The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1874-09-03

nauonai politics the Republican party may enter the
lists with our old adyerssries.
TRANSPORTATION AND LABOR
There are two topics that like TO enter into our
ponueaI controversies that have not yet been 20 de-
vel9Ped BY discussion TO justify me 10 defining the
position OF the Republican party II indeed they are
capable Of political issue mean the transportA-
.lon and labor questions. And as 10 both OF these
know no better rule Of action than to leave them To
the laws Of supply and demand, without invoking the
power OF the Government control either wages or
tltes II the right Of every man TO get as much for
MS labor as he can, and 10 avoid undue competition,
ne Is al perfect liberty 10 agree or combine
with Others TO refuse 10 work or do any lawful act 70
n MAKE MS work more valuable. But any act done Dy
MN 70 prevent others from working, or 70 deter or
hinder like liberty In Others, Is an unlawful act 10
Dc prohibited aud punished according 10 It's degree
Lawyers, doctors, preachen literary men or laborers
h,ss!s Se governed oy the same law and that the
hghesl law, to work when, where, and as much or
niue as ne chooses and 10 get much as he for
MS labor: Actual freedom 70 all 10 employ or TO be
employed at any lawful business, without fear or
iayor, without threat intimidation, and TO
get all he can Jor his labor, is the primary
law that sprang from the curse that fell
upon Adam This applies to corporations as 70
corporations being creations Of law have no rights but
what are conferred by law. They have no natural
rights II Is perfectly within ,he power Of the State that
creates them, TO reserve the power TO amend their
charters and 10 exercise that power. In view Of the
"strikes" and the "Grangers'-the one TO promote
the Interests Of mining and mechanical labor, and the
other the interests Of tarme-it is obvious that
are 70 deal with the vital issues Of the hour must
study these phases Of political STRIFE and be pre-
pared to meet them. No party organization is better
able TO deal with them than the Republican party
INTEGRITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
There is another ordeal TO which the Republican
party has submitted itself, to degree hereto
fore adopted by any party-namely the duty Of self
examination IL has freely and proudly courted, In
Ved, aud conducted investigations into the conduct
oi It's most trusted agents. II has eyaded re-
nj An Inv
ried his sefexamnation further than the Republican
party has. And what has been the resultP No doubt
here and there misconduct, neglect and violations Of
law or OF official decacy and propriety have been dis
covered When was 1t otherwise2 When win 1t be
otherwise? While Governments must be conducted
by human agents such faults have existed, and will
exist when were they ever more severely
or perhaps l ought to say, by healthy
public opinion, that will now excuse less and de-
mands more Of public. agents than ever before 1
have been member OF ten Congresses, and can
truly say that neither Of them has been as exact and
careful In performing public duty-as free from all
Just suspicion or faint OF corruptonas aborous and
PainstaKing-nor as able in the general average Of
ability, as the present Congress And can also say
from history and from my observation so far as It
goes, that there never assembled In this country
Congress more free from the vice Of intemperanee
believe, gentlemen, that while the issues we are 10
present and discuss changing that the moral tone
the educational standard-the general intelligence
Of our people-is higher, better aud more advanced
niand from their political leaders and organizations
more considerate measures and more thoughtful dis
discussion, without pretense on the one hand dem
agogism on the other.
TEMPERANCE IN POLITICS.
And now, gentlemen, In conclusion allow me to say
few words upon subject that has never been a po-
litical one that ought not 10 be made so now but
which will whether we wish or no. greatly affect Do
ltical results not only In Ohio but In many States of
the Union. lmean the temperance question. That
nemperance Is the monster evil Of society especially
In English speaking countries, Is fact which no man
can dispute It presented daily by the bear-eyed
whisky seller dealing out his slow poison depraved
appetite-by the drunkard boated and reelng robbed
OF his mind, his manhood aud his honor by what he
hasdrank-by the poor wife growing daily more faded
and wan more hopeless and homeless--by the ragged
children neglected, plnched with hunger, and shrink
ing Win shame IRON neaaa Play y the thought
aud add crime In every form, the trial at the bar the
penitentary, the seaod and the poor-house and you
have the evils OF intemperance God knows they are
fearful enough without adding the exaggeratons Of
rhetoric. No wonder that good men and women de-
mand with fierce energy that all the agencies Of he
the Church. the State, political parties, prayer Speech
song, the tears OF women and the courage Of men
should be arrayed against this monster. They de-
mand that the Republican party shall not only under
take to destroy this evil but shall do II in particular
way, by prohibiting the sale OF all spirituous ynous
and malt liquors. Now, while admitting The fearful
evils Of intemperance, while willing as citizen 70
do all can by moral suason or by law
TO check these evils, | must reply. that
political party not the best agency TO deal with this
question: and that absolute and general prohibition Is
not the best means to effect the hopedfor result Let
US think Of these propositions moment. Political
parties are formed Of men Of widely different opinions
on religion, politics, morals, and the like, but who
agree In some common principles effectng the frame
work Of the Government or Its administration. From
the composition oil the Republican party 1t no doubt
embraces great portion Of the temperance men Of the
country, but IL also embraces a multitude Of other
men who may differ as to the principle or mode Of
dealing with the evils Of intemperance. Must we
abandon our political principles and drive from us
those who agree with US in political topics merely 10
do as party what we can now do as citizens2 As
citizens we can vote for temperance men-we
can use our moral social and political influence TO
make and enforce wise temperance laws. We can in
yoke the aid not only Of Republicans but OF Democrats
for that work. We can organize societies lecture,
speak, pray exhort and get others To do likewise. 1t
Is sheer folly in my humble judgment, for those who
would destroy intemperance TO invoke the agency of
political party TO secure the passage Of prohibitory
law Is far better to leave such question to the
constantly improving morals and education of the
whole people Of Ohio as represented in our General
Assembly. II is purely local question TO be decided
by local law, and affecting alone the people Of Ohio
tional interests We are able to deal with our local
questions without mingling them with our national
politics.
PRACTICABLE RELIEF.
As to the measures TO be adopted there is wide d-
ference OF opinion. We know by experience In many
States that general prohibtory law can not and will
not be enforced. 1t has the form Of law but not the
force OF law. In communities where a strong senti-
men exists against the sale OF LIQUOR such law NAV
be enforced and this cansbe fully accomplished by
local option law. From my observations In different
States and in Europe am satisfied much wider dis
tinetion should be made by laws In the sale Of
spirituous and vinous and malt liquors. Distilled
spirits, as now made, used beverage are necessarily
poison, while beer aud wine may be harmless and
In many cases are beneficial We know that in France
Germany, and Italy, where wine or beer enter in.
TO the consumption Of every household as
tea and coffee do with us, drunken man
is rarely seen, aud is promptly arrested as
q criminal. While In Scotland, Ireland and England
and In many Of the States where whisky Is beverage
drunken men daily stagger, with the unquestioned
right to the public highway. l give you, as my
opinion, for which no one else Is responsible
that carefully imposed tax liquor sellers, yielding
to the people OF Ohio not less than one million of dol
lars Of revenue and carefully discriminating against
the whisky seller, with local option law and the en-
enforcement Of the Adair law, would be far better
liqnor law that can be framed and enforced. But,
above ALL l. contend that every Republican Of any
creed or nationality shall be free TO vote beeYe and
act on this question he thinks right being RESPONSE
BILE to the public opinion and the law TOR his conduct
1t is not political question, and not and ought
not to be made one.
Let the Republican party, then, with its honorable
record meeting fairly every question OF the hour
evadng nothing following, As Of DID, Its instructive
love Of liberty and equa! rights, with strong sympathy
for those that labor In every field Of employment with
love Of country that will not for moment listen to
dsunon or dishonor, without prejudice Of race or
guided 1t thus fale this party enter the lists before
ha WA nd tha nda,.s.