The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-03-29
The National Prohibition Convention.

We lean from the TVdtchword and
Patriot that there were 1874 delegates
from nine different States present at the
National Prohibition Convention which
met at Columbus, Ohio, February 22d.
The President of the Convention, Mr..
Samuel Chase, took substantially the
position that inasmuch as each of the
present political parties was disposed to
ignore the temperance element for the
sake of obtaining the liquor vote of the
country, therefore the formation of a
third political party recognizing the i'm
mense importance of this element was
justifiable.
In accordance with this, the preamble
of the platform adopted declares that as
all political parties are hopelessly un-
willing to adopt an adequate policy on
the question of prohibition, therefore
this convention declares that the traffic
in intoxicating beverages is a dishonor
to Christian civilization, inimical to
the best interests of society, a political
wrong of unequaled enormity, sub
versive of the ordinary objects of gov
ernment, not capable of being regulated
or restrained by any system of license
whatever, and imperatively demanding
for its suppression effective legal pro-
hibition, both by State and national
legislation.
The resolutions declare there can be ho
greater peril to a nation than the exist
ing party competition for the liquor
yotei that the removal from public offices
for mere difference of opinion is wrong,
that fixed and moderate salaries should
take the place of fees and perquisites;
that all means be taken to prevent cor
ruptiOn and encourage economy; that
the President and Vice President should
be elected directly by the people.
They also favor a sound national cur
rency adequate to business and convert
ible into gold and silver at the will of
the holder; insist that the rate of ocean
and inland postage, railroad and tele-
graph charges, and rates of transporta-
ton should be made as low as possible
by law; oppose discrimination in favor
of capital against labor; favor the enten-
sion of suffrage to all regardless of sex;
fostering the extension of common
schools by government, and liberal
policy to encourage immigration.
Having adopted the platform, the
convention proceeded to nominate
James Black, of Pennsylvania, for Pres
ident, and John Russell, of Michigan,
for Vice President. Both of these men
are represented as Jealous third party
men, whose devotion to the cause of
Temperance will prompt them to do all
i'm their power to make the movement
successful.
No one suppOses that temperance of
itself can furnish all the ground requisite
for the foundation of a third political
party; but, unless one or the other of the
present political parties will see enough
in the subject of temperance, out of
which to construct at least plank in its
platform, we confess our inability to see
any other way of dealing justly with
this hydra-headed monster of iniquity,
which is in its measure running our
country, than to raise up a political
party which, if it cannot remove the
evil absolutely, will at least labor for
such legislation as shall not countenauce
the nefariOus traffic in intoxicating
drink any more than it does murder or
any other crime against God and hu-
manity. There is involved in this mat
ter huge principle that has already as
sumed shape and form in individual
consciences, and will inevitably, sooner
or later, be developed into a PUBLIC
SOUL, so to speak, which, real though
invisible, will go marching on through
the length and breadth of the land
"conquering and to conquer when the
bodies of these progenitOrs, like that of
old John Brown, lie mOuldering in their
graves.-P C. AdrOcdte.