The New York herald., 1870-09-15
Prohibition in Massachnsntts--Les.er from
Wendcll PhilIios.

BOSTON, Sept. IA, 1870
Wendell Phillips has addressed the following let
ter to the Chairman OF the Prohibitory State Central
Committee.-
DEAR SIR-.-WheE your convention nominated me
for Governor OF the State Ii was agreed, II satlsfac-
tory 1t ana to me- that official notice Of the noun
inat0n should be sent me and no formal acceptance
ASKED Alter maturer consideration OF the whole
SUBJECT am convinced that It Is best tnat should
express my profound sense OF the honor you do me;
my entire agreement with you in the necessity OF
distinct special POLITICAL party, and my willingness
tnat In AID vi suoh party yon should make such
use Of my name as seems best AS temperance
men, you were bound TO quit The republican party,
Any prohbi,onist who adhares TO procaims before
hand ms @ Wiinlgness 10 pc sneaed anu SO ar as
The republican party deserves our gratitude; it has
achieved local repute; 1t viii deserve our support
whenever it grapples with our present living diff.
Cultics. A party must 1--we on present service, not
on laurels, however well earned. have no wish to
be Governor OF Massachusetts, but to rally a poui.
cal party OF dislnterestea men: we must give years
to the work OF enlightenng the puplic mind and
organizing their ranks. IN that work am willing
TO he used. My lnchnatlons would induce me to
decline the nomination; but dare not do so in
view OF the vast interest involved In your move
ment, which calls on each one Of us TO make every
sacrhce TO insure It's success. No one supposes
that law can make men temperate. Occasion
nGy some o,,y sou oe'raJs t1e average level OF
be our belief aud plan. Temperance men, on tho
contrary, have always known and argued that we
must trust to argument example, social influence
md religious principle 10 make men temperate; but
law can shut up those bars and dram shops which
feed internperance, which double our taxes, make
our streets unsafe for men OF feeble resolution,
treble the peril OF property and life ana make the
masses fools Ia the hands Of designing to UNDER
mine and cripple the law. The use Of Intoxicating
liquors rests with each mans discretion, but the
trace 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 10 shut up dram
shops. We have never yet ruled great city on the
principle OF sefgovernment. Republican institu-
tons undermined by intemperancc ara Obliged TO
confess that they have never governed great
city here the basis Of universal suffrage In such
way as 60 preserve order, protect HE and secure
free speech.
New York, run by drunsards, Is q proof Of the
despotism OF the dram shop. Men whom murder.
ers serve that they may escape ana because they
have escaped ruie that city. The ribald crew which
hold them up could neither stine their own con-
science nor rally their forces but for the help Of tho
grogshop. Ike testimony comes from the history
" our other great cities. State laws de6ed in
their streets, and by means OF the dranshop and the
g1lded saloon Of the fashionable hotel their ballot
boxes are in the hands OF the criminal classes OF
tlea- who ,ay9vsalY ap9 systematically dc8l tae