West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-10-25
WEST VIRGINIA FREEMAN.
CORRESPONDENCE.
An Ohio Democrat has a Word.
about Matters and Things Political, on
Both Sides of the Riuer.
GRANVILLE, OHIO, !
Oct Is {

Congressional Convention at
Wheeling. AS all will remember,
there was widespread dissatisfac-
ton with the nominee and the air
was rife with threats of open revolt.
In order to stay this tide which
threatened the defeat of the party,
prominent Democrats were called
to the stage to ratify the nomina-
ton. Among these was Mr.. }. II.
Good. His exact words l am not
able to recall but the tenor Of his
remarks was that the party nominee
must be supported regardless of
character or ability.
After he had taken his seat a
young man remarked to me, "That
speech has made Mr. Good the next
Congressman from this district"
L wondered to myself how long the
Democratic party could hold that
district, when the strongest claim
they could urge for their candidate
was that he had received the par
ty nomination.
The late election has shown.
When Democratic leaders avow
and steadfastly maintain princi-
plies which are as far removed from
true Democracy as the East is from
the West, they need not be sur
prised if, like Mr.. Good, they are
thrown overheard.
And again Mr. Editor, | decided
Ky object to the habit which some
Democratic papers have adopted
of reading out of the party every
man who has the hardihood to vote
for principles when they clash with
the dictates of the party caucus.
If there is anything in the pro-
hibition of the liquor traffic that
conflicts with Democratic princi-
piles, I have failed, after a great
deal of patient searching, to find
it.
When it comes however, to re-
fusing the people, Of whom, by
whom and for whom our govern
ment is instituted, chance to ex-
press their convictions on a sub
ject, it is the easiest thing in the
world to see that the very princi-
Piles upon which free governments
based are being trampled under
foot.
This question Of prohibition is
the most dangerous reef in the po-
litical sea. You can not in safety
sail either over or around it, and
the political mariner who is wise
will anchor fast to it till the storm
is over
The Republicans of Ohio have
learned that it will not do to sail
on both sides of it at the same time
and they are only making matters
worse by cursing the prohibition
lists for not helping them out.
If the prohibitioni5ts were ever
justified in voting a separate par
ty ticket in Ohio, they surely were
this Fall, when the Democratic
platform implied opposition to any
Statutory legislation on the subject,
and the Republican platform was
capable of meaning about every
thing except prohibition.
The Democratic party is the
gamer for the present, as the Pond
Law had enraged the German Re-
publicans without winning the IA
vor of the prohibitionists and tenn
perance Democrats. If, however,
the Democrats act upon the as
sumption that Ohio has declared
against the suppression of the liq
uor traffic, their victory will be of
short duration.
All that the temperance people
of Ohio need is too concentrate
their efforts upon some well defined
plan.
If the FREEMAN only went into
the hands of ten or fifteen thou
sand Of our temperance workers, |
believe we could soon organize our
selves for victory. Now is no
time to rest, Before the Legisla-
,ture meets again, every voter
should have an opportunity to
sign a petition for relief. I am not
of those who look upon the late cleo
tion as proof that the State is not
yet ready to vote upon a prohibito-
ny amendment. Put the question
H. ~oox>1o c,1ooiol oloof,o,o