The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-06-29
"ENLIsT DURING THE WAR. y

good degree of interest several cam
paign speeches Of marked ability from
some of the workers in the temperance
field in Michigan, delivered prior to the
last falls election, in which the inter-
ested "wire-pullers" were viewed not
Through glass darkly."
The present fettered condition of
women, together with the groWing dis
abilities through strong drink pertain
ing to men, demand the positive relin-
quishment of those narrow party lines
and selfish fields so long occupied by
designing demagogues and their deluded
followers, to the exclusion of matters
directly related to our existence as
free and progressive people, among
which stand pre-eminently conspicuous
the Woman Suffrage and temperance
enterprises with all their important ad-
vantages.
Although lifelong Democrat, have
no fault to find with the structures con-
cerning the party with which have so
long politically acted, and I presume
they are no less true relative to the op-
posite one. So far as the living, suffer-
ing present is concerned, have for some
time past considered their main differ
ence merely a struggle for the inside
track to office, and their further real
value to the American people is hardly
visible to the "naked eye." A new
party, and no doubt powerful one, will
ere long be formed from the dissatisfied,
and, it is to be hoped, the better ele-
ments of both the old ones who can see
and fully appreciate something better
to strive for than the mere mammon
greed for office, its short-lived honor
and dollar gain. Party demagogues
may cry, "honor," Justice" ''love of
country" and the like, forever, without
eftecting any good, and so long as the
masses are duped by their hollow shams,
to an alarming extent will all our great
national curses prevail. AS l before re-
marked, l find no fault with the i'm
peachment of the political parties, but
should not be surprised if some of the
| points insisted on by the brethren in
some of their speeches might not, in the
present struggle against the rum fiend,
better be made less prominent for the
further security of aggressive co-opera-
tion. We have a strongly intrenched
| foe to combat. Spiritualists, Free
thinkers, and men of every shade of re-
ligious opinion, together with those of
no religious opinions at all, are willing,
yea, anxious to unite their forces with
almost any movement which promises
victory over the common enemy of man
the rum traffic. Can we not under
mine the most salient point or points all
the better by not attempting to invade
too much ground at once? l question
very much whether the agitation of
Sabbath laws" "Bible in schools" !"
and their correlative religious ideas,
(however justly they may belong to
private, family and church matters, and
purely religious movements), are very
efficient factors in the prime onslaught
of the coming struggle.
recollect in the beginning of the last
great "unpleasantness," that the la
mented Douglass counseled all his party
friends to stand shoulder to shoulder for
the Union and attend to political differ
ences afterward. At that time, that ad-
vice was considered sound. Could we
now secure Woman Suffrage by Consti-
tutional Amendment, the road to effect
ual prohibition would soon be cleared of
the main portion of it's debris. Many a
good ship has been sunk by too heavy
cargo, and many a worthy enterprise at
least rendered tardy of completion by
hitching on too many qualifications. l
firmly believe the next great political
struggle in this country will involve as
important factors Woman Suffrage and
Prohibition. Would it not then be pru-
dent, to say the least, to try and attract
the scattered forces now already exist
ing in profusion around the banner of
reform? Let the trumpet speak no
uncertain tones;" the rallyin cry be
simple, pointed, and easily understood;
the forces well-drilled aud unanimous
in the main motives, which would be
equal rights to all and the redemption
of the souls and bodies of men from the
thralldom of the whisky curse.
1t has generally been the case that
when religious and political elements
together enter an important national
campaign, unpleasant distraction en-
sues. This is not said derogatory of
either, but, as predicated upon the pres
ent great issues before us, of their in
compatibility merely. This is not indi-
vidual opinion alone, but the result of a
healthy and enlightened sentiment of
no limited extent. The church has her
peculiar sphere, the state also hers.
Though not necessarily antagonistic,
yet one element at a time has ever
proved most successful. The attempt a
few years since-and still not entirely
lost sight Otto put God in the national
organic law, was productive of more
evil than good. Such measures rem
dered thousands apatbetic then, and
will again. If not too heavily yOked
men work easier. No matter how much