Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-05-18
[Ffrtsy;p NoasgIwEsr.l.
An Open Letter to the Editor Of the Sig.


DEAR sR:-In your issue of the l1th inst, you are
pleased to use the following language reference to
the only party in the State which advocates the en-
tire abolition of the liquor traffic:
'The leaders of the Prohibition Apple Sass Partyl
which has really done more to facilitate the sale OF
strong drink, and make drunkards, than the whisky
advocates themselves by their impractcabe and ex-
treme measures, are dead set against the Pond Bill,
and are again endeayoring to rally In opp0
siton TO the party that passed It, 1t remains to be
seen If the rank and file of that party longer to
be led by the nose by such extremists.
Now, sir, desire to make the foregoing quotation
the basis of what shall have to say on this subject
without pausing to characterize your refined designa-
tion.-.Apple Sass Partyn-as it deserves. I desire
first to notice your stereotyped statement that those
people who preach, pray and vote on the same line
those Prohibition leaders the worst enemies Of
sibe that the position you occupy as citizen, gov
ernment official, and at the head of the only Repub-
lican journal in the county, may cause your word to
be taken by the average Republican. as true without
thought investigation. Cannot you see, sir that
your statement is extremely paradoxical-that he
who strikes the strongest blows at the liquor traffic
does most to increase its spread? As might you
affirm that the most uncompromisng friend Of the
bible is most instrumental in spreading infdelity
You would have exhibited more political honesty and
perhaps have done your party much greater service
by presenting documents to show wherein Prohibi-
tionsts in voting their principles have facili-
tated the sale of liquor and increased drunkenness.
But that would NOT have served your purpose which
evidently, is to bring young and growing party
into bad repute by foul when fairer ones will
U,,,,t tlo,,S t,a Al,
is accomplished by our ''impracticable and extreme
measures" AS to the practicability Of abolishing
the liquor traffic, that is an open question of which
Prohibitionists are as well qualified to Judge as
yourself, notwithstanding what Republicans are
pleased to term 'ther insane anaticism,'' The Re-
publican party, of whose doctrines you claim to be an
expounder says it right and practicable toprohibit
the trafiicin alcoholic liquors. on election days and
Sundays, with which ProhbitionistB are in perfect
accord. Now, my dear sir, do younot know that the
same power which prohibits fifty-iour days in the
year can extend its power the three hundred and
sizty-fve? Do you not know that If the former is
practicable the latter is also? But them we are sex
trsmists." So was that APOSTLE an extremist who
counses us to shave no fellowship with the unfruit
full works Of darkness, and, il standing firmly by
Duliot pUA, huu Feiublng 10 De-
come identified with a party that would amend the
constitution so as to license the infamous and God
dshonorng liquor crime, if this is to be extremists
then most certainly we plead guilty to the charge.
cannot resist the temptation right here remind you
that "ye cannot serve God and mamfnonn-that
where the law of God is trainped upon no man has
any right to occupy middle grounag Crying sgood
Lordl good Deyil, not knowing into whose hands
he may fall $50 then, because thou art neither cold
nor hot, but lukewarin, will spew thee out Of my
mouth" Such Is tho language Of Holy Writ deliy-
cred to those who were not extremists.
But the specific charge You make against Prohibi-
tionsts is that they .'afe dead set against the Pond
Bill.n Howyon can expect them to be otherwise
with any kind Of conslstenty ia not yet revealed.
They cannot afford to adopt the Republican party pol
icy of attempting To ride two horses at once lest they
fall between them and get crushed, Your party,
whose dctation You 80 implicitly follow, are again
praeticing the cams old fhnus-faced dodge II pre-
tending q be ono thsng u the temperahce element
and quite another to thc beer brewers and saloon
piinpe, and che Pond Bin constitutes yoir expedent
In the extract above quoted, you would have your
temperance readers infer that IN opposing the Pond
Bill Prohibitiopists wore fighting temperance neIe-
rre, which, to be cbnsistent they should support.
But sr, are you not aware that tc Republican pross
all over the State are trying to sstisfy tho saloon men
that said Bills mott temperance all hut