The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-10-13
Good Advice to Temperance Men.
A MANLY CORRECTION OF A PERSONAL
WRONG COMMITTED AGAINST
GOV. JEROME.

In the following manly letter, Rev.
+. E. York of the Methodist church,
Grand Blanc, Genesee county, offers
good advice to temperance men, and
makes a gentlemanly apology for a
personal wrong done to Gov. Jerome:
The tide of sentiment among tenn
perance men is setting irresistibly in
the direction of the constitutional
and legal prohibition of the liquor
traffic. But as to the best means Of
securing such prohibition, we unhap-
PLY differ widely in opinion. To me
it seems quite apparent that this end
can be most speedily and effectually
secured through the Republican par
ty. This party has already success
fully championed our cause in Maine,
Kansas, and Iowa, and is now vigor-
ously fighting its battles in Indiana.
In our own State the recent State
convention passed resolution de-
handing that this question shall be
submitted to the people for their de-
cision. That is all we have asked at
the hands of any party. We do not ask
the Republican party to commit its
self to the cause of prohibition. All
we wish is that it should use its infu-
ence to secure to the people the right
to vote upon this question, and then
in good faith to carry out the will of
the people, whatever that may be.
Here then we have the dominant
party in the State willing to grant US
our demands, and to abide by the
issue. Surely then, as mere matter
of policy we ought to sustain that
party, and not to weaken it by the
needless attempt to build up a dis
tinctively prohibitory party. Indeed
it seems to me that under existing
circumstances we cannot honorably
do otherwise. There has been a Ia
cit understanding between us and
the old parties that if they would al.
low us vote upon this question, we
would sustain them. The Republi-
can party has said eyes, as far as we
are concerned, you may vote upon
it," And now they have accepted
our conditions. Can we in good
faith desert them and refuse to keep
our part of the contract? As a mat
ter of common honesty, it seems to
me that we cannot do so. 1t is pro-
posed in some quarters to vote the
Republican ticket, repudiating only
its head. That Gov. Jerome has be-
come obnoxious to large number Of
temperance men, is undoubtedly true;
but would it not be we'll 10 make sure
that there is just cause for that feeling
before we repudiate him. To those
who know me it is needless to say
that l stand ready to oppose any man
who puts himself in the way Of this
great reform. 1t is we'll known that
at the Genesee county convention ]
strongly opposed resolution favor.
ing the Governors nomination. ]
did so because l believed the com
mon report to be true that he kept
liquors in his house and offered them
to his guests, and that he used his
influence to prevent the submission
of the proposed amendment to the
people. For these reasons, publicly
and frankly given, l could not
assent to the resolution. But / have
since been informed by several per.
sons, who are in position to know
the truth, and especially by one who
while an intimate acquaintance, is a,
the same time political opponent o.
Jerome, that the first charge is abso
lutely false and that he is not man
Of convivial habits, and with me thi:
testimony entirely outweighs mere
rumor, and with respect to the second
allegation, whatever may be his per
sonal opinions, the fact that he has
planted himself squarely upon the
platform of his party, and that in an
swer to the question of the State
liquor league, he avowed his deter
mination to let the people speak, and
to be governed by their will, should
be sufficient guarantee that we may
trust him in this matter. The tickle