our belief aud plan. Tenn
pcrance men, on the contrary, have always
known aud argued that We must trust TO ar
gument, example, social influence aud religious
principle to make men temperate But law
can shut up those bars aud dram-shops which
facilitate and feed intemperance which dou-
bic our taxes, make our streets unsafe for
men Of feeble resolution, treble the peril to
property and life, and make the masses tools
in the hands Of designing men to undermine
and cripple law
The use Of intoxicating liquors rests with
each mans discretion. But the frade in
them comes clearly within the control Of law.
Many considerations-and among them the
safety and success of republican Institutions
bid US put forth the full power Of the law to
shut up dram-shops We have never yet
ruled q great city on the principles Of self
government. Republican institutions, under
mined by iutemperance, are obliged to confess
that they have never governed great city
here on the basis OF universal suffrage in
such way as to preserve order, protect life
and secure free speech.
New York, ruled by dunkards, is proof Of
the dcspotism Of the dram.shop,-men whom
murderers serve, that they may escape and
because they have escaped, rule that city,
The ribald crew which holds them up could
neither stiae its own conscience, nor rally its
retnuc but for the help Of the grog-shops
\ like testimony comes from the history of
our other great cities. State laws are de6cd
in their streets, and, by means Of the dram
shop and gillel saloons Of fashionable hotels
their ballot-box is in the hands Of the crimi-
nal classes-of men who ayowedy and sys-
iematcally defy the laws. Indeed, this is the
case in Boston
Since your nomination was made, have
been honored with another by the working
men Of Massachusetts Their cause is a
powerful ally Of yours. Whatever lifts the
masses TO better education and more selEcon-
troll, and secures them thor full rights, helps
the temperance cause. Indeed, theirs is a
radical movement, broad as the human race
and property includes everything that Gle
Yates man, and subjects passion and tempta
tion to reason and principle.
But the only bulwark against the danger
Of intemperance is prohibition
More than thirty years of experience ha,
convinced me, and as wide an experience ha
taught you, that this can only be secured b.,
means Of distinct political organization
Thoroughly as | dislike to have my mann
used in a political canvass DO not feel tina
have the right to refuse its use, if yor
think it will strengthen your party.
| am, very respectfully yours,
WENDELL PHuWs.