Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-10-06
TO Temperance Republicans.

Only in the event of several thous-
and Republican votes being thrown
for the temperance ticket, is the de-
feat of the republican nominees for
state offices deemed possible. That
the temperance ticket will be elect
ed is not accounted within the range
of remotest probabilities by even its
most Jealous supporters. 1t is estl-
mated that of the votes expected to
be east for the temperance ticket,
fully 90 per cent. would otherwise
90 for the republican nominees.
Therefore it follows that in the ratio
of nine to one, the placing of tenn
perance ticket in the field is in the
interest Of the democratic party as
against the republican party.
As statements of fact The fore
gong will nowhere be challenged.
Why then should temperance repub-
licans vote the kanouse ticket?
What can be accomplished for the
cause of temperance hy placing the
state Offices in the hands Of demo
Gratis rather than republicans? From
the republican party has the cause
of temperance received all the polit
zeal support it ever enjoyed in Wis
consin. Whatever of aid or encour-
agement has been given the cause
of temperance in this state vf
political nature the democratic party
was unit III opposing. BY their
votes in the different legislatures to
which the matter has been presented,
majority Of republican members
have uniformly supported the prop
osition to submit the prohibition res
olution; and it has only been de-
feated by the solid vote of demo
cratic members, reinforced by mi
nority Of the republicans who could
not agree with the majority.
Men who contemplate voting the
temperance ticket are in the main
influenced by n spirit of resentment
toward the republican party: st be-
cause that party having y majority
in the legislatures of 70, so, and 81
has failed to use that majority in the
passage of the prohibition resolution;
and ID because the republican state
convention failed to declare substan-
tally in favor Of such action by the
legislature. Those who occupy such
position have doubtless misconceiy,
ed the scope and functions Of the
great republican party. Because
from its inception it has been the
champion and exponent Of all great
moral and political truths, and draws
to It's standard the very best Gle
ments of society, the republican
party seems to be regarded by some
Jealous workers against the evils of
intemperance as specially aud solely
worthy as a means of aiding their
great missionary labor, and to be
without merit when it refuses to
adopt their particular theory as to
what is the most important public
need, and the best method of meet
ing it, Such republicans are forget
full of the fact that on the broad
platform Of republicaniSm must be
room for men of all shades of opin-
ion ON questions purely moral or
religious. Were it otherwise, the
party instead of being the greatest
ever organized, would never have
survived its first campaign. In the
fact that large portion Of the most
earnest and effective temperance
workers of the country are opposed
to prohibition as impracticable is
lesson to those who would destroy
the republican party of Wisconsin
because it refuses to adopt that idea
as q part of its creed. When men