The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-09-08
PROHIBITION NOMINATION.

A convention of delegates, repre-
senting counties in the First Congress
sional district, assembled at Elkhorn
last week, and nominated C. NJ. Black
man, of Whitewater, as a candidate
for Congress. The Convention appears
to have been composed of respectable
men, earnestly intent on promoting
the interest of temperance. Of Mr..
Blackman we know nothing, but pre-
sumo, if the temperance party desire
to take candidate, distinct from all
other issues, state and national, he
may be proper man for the place.
Our sympathies are now, and always
have been, on the side Of temperance.
But we fail in this case to see the
necessity of another temperance man
in the field. Our reasons for regard
ing this nomination premature are the
following;
First. G. G. Williams, the Republi-
can candidate, is practically temper
ance man. He is regarded by those
who know him as a gentleman of
strictly temperance habits, and espe-
cially is he so held in Washington by
members of Congress.
Second. Nothing will be gained by
dividing the friends of temperance in
this Congressional district. A large
proportion of them will probably vote
for Mr.. Williams, believing him to be
good enough temperance man.
Third. The present House of Repre-
sentatiVes is nearly equally divided
politically, and an unusually vigorous
effort is making throughout the Union
by the Democrats to obtain control of
the next House. Should they succeed
in this, Republican policy, under which
the country has been prospered, may
be reversed. Besides, reconstruction
in the South, which is now making en-
couraging progress, would probably be
arrested. Southern Bourbons and
Northern Democrats were unit politi-
cally when last the Democrats had a
majority in the House. Southern Bour-
bons are determined to present an un'
broken representation in Congress, and
where their candidates cannot be elect
ed by legal votes, fraudulent votes and
false returns will be resorted to, as in
the last Congressional election. Fol
the correction of these dishonest prac
tees there will be no remedy if the
Republicans lose the House in the en-
suing election. The House, by the
Constitution, is made the judge of the
proper election and qualification Of its
own members. There will be no power
to eject bogus members from the South
if the Republicans are not in the ma
jority.
Fourth. What can the friends OF
temperance hope to accomplish by
electing a member of Congress pledged
to prohibition? That question is moi
before Congress, nor is it likely to be
Congress leaves the regulation of the
sale and traffic to the several states
and assumes no jurisdiction in thai
matter, except over the District of Co
lumbia. Should any matter come be
fore Congress pertaining to the inter
nsta of temperance. Mr.. Williams, judg
ing from his past votes, would be quite
as likely to act in accordance with hi.
temperance constituents as a MAJ
elected specifically on a temperate,
platform.
Fifth. If it should so happen thai
the nomination of Mr.. Blackmar
should so divide the Republican VOTE
as to allow the election of Democrat
thus strengthening the Bourbon party
in Congress, would our good Republi
can friends who participated in thu
Elkhorn convention claim that they
have done the country or the cause OF
temperance good service?
n