Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-26
"Thot Contention. -
To the Editor of the Globe:
Under the abOYe haading in the Tribmn.

L
Under the above heading in the Tribune
this morning, IN. NJ. D." comes out with
some very sage advice. He recommends
that the ''Chaffee agitation committee"
cali state convention.
1. was not aware that there was a
''Chaffee committee" and presume that
Mr.. Chaffee does not need agitating, be-
cause he is now and has always been all
along very much agitated on the question
of prohibition and concerned to no small
degree about the welfare of the Republican
party. presume that an. NJ. d." meant
what is known as the constitutional amend
msnt agitation committee.
2. It would undoubtedly be outside of
the work for which the convention was
appointed for them to now call another
convention. They were appointed to do
specified work--to agitate the
legal prohibition of the liquor
traffic, to prepare petition
to the legislature praying to have the
question submitted to the people, to cir
culats the same throughout the state for
signatures, and to present the same to the
legislature, together with copy of a bill
that the people desired to have become a
law. That work they have faithfully per-
formed and with excellent results so far
as securing signatures is concerned, over
1000 legal voters signing the petition in
single ward in Minneapolis. No report
was expected of that committee. There is
no organized body for them to report to.
They have nothing to report to the people
as they have already been informed
through the newspapers OF all results.
Whoever heard of calling a convention,
after an election, that the state
central committee might render an
account of their stewardship" This matter
of having the ''Chaffee committee" call an
other convention is simply a Republican
dodge to hold the Republican prohibition
lists in the Republican party little longer.
They are willing on the one hand to agi-
tate prohibition so as to hold the temper
ance faction and thus save the party, while
on the other hand they are ready to vote
down prohibition so as to hold the whisky
faction and thus save the party. Apromi-
nent Republican remarked to me on our
way home from the legislature after hear
ing the debate on this question, Il am now
through with the Republican party. When
sat there and could hear them talk about
saving the party, losing sight entirely of
the great and vital principles
and interests involved, 1 found
out that the old Republican name had lost
its jingle in my ears. 1t ne longer has the
ring of truth and righteousness that it had
ia the days of Lincoln. I have cast my
last Republican vote. Hereafter, shall
work for the Prohibition party" These
words were uttered on the cars between
Minneapolis and st. Paul, by man of
high position and much influence. would
gladly, gladly, give his name, but do not
feel at liberty to do so.
The Republican party as temperance
party is wolf in Sleeps clothing. When
you see a suspicious animal proving
around, look carefully lest you get cheated.
If it puts its nose in the grass and
munchss away, just look closely and deter
mine whether it docs really eat the grass
or simply sticks his nose in to fool you. If
you find that it is hypocrite then l ad-
wise you to divest it of its moral wraps
and kill it.
Save the party? No! MOI! A political
party is but the creature Of the hour-a
means to an end, and when through the
trieksry of political leaders the party is
made machine to serve the bosses, and
plans defeated and their expressed will
thwarted, rebellion and revolution are in
evitable; and as Patrick Henry said: LET
it come" The Republican party must die.
1t is no longer fit to live.
1t is disgrace to this state; yea, to this
nation. Then let it die. IN. N. D. says
-''Ths people have good deal of conf
dence in the courage, discretion and high
character of the majority of the Chaffee
agitation committee" The people should
have such respect and confidence, because
that committee was composed of Prohibi-
ton party men with but two exceptions.
They were all ''level-headsd" except two
from the beginning. There are some men
who need an old-fashioned clock weight
hung in one ear to keep them balanced,
but l guess those two will not 1ssd SO
radical a balance. l think perhaps
the cuff they received from
the Republican party on the 18th of Feb
ruary will be sufficient to straighten them
up.
The last suggestion of IN. M. D." caps
the cIiTpay He thinks that the sChaffee