The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-10-05
The Duty of the Hour.

temperance has been and is the great
est curse which has afflicted this coun
try, no man with grain Of reason o
common sense will attempt to deny
The overcrowded prisons and aims
houses, the crime and ruin on ever.
hand, the great and constantly in
creasing Court expenses, speak il
stronger language than we can com
mand, upon this serious question
Where will you find a Jail tina
is entirely empty? Where will
you find an Asylum that is no
overcrowded? When will there bt
witnessed a session Of Court that viii
not be rushed with work, trying cases
caused by intemperance? Fhe curse
Of intemperance is far more terrible
and deadly than the curse of human
slavery. That any sane man could be
found willing to excuse, or apologize
for, this terrible curse, seem almost
beyond the power of mortal compre-
hension. Yet we see great political
party-or, rather, the remains of it.
composed Of the more disreputable
classes-boldly advocating intemper-
ance as matter Of party policy.
Democratic stumpers and editors
will howl themselves hoarse with the
declaration that Temperance is not
an ISSUE" yet will go right on de-
nouncing the Republican party for
making an effort in the direction of
temperance and observance Of the
Sabbath.
These fellows know that, like the
monster of slavery, the monster of
intemperance is being steadily hem
med in, and its final destruction will
be accomplished. Hence their at
tempts to divert attention from the
great issue.
The Republican Legislature last
winter made decisive move in the
direction of temperance. That the
movement was not entirely successful,
speaks nothing against it. There can
be no turning back. The Republican
party is the party of progress, the
party of decency, the party of right.
That great wrong exists, is sufficient
grounds for the Republican party
fighting it.
On the other hand, the Democratic
party is constantly looking back
constantly hoping that it may yet be
as low and unprincipled as it used to
be. This hope is fully fulfilled,
though the party does not seem to re-
alize it. The Democratic party has
universally been found arrayed solid
ly upon the side Of wrong. That any
thing was wrong, was ever sufficient
reason for its endorsement by the
Democratic party.
There have been from time to time,
many good men acting and voting
with that party. These had a right to
expect that when so serious matter
as the curse Of intemperauce was made
an issue in State politics, no Demo-
cratic party could be found to oppose
it. Yet we find in the Democratic
platform assurances that, as party,
the Democracy are not in favor Of in
terfering with any mans individual
liberty" and that the party opposes
"sumptuary laws" The party lead
ers are in the hands Of the distillers,
brewers and liquor dealers, who fur
nish the money in this campaign,
which is a crusade of the brewers and
distillers to destroy the Republican
party and capture the great State Of
Ohio. Democratic papers and politi-
clans are outspoken in favor Of intem-
perance and Sabbath desecration. In
view of this deplorable state Of affairs,
what is the duty Of all honest, intelli-
gent, law-abiding citizens?
No man who has son to be de-
stroyed, or home to be desolated, can
afford to vote with this remnant of
the Democratic party, led by, and
largely composed of, the lowest riff
raft of that always-unholy party.
Now that the Democratic party is
squarely arrayed upon the side of in
temperance and crime, and the Re-
publican party is arrayed upon the
side of law, order, temperance, and
the proper observance of the Sabbath,
can any intelligent, honest man fail
to see his duty or show a willingness
to perform it? Is it not plainly the
duty Of all such men, whatever may
have been their former party affila-
tions, to do their utmost to defeat and
destroy, as a political organization,
this party of intemperance and crime?
Prohibition.