The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-07-16
THE PROHIBITION CANDIDATES.

| HElk lLl lEhS OG AJCEIlANtE.
The nominees of the prohibition Stat
convention for Governor and State Trcasu
rer, Mcssrs. Audlcy Browne and Elijah +
Pennypacker, have written letters of accep
tance. The following is the letter of Mr.
Browne, the nominee for Governor;
JAMES BLACK, Esq, CHAIRMAN OF PRO
HIBTT1oN STATE CoNvENTIoN-Dear Sir
"Your letter Of the 10Th inst, has already
been briefly acknowledged, and now with
the resolutions to which you referred befor,
me, am able to answer more formally
| accept the nomination made me by the
Prohibition party as their candidate for the
office of Governor of Pennsylvania, with the
issues involved and approval of the princi-
pies announced, and am happy that share
the responsibility of being their standard
bearer with so excellent and eminent ciG-
zen as Mr.. Pennypacker, and thus to be by
their act public representative of the deep
moral and religious convictions of thousands
OF the purost citizens Of the Commonwealth,
who are painfully impressed with the need
of general reform in politics and deliver
ances from the rule of INSCRIPTIONS party
leaders, and who now feel this need with
new force since the rights of the people have
been recklessly sacrificed by these leaders to
the demands of the liquor traffic. These
party leaders are upon one side and con-
science upon the other, and the contest be-
tween them is the pressing issue Of the
times. The position assigned me in the con-
test is one that could not have sought; vet
1t Is one from which, when thus assigned, |
cannot shrink The cause is Enthusiastically
Gods; His providence works out the way.
and men are of small account, except as in
struments to do His will and accomplish His
work. 1t is favorable omen for our work
that those we oppose have themselves pre-
sented the issues so clearly, and that as the
result Of their action so profound sense of
indignation pervades the entire State. To
the wrongs essential to the legalized traffic
in intoxicated drinks is now superadded the
fact at the bidding of this traffic, the Leg
islature and Governor have stricken down
the local option law, and by so doing have
removed the protection of prohibition en-
joyed by the people of two-thirCs of the
State, and restored this traffic against the
expressed will of the citizens. The local
option law was tender of protection; for
ty-onc out of siXty-siX counties had accent
ed it. The Supreme court had approved its
under its provisions these
counties enjoyed protection which they es-
teemed their just right against Il destructive
traffic which lives only by the snares it sets
for the wealth growing out of the peoples
productive industries, while it ruins the
lives and morals of citizens, imposes heavy
burdens of taxation, and sows the seeds Of
Incidence, thrittlessness, disorder, and crime,
The law provided for an election every third
year to adopt anew or reject its provisions.
The people concerned were satisfied with
this law. Within year, if dissatisfied they
could have declared the fact at the polls,
and their verdict would have afforded light
to every legislators mind. If they were sat
isfed, who, under our popular system of
government, and with law constitutionallv
affirmed, had right to object ? Legislators
are elected to represent the popular will,
especially the popular conscience and in
this case these were so definitely expressed
as to be beyond mistake. Yet we have the
spectacle of Legislature stripping entire
communities of their dearest rights as cti-
zens and most valued safeguards, and Of the
Governor of the Commonwealth sanctioning
the outrage by appending his signature to
the bill and thus making it law.
But the ballot remains to us, the most eff
fective. protest against political wrongs and
surest protection of the freemans rights, as
it is also the dread of every public servant
who has betrayed his constituency and
stands again before them for their votes.
That we should now use it for our defense
awakens the liyeliest alarm and we are met
with appeals to keep this question out of
politics, as if it were not already in; and
since prohibit on and license are each of
them political measures, cannot by any pos.
sibilty be kept out We are also appealed
to not to maintain party on this issue, but
to seek our object through existing parties,
although it is existing parties that have per-
petrated this gross and monstrous wrong, and
we are also warned that by our separate
action we will be responsible for the destruc.
ton of "the only party that can save the
country as if Il party could save the coun-
try which can no longer save itself. In con.
tradictiOn to all this the first need of the
hour, citizens should teach their public
servants that conscience is an element o
power in American politics never to be aban,
doned that the senselessness and temerity
Of party leaders who ignore the conscience
of enlightened and virtuous citizens anC
count on their votes to indorse uurighteou,
acts, must be rebuked by those very votes
and that if parties follow their leaders to ,
merited destruction, new and healthful or
ganization will arise and fill their places
and accomplish their destiny the better a-
they take warning by the fate of parties be.
fore them that have once been popular but
have perished for their sins. Our own part,
represents the spirit ofrcform demanded by
the times. 1t is no artificial chiCalery, bu
a creation Of God and an outgrowth of th
convictions Of great christian people, VIII,
will never cease their protest at the ballo
box while the cause of God and humauit,
require it,
We can therefore cheerfully and hopeful
ly address ourselves to our work. Iremail
most truly yours
ROBERT AUpLEY BRowNE.
NEW CASTLE, Pa, June p, 1915.
Too DEEP FOR llIM.-"What's de occa
sion Of dat big smoke over dar?" inquire
one colored man Of another at the markC