Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-11-20
Temperance, Politics, Woman Suf-'
frage. sc. &c.

lie Is 3 snent speaker, a good gram
marian, aud we have no doubt is a good
man generally. But We confess we
would have felt much more respect for
HIM, T. we had not heard his lecture on
last EUday evening. He seemed to
restrain himself in his lecture on Sun
lay afternoon, and it is likely his con
science Smote him after he left here, for
not speaking more plainly in relation
to the Temperance ticket, 50 after he
got 20 Wheeling, he Jelegraphed back
that he would return and lecture here
on Friday night lie came; he lectur-
ed; and he took vote in the meeting
which was quite complimentary to his
ability as a speaker.
Mr.. RuSSelI's position, is in the very
front Of the advance guard of the TEN.
peraace cause. He is in favorOf turn;
ing ont 81 the old parties, aud putting
in good temperance men in their places.
lie says The Republican party is the
guardian angel Of grOg shops, but the
Democratic p rty need not take any
pride n what he says, for the reason
they are not, is that they have not the
power. lie believes there should be q
Total Abstinence party formed and
that the Government should be run on
that platform.
lie thinks if any body asks the poll
cy of the Government in relation to
anything, they should answer Temper
auce.' So if any body should say to
the temperance men, "well, how do You
propose to treat this difficulty with
SPAIN "Oh! we run this government
on temperance principles
well, perhaps some complications
will arise with England what wou;d'you
iO:7 Enact a prohibi;ory liquor law
Suppose the empire is restored in
France, and the French resent the favor
shown to the German Government,
what then?
Adopt Neil BOWS amendment to
the constitution
But seriously, Mr.. Russell is not
wise He is too rash. 1t may do in
some communities but these advanced
doctrines will not take here.
We believe the temperance cause is a
good cause; it has no doubt done a
great deal to alleviate the troubles
caused by the use of ardent spirits, but
the idea of running the Government OF
the United States, on a platform con-
structed Of one single plank; pardon,
perhaps there are two,-one total alb
stinence; the other woman suffrage
IS absurd.
Mr.. RusSelrs lecture on Friday
night, was a fair average stump speech;
he set up lis imaginary opponents, and
2owled themdowu with all the ease acqui
Iuired by practice. but itsrtuck US sever
Il times that real man, would be able
10 detect very readily the "ad captain
ium" nature Of the arguments, and to
.efute them easily.
Mr.. Russell tried to compare the pc
;tion of the temperance men to those of
he abolitionists, in relation to the old
Wig and Democrat parties, and said
hat the Abolition party had grown in
70 the great Republican party. This
5 not so. The old Abolition party and /
Is leaders, VIM. LLOYD Garrison, Wen
lell Phillips and others denounced the
party as not representing
heir sentiments.
The Abolition party did represent a
moral question, nd its leaders 50 avow-
dit. 1t never did, and never could
sSume any plaee among the great par
les OF the day
Nj Russell in his argument, stated
distinctly that The Temperance question
vas noc q moral, but 4 legal question
That assertion takes away al the dig
lily Of his position. If there is no
loral question involved, any legislation
N the subject Is mjus, and Improper;
is in the qu st,on of morals that the
question lies; it is on the
lea of the sale of Intoxicating liquors
Increasing vice and immortality in the
that legislation is asked, to
e>train or prohibit its sale. So We re-
'eat that his denial of the moral bearing
4 tse question, takes away from i, all
Is dignity,
~ for Las woman suffrage position,
We look on It. simply as a ->pras 70
atch whale" Temperance was lone
;, and woman suffrage was added as a
like-wcight. Whether he goes the
' ole Woolhul platform, he did not
ay
In conclusion, if Mr.. Russell would
stcn to a suggestion from one who is
very wnblc' We would advise him not
o wind up political meeting with the