The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-09-18
Letter from Bro. Backus.
PArroysy1LLE, Sept. 9, 1873.

PATToNsyILLE, Sept. 9, 1873.
Mr.. EDIToR:-After interviewing the
ticket agent at Hamden, found there
were obstacles in the way of my contem-
plated trip westward. over which l had
no control, and made up my mind to
go over into Bloomfield. l found the
brethren there, as elsewhere, with pen in
hand, boldly prepared to rush in, if nee
essary, where even angels might fear to
tread. l have never witnessed greater
moral heroism than is displayed by this
devoted little band. many of them, that
write their own names. are now, with
dilated eyes. and protruding tongues,
preparing articles for the STANDARD and
Prohibition Era
We have everything to encourage US,
even in the midst of persecution l am
reliably informed that Mr. Radcliff, and
other close observers, give cheering ac-
counts of our success. They have looked
over the whole ground, and estimate our
vote in October in this county at near
four hundred. At least one dozen Of
these were formerly democrats.
Your party, Mr.. Editor, once loudly
boasted that you were the friends OF
temperance. How do you show it? Your
leaders oppose us, and say all manner of
evil of US, while the democratic chiefs
are giving us aid and comfort privately,
and labor with your deluded followers
daily, and many hear them gladly. One
mean trait in your party, is the disposi-
ton to stir up dead issues, and to ask i'm
pertinent questions. You even quote
scripture at US, about Christ making wine,
&c. Our answer to that, is, that it is a
dead issue-that he has not made any
lately, and if we succeed this fall he will
never make any in this State. Our plat
form is dead against the manufacture of
wine or cider
You sneer at US because we speak to
the public through the press. That is
your fault, not ours. You have so ira
duced and belittled our leaders that we
can't get any one to come out to our
meetings. Even the poor deluded Afri-
can is shy of us. They have gone back
on William even, and when he reasons
with them on their duty to their race,
temperance, and to William, they show
an unusual amount of white in their eye,
and ask him sneeringly if it looks green
to him. They say he wants to sell them
out, that it is too thin, and ooh no. not
for joe and all such disgusting slang.
always doubted the propriety of giving
the Negro his vote. They are an un-
grateful race. l reminded one the other
day that only few years since our leader
and Abe Morris, were almost the only
advocates of universal liberty amongst US,
he muttered something about sore
head, "dead-beat," &c. If he had not
been big niger there would have been
another "so-head,' as he called it.
And now, Mr.. Mackley, we propose to
make it lively for you yet this fall. We
are not as big fools as you think. You
will find out appearances are very de-
ceptive. 1t is only the way we look. We
tival before the election. Gen Sam.
Cary and others are expected to be pres
ent and address the multitude And
right here, let me say that under Provi-
dence, l regard the melon as our best
holt The Americans are thirsty race
They must treat, and here is the article
that will meet both cases. II will cool
the thirst and answer the place of the
social glass. have been a close observer
for many years, and l always find the
community where the melon doth most
abound, to be moral, econom: cal, and
temperate. They go to bed early,
and are sure to rise early | hope
to see the day when the--healthful
juice, of that noble fruit, which cheers,
but does not inebriate, will supplant all
the pops, cider, metheglin, and spruce
beer, that are blighting SO many of the
brightest intellects of our country, and
sending multiplied thousands to the pen
itentiaries and gallows.
And now, friends of temperance, let us
arouse ourselves Shake off this hang
dog expression, and come up boldly like
Americans. Let it never be said of us,
as of the rebs, that we marched behind
our wives and daughters. Let US not
sneak around as if we were ashamed of
our principles, or of our party; but with
a glass of the heaven distilled in one
hand and piece of melon in the other,
let us GO up and possess the land for we
are fully able. And let us all strive to
make water, and not whisky, the ma
tional beverge
And now, Mr.. Editor we shall meet no
more until after the election. If kind
Providence should give us the victory,
you will find US all at the town pump
Immediately after the tickets are counted
out. have spoken.
ELI BACKUs