The true northerner., 1880-07-30
THE TEMPERANCE CANDIDATE.
Neal DOvv's Letter Accepting the Pro-
hibitiOn Nomination for President.

Neal DOvv's Letter Accepting the Pro-
hibitiOn Nomination for President.
Hon. James Black and Rev. A. A. Miner, ID. ID.
GENTLEMEN Your note of the 18th June,
notifying me officially Of my nomination by
the National Prohibition Convention at Cleve-
land as candidate for the Presidency, is re
ceived. / am very sensible Of the honor i'm
piled in spontaneous and unanimous selection
by such All assembly TO represent their opinions
and purposes as to the relation of the liquor
traffic to the interests Of the nation and people.
There is and can be no difference of opinion
among intelligent men as to the tremendous
evils flowing necessarily from that traffic to
every public and private interest. Such men
nay and do differ ns to the best methods OF
providing a remedy for these evils, but each
must judge for himself upon that point accord
ing to his light.
In our country there can be no change in any
public policy which depends upon law, unless
the people desiring the change shall indicate
their pleasure through the ballot box. Parties
and their policies come into power among us
and go out of power only through the ballot
box. There is no other way by which the peo-
pie can express their will effectively. All inn
portant questions of public policy are decided in
that manner only.
The question Of deliverance to the country
and emancipation of: thepeople from the infn-
lte evils OF the liquor traffic may well challenge
the closest attention of patriots, philanthropsts,
and statesmen. This question touches the inter
ests OF nation, State, and people as no other
does or can the solution of it can never come
III any other way than through the ballot box.
1t Is said by men whose opinions are entitled
to the highest respect that the present is not
suitable time for pressing this issue.
No man can be more sensible than / am Of
the magnitude and Importance Of other ques-
tons Of public policy which are to be tried by
the people at the next Presidential election, but
/ am confident that none Of these, nor all of
them, are so important as this to every national
and social interest. Whatever mischiefs may
arise from an unwise popular verdict upon
other issues, they cannot be so great as those
coming from the liquor traffic. The former
can continue but for two years, the Congress
sional term, or at most, for four years, the
Presidential term, unless the people shall so de-
termine by their votes while the far-greater
evils of the liquor traffic must continue indef-
nitely, unless the people shall express their will
against it emphatically by the ballot.
In the old anti-savery time the authors ana
promoters of the ant-slavery agitation were al
ways thorn in the side of political parties.
They were always a nuisance and an exaspera-
ton to those who were out of Office and irving
to get in and to those who were in Office and
striving to retain their places; the two classes
comprising almost the entire body of politicians
But the anti-slavcry men, bent on overthrowing
the dreadful system Of human bondage, having
no personal interests 10 promote, except sach as
might be involved i'll the general good were
true to their convictions and steadfast in the
line of policy which they believed TO be right
and wise. They encountered and overcame all
possible modes of opposition, bitter denuncia-
tion great personal violence, humiliating and
offensive ostracism but, against all and over
all, in the love and fear of God and in persist
ent devotion to the right they won.
Men who hold this question to be Of minor
Importance can never find suitable moment
for making it a political issue. There will al
ways be some other question in which they feel
more interest that may be crowded out by
bringing this question to the front. There is
never suitable time for summer rain in the
vision of everybody, however dry and parched
the earth may be. There will always be some
body to whom the storm will be injurious or
inconvenient.
There was never time before the final vic
tory when the auti-slavery movement had so
large n following as Prohibition now has
nor was it so influential, except in the
great ability and singular devotcdIiess of those
who were engaged in it. Very few in numbers
at first, and uninfluential, i'll many parts OF the
country they put their resolve in the form of
votes into the ballot box only to be laughed at
by the politicians and to be stigmatized as ia
natics but they won at last. The Prohibition
movement in this country is now so respectable
for It's magnitude and SO influential from the
numbers and character of those engaged in it.
that it cannot be laughed down. There is and
must continue to be an ''iTepressible conflict
betweei the liquor traffic and the prosperity of
the nation and welfare of the people. As that
traffic fiourisnes. every legitimate industry
languishes and dies.
The result of the recent general election in
England marks very distinctly what | consider
to be the best mode of carrying on the agita-
ton against the liquor traffic. Since 1853 the
Prohibitionists of that country have been striv-
ing. with great ability and persistence. to pro-
cure such change III the law as would enable
the people of any locality to forbid the liquor
traffic if they should choose so to do But very
little good came of the agitation, practically.
until they adopted the policy of ignoring party
ties and voting olly for this one object. At the
late election their adversaries were thoroughly
defeated.
Iconsider the object of the Prohbitionists
OF the country to be Of supreme importance to
the interests of the nation and people. Aside
from Its bearing upon the moral and religious
welfare of the people, consider the suppression
OF the liquor traffic to be an object Of far greater
political importance than any other now claim
ing the attention Of the country. Ny life has
been largely devoted to the accomplishment Of
that purpose. Perhaps I NAV live to sec my
dearest hopes in relation to it realized, at least
within my own State; but, however that may
be, in the future, as in the past, | shall keep
that object steadily III view.
While sincerely wish that the choice Of a
candidate by the Cleveland Convention had
fallen on some other than myself, accept the
nomination willingly, being sure that it will
prove to be the humble beginning OF a triumphant
end. am most respectfully yours,