Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-10-20
Another Good Witness.

The Christian Statesman, official
organ of the Methodist Episcopal
church of Wisconsin, and valiant
adversary of iltemperance, earnestly
argues against the Independent tenn
perance movement, as fraught with
danger to the cause Of temperance,
and protestant religion. From a
long article on the subject in its
issue of the 18th we excerpt the
following:
The political contest is now fairly
commenced, and will increase in
vigor and interest until the prizes
are given to the victor in November.
The republican party is the chief
contestant. 1t has had a grand his
tory. From its birth it has fixed
principals that were not upheld
simply for party success but for
liberty, morality and the welfare of
the people. 1t began as a party for
the poor and oppressed, and its
greatest victories have been achiev.
ed when contending for the great
principles that brought it into ex-
istence. 1t has been stigmatized as
the GOOD and morality party" but
this, instead of being taunt of dis
grace is good testimony to its honor
and praise. In it, with all due re-
spect to some good Democrats, are
found the majority Of the better
class of citizens. In it are found
nearly if not quite all the Protest
ant clergymen of the country, and
Jarly all of the Protestant churches.
In Wisconsin there is probably not
one Protestant minister who votes
the Democratic ticket. The Repub-
lican party has been supported by
the Protestant people. 1t is their
party. They have been in it from
the beginning. They bore its bur
dens, fought it's battles, helped win
its victories and rejoice in its tri-
umphs. 1t is bone of their bone
and flesh of their flesh. AS the
soldier who has fought for his
flag through many battle, cheers
again and again at the sight of
its tattered folds in times of
peace, so do these hosts, remem,
bering the dearly bought victories
of the Republican banner, rally
round it and cling to it for their
hope Of life. 1t is not that the
Republican party is faultless or mas
always done its duty. There are
political thimble-riggers in it, men
who have no conscience about their
political action, but church OF
party should not be sampled by its
meanest members.
Ninety of every hundred OF
the temperance voters are Protest
ants and Republicans. The greatest
success some expect in the present
contest is the defeat of the Republi.
can party, which means victory by
the Democratic party, which means
position and appropriations for the
Roman Catholics. 1t might be graf
is tication to some temperance men to
give the Republicans good thrash
ing, and we admit they deserve q
whipping; if not for what they have
done, but for what they may do:
yet would it pay if while you are
doing that the Democrat borrow
permanently your coats and hats
Really and soberly there is too much
chuokling among the Democrats
and too many smiles on these sleek
faced priests over the temperance
fight, for temperance Republican
to be truly happy. One may not
enjoy sitting in the Republican fry
ing pan, but he should think often
before jumping out of it into the
Democratic fire. He might better
endure with patience and hope the
lesser evils than to rush into others
that he is sure will be worse.