Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-10-08

Address to the County Committees OF
the Prohibition Party from the
Prohibition Committee of Union
County, Ohio; also Indorsed by
the Prohibition Convention Meet.
ing at Marysville, Union County
Sept. 25, 1874.
BRETHREN: The philosophy of third
parties is to compel one of the great
political parties to assume a certain
issue before the people; or, if neither
of the great political parties will as
sumo the issue, to break down all op-
position, and thus make the third
party triumphant. If it be possible
to compel one of the great parties tc
take up the third party issue, it is al
ways expedient not to press that par
ty to assume the issue too boldly at
the outset, for this would often be the
folly of inviting defeat, when more
slow advance to the idea would have
given continuous victory, and far
greater triumph for the main idea OF
the third party.
The above propositions are clearly
illustrated in our own history. The
anti-slavery men, the old Abolition
lists, held to stern radicalism until
the Republican party took up their
issue, and although the Republicans
took up their idea in part and not in
toto, yet the Abolitionists as a mass
dropped their third party organiza-
tion and threw themselves heart and
soul into the Republican ranks; for
with true wisdom they saw that if
their ideas even in part were thrown
into political canvass as between
the two great parties that the stern
and sure logic of events would CON-
pei advance, and that thus they would
secure the destruction of slavery by
the entering wedge of the principle
that slavery should be hedged in
where it was already in power, and
that beyond those limits it should not
advance.
Now ProhibitiOnists should be as
wise in their generation as the Aboli-
tionists were in theirs.
Inasmuch as the Republicans, en-
boldened by the glorious issue of the
late license and anti-license struggle,
have in good measure taken a stand
for temperance as against the anti
temperance party, let us, instead of
keeping up our protest by voting for
prohibition candidates assume those
of the Republican party, and thus
swell their majorities in the coming
elections.
We have considered the papers is
sued by the Prohibition State Com
mittee, and do not hold their action
to be wise and truly expedient. If
the Republicans should lose this
election by their partial advocacy of
our measures, it would be q great
calamity for which we should be
largely responsible; and it might
cause them to take lower ground in
their next struggle for power. Thus
like the dog in the old fable, we
should lose the meat by an unwise
effort after the shadow of good things
All reforms on great moral ques-
tions are necessarily slow. The Re
publicans, in answer to our last vote
of over 10000, and in answer to the
majority of over 1000, obtained by
the noble endeavors of the Ladies'
Leagues, have given us the temper
ance plank in their last State plat
form; and as a response, let us in
common with the ladies', pour forth
generously of effort and time, so as
to greatly swell their majorities; then
we can with good face demand
larger things hereafter. If they who
play us false do not in the future so
legislate as to cripple and actually
largely diminish the liquor traffic,
then with all the more force, and with
the approving vote of all good men,
we can again raise the banner of pro-
hibition, which now we consent to
lower.
Lastly, the Ku-Klux and White
League outrages in the South show
clearly and Enthusiastically that it
would be madness to diminish the
power of the Republican party at this
next election.
w. z. LINCOLN,
Chairman of Union Co. Prohibition
Com.
The Committee also passed unani-
mously, the following:
Resolved, That the Ladies' TEN
perance League of Union County, and
all friends of temperance, be request
ed to take immediate and effective ac-
ton to secure a full vote at the com
ing election in favor of the election
of temperance men, and securing the
triumph of temperance principles.
Also, that the State Temperance
League be requested to aid in the
furtherance of these objects through
out the State.