Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17
Platform of the National Temperance
Convention.

The following resolutions were adopted
by the National Temperance Convention
recently in session in Chicago:
WHEREAS, The divine blessing has rested upon
the efforts of the friends of temperance in the
past; that under that blessing we are here assem-
bled in the Eighth National Convention, and
deem it our duty and privilege to gratefully
knowledge the hand of the Almighty in guiding
this cause on toward final triumph; therefore.
ReSOtUeQ That we hereby acknowledge our de-
.endence on the divine guidance, and call upon
all friends Of the temperance reform to suppl
cate the aid of the Almighty in securing the bless
ing Of temperance to our entire nation and the
world.
WHEnEAs Alcohol is generally recognized as a
narcotic irritant poison. producing by its general
use crime, poverty and death; and
WHaREAs The use Of it by many of the medical
profession generally in their praCticei is antago-
nistic to the OF total abstinence; therefore,
ReSOJ0ed That we hereby express our hearty
disapprova of practice so fraught with evil, and
as science has brought to light other remedies
which car be substituted, we urge the medical pro-
fession to Danish this enemy Of temperance entire
ly from their practice
Res0EUed, That we call upon all friends of tenn
perance to sustain the endeavOrs of physicians to
bring about this healthful reform:
ReS0EUed, That it is the sense of this convention
that an important part of the work of the Christian
men and women of this land is to use the power of
their influence, individual and combined, to create
public sentiment that shall make the use Of in
toxicating liquors in the kitchen, the family
board, in the social circle, in the sick-room any
where and everywhere, so odious that none will be
willing to be known as fayOring its use.
ReS0LUed That it is also their duty to use the
right of petition patiently and perseveringly
through all the grades of authority and power,
from the family to theNational Government, until
we obtain our desire even though wearylng the IN
just Judge
ResoIUed, That we consider the most important
work Of the temperance reform, and especially of
the Christian men and women, to educate the
children into thorough temperance principles,
gathering them into total abstinence societies in
oil Sabbath schools anI
outside these reaching all the children of the land
insting into their minds an intense hatred of in
temperance in all its forms and places.
ReS0JUed, That as all experience in the temper
ance movement has shown that, in an important
sense money is one of the slnews OF our warfare,
we recommend to all temperance organizations that
firstly they seek for themselves the best possible
money basis; and secondly, that they make q
judcious of their funds, expending them in
prosecuting the battle rather than in costly dress
parade and we further recommend that all churches
be respectfully requested to take collections from
time to time forthe National Temperance SOciety's
treasury, and for such other organizations are
cooperating with the churcnes i'll seeking to make
men sober and lead them into the Kingdom of
Christ.
R6SOIUed, That the Sabbath-school is an efficient
auxiliary for the suppression of the traffic and
Of Intoxicating liquors. and that to this end every
teacher work by principles of total abstinence upon
their scholars; that Juvenile temperance societies
should be formed in every Sabbath-schoo and that
well-selected temperance libraries should form a
part of every Sabbath school library.
ReSOtUed, That we hereby reatiirm the action of
the National Temperance Convention of 1868, held
at Cleveland. That the church of the living God
the pillar and ground of the truth, is by its Const
tuition and covenant living protest against intern
perance the of and traffic in intoxicating drinks
| being incompatible with true piety; and its mem
bers and ministers are true to their sacred obliga-
tons only as they do their utmost to exterminate
this evil from the land; and, also, we recommend
the dscontinuance of the use Of alcoholic stimu-
lants at the saCramental board.
Res0tUed That we charge the liquor traffic with
| deliberate purpose to desecrate and destroy our
American Christian Sabbath, hallowed by the law
! of God, and sacred to all our hearts.
| ReSOJUed That the history of the whisky frauds
should alarm every good citizen demonstrating, as
it does the INSCRIPTIONS, law defying character of
| those engaged in the demOralizing traffic, and
heartily approve and re DICE in the firm, decided
action of the United States authorities to bring to
| punishment every offender.
| ResOIyed That the penalties for the prohibition
and suppression of the sale of Intoxicating drinks
| are generally inadequate and disproportoned to
the Oense that we earnestly urge the neces Sity of
| more severe penalties for prohibitory laws in
! Guiding imprisonment for repeated offenses.
| ReSOtUed, That we reatfirm the resolution of the
| National Temperance Convention of 1868, declar-
ing " that the press have always proved one Of the
most useful agencies for the enlightenment of the
public mind in the principles and duties of temper
| ance; we hail with pleasure the establishment of
| temperance newspapers and periodicals, and tie
frequent publication of temperance articles in the
religious and secular journals of the country as in
dicative of the substantial progress of the cause
and especial rejoice in the establishing of the
| National Temperance Society and Publication
| House. whose purpose Is to supply sound
ance literature The numerous and valuable pub
LEGATIONS of this society found upon its catalogue
| supply pressing want, and for the healthy prog
| reSS OF the cause should be widely spread among
| the people. We recommend this society and its
publications to the cordial sympathy and active
| support of all friends OF temperance throughout
| the country.
| ResOEUed. That we recommend all citizens 10
| take the temperance issue = without cOnCealment
without compromise to the caucus and the polls
| to nominate and vote for such candidates only
| and National :
and sustain the prohibition of the liquor traffic:
that in every State, county, town and Congresson-
al districtin the United States Prohibition Leagues
be organized; also, whenever sla ole nominations
are not otherwise made. that independent prohibit
ton candidates be nominated for the sufrages of
all thoughtful citizens. and that the Prohibition
! party should have the undivided support of all
| temperance votes in each State and Territory
where. in their juG gment. such political action i
the best method o. securing the enactment and
enforcement of efficient prohibltory laws.
ReS0EUed That the time has arrived mere fully
TO consider the relations of the National Govern
ment to its responsibility for the alcoholic liquor
traffic; that hereby ask the Forty -fourth Con-
gress to prohibit the manufacture and sale OF all
alcoholic beverages in the District OF Columbia and
IN the Territories of the United States. and TO pro-
hibit their importation from foreign countries to
require total abstinence from all alcoholic bever-
ages the part of all officials and subordinaes in
the CIVIL military anu naval service and TO initiate
and adopt for ratification by the several States of
! the Union constitutional amendment which shall
make the traffic in alcoholic beverages Illegal
throughout national domain.
Res0tC6G That the next National convention
shall be called by the National Temperance SOcie-
| ty whenever, in the judgment of its officers, the
need of such q convention becomes apparent
ReS0tUed That the work accomplished by the
organization among the reformed men IN New En-
| gland, Illinois and other parts of the country
abUndantly ustifes the addition OF this agency 10
those already operative in the temperance cause,
and that We heartily recommend the formation OF
similar societies in every State and Territory.