The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-31
full power to act when the General Commit
tee is not = session.
The PlatforN-

The Platforps-
F1rst-The Prohibition Home Projections
party in National Convention assembled, ac-
knowledge Almighty God as the rightful
sovereign of all men, from whom the just
powers of government are derived. TO whose.
laws human enactmentS should 10 eonfOrned
and peace, prosperity and happiness only can
come to a people when their laws of National
and State Government are in accord with the
divine will.
Seccnd-That che importation, manufsc-
ture, supply and sale of alcoholic beverages
created and maintained by the laws OF Ma
iOnal and State Governments during
the entire history of such laws. is every
where shown TO be promoting the cause of in
temperance with resulting crime and pauper-
ism. making large demands upon public and
private charity, imposing large and unjust.
taxation. and imposing burdens for penal
and sheltering institutions upon thrift, in
duStry, manufacture and commerce, en-
dangering the public peace, causing the
dissertation of the Sabbath, corrupting o1--
politics, legislation and administration OF
laws, shortening lives, impafring health, and
diminishing productive industry, causing
education to be neglected and desDiSed, nulli--
lying the teachings of the Bible, church and
school, The standard and guideSOf our fathers
and their children in the founding and growth
unGer God of our widely extended country
and which Is imperilinx the perpetuity of our
civil ami religious liberty.
There are baneful fruits by which we know
that these laws are alike contrary to Gods
laws and contravene our happiness, and we
call upon our fellow citizens 10 aid in the re-
peal Of these laws and the legal supervision of
this baneful liquor traffic. The fact that dur
ing the twenty-four years in which the Re
publican party has controlled the General
Government and that of many of these States
no effort has been made to change this policy;
territories have been created from the Ma
tional domain, and governments for them es-
tabliShed, and States from them admitted to
the Union; i'll no instance in either of which
has this traffic been forbidden or the people
OF these Territories or States been permitted
70 prohibit
Tnird-There are now over 1900 diStflleries.
brcwerieS, wholesale and retail dealerE in
these drinks, holding certificates and claiming
authority OF the Government for continue
ton of u business so destructive to the moral
and material welfare of the people, together
with the fact that they have turned a deaf ear
to remonstrance and petition for q correction
of this abuse of civil government is cCnclu-
slVe that the Republican party is insenSible TO
or impOtent for the redress of these WRONGS,
and should no longer be entrusted with the
powers and responsibilities of Government.
FOurth-That although that party in its late
National Convention was silent on the liquor
question, not its candidates. Blaine and
Logan Within years past Mr.. Blaine has
publicly recommended that the revenue de-
rived from the liquor traffic shall be dis
tributed among tue States, and Senator Lo-
gan has by bill proposed TO devote these rev.
enucS to the support of schools. Thus both
virtually recommended the perpetuatiOn of
the traffic and that the States and citizens
shall become partners in the liquor crime.
The fact That the Democratic party has, in itE
National deliVeranoes of party policy, arrayed
itself on the side of drink m 4NerS and sellers
by declaring against the policy OF prohibition
of such traffic under the false mans of ''sumI-
tuary laws, and when in power in some OF
the States In refusing TO remedy the evil, and
in Congress of refusing TO permit the creation
of Board of Inquiry to investigate and re-
port upon the effects of this traffic, proves
that the Democratic party should not be en-
trusted with power or place
Fifth-That there can be no greater peril 10
the Nation than the existing competition of
the Republican and Democratic parties for
the liquor vote. Experience shows that any
party not openly opposed 10 the traffic will en-
gage in this competition, will court the favor
of the criminal glasses, will OuTter away pub
lie morals, the purity OF the ballot box. and
every trust and object OF good governments
for party success, and patriots and good citi-
Zene should find in this practice sufficient
cause for immediate withdrawal from all
connection with these parties.
SiXth-That while We favor reforms in the
administration of the Government, in the
abolition of all siTrcureS, useless offices and
officers in the election of postal officers of the
the President, and that competency. honesty
and sobriety are the essential qTmliticatiOns
for holding civil Office, and we oppose tho re-
mOval OF such persons from mere adniniStra.
tive offices. except so far as il may be absO-
lutely necessary to secure effectiveness TO the
vital issue on which the general administra-
tiOn of the Government has been entrusted 10
a party
Seventh-That the collect on of revenues
from alcoholic liquors and tobacco should be
abolished as the vices of men are not the
enue from custom duties should be levied
for the support of the Government eco
administered, and when so levied,
the fostering of American labor, manufactures
and industries should constantly be held in
view
Eighth-That public land should be held for
homes for the people, and not for gifts to cor
pOratiOnS or TO be- held in large bodies for
speculation upon the needs of actual settlers.
Nnth-That all money, coin and paper,
shall be made. issued and payable by the Gen
eral Government, and shall be legal tender for
all debts, public and private.
Tenth That grateful care and support
should be given to our soldiers and sailors,
their dependent widows and orphans, dis
ablcd in the service of their country.
Eleventh-That we repudiatc. as un-Ameri-
can, contrary to, and SubverSive of the prin-
;ip4es of the Declaration of Independence,
from which our Government has grown 10 be
a Government of j0,0I0,D0 of people, and u
power among nations, that any
person. or persons. shall or may be excluded
from residence or citizenship with all others
tho may desire the benefits which our insti-
utions confer upon the oppressed of all ma
ions
Twelfth-While there are important re-
forms that are demanded for purity or admin
Stration and the welfare OF the people their
Importance sinks iutO iniSgniicance when
with Ghe reform of the drink traffic
which annually wastes SSUD.0O0.OOO Of the
wealth creatnC Lv roll and thrift. drags town
thousands az families from comfort TO pow
.rty, which nils jailS and penitentiarieS. in
ane asylums. hospitals and institutions for
which destroys health, saps ill
lustry and causes loss of life and property to
thousands in the land; lowers the intellectual
md physical vigOr, dulls the cunning hand of
he artisan. the chief cause of bankruptcy, in
Olvency and loss in trade and by its corrupt
ng power endangers the perpetuity of free
Thi7eenth-That Congress should exercise
IS undOubted power and prohibit the manu-
acture and sale of Intoxicating beverages in
he District of Columbia, the Territories of
he United states, in all places over which the
has executive jurisdiction.
FOurteenth-That hereafter State shall
e admitted into the Union until its cOnstitu-
ion shall expressly prohibit pOlygamy and
he manufacture and sale of intoxicating bey-
RACES. We earnestly call the attention of the
IbOrer and mechanic, the miner the man
he baneful effects upon labor ard
Industry caused by the needless liquor bust
ess which will be found to be the robber who
sssens wages and profit, the destroyer of the
appiness and family welfare of the labOrin9
ian. and that labor and all legitimate industry
emand deliYerance from the taxation and loss
-hich this traffic imposes, and that no tariff
r other legislation can so beautifully slim
late production, or increase a demand Tor
apital and labor, or produce 50 much Of COM
DIT and content a. the suppression of this traf-
C would bring to the labOriDg man, mechanic
r employer of labor throughout our land.
Fifteenth-That the activity and co-Opera~
on of the women of America for the promo
on Of temperance has in all the history of
ne past been q strength and encouragement
hich gratefully acknowledge and
cord In the latter and present
hase Of the movement for the
rohibtion Of the liquor traffic by the
oolitiOn of the drinking saloon, the purity of
IrDoSe and methods OF earnestnesS zeal, in
iiigence and devotion of tho mothers and
lughters of the WOmen's Christian Temper
nee Mon has been eminently blessed by God
ansas and Iowa have been given her as
leaves of rejoicing and the education and
-Ousing of the public mind. the demand for a
amendmentnOw prevailing, are
rgely the fruit of her prayers and labors..
nd we rejoice TO have our Christian women
mite with Us, that, sharing in the labor that
hrir,cr the ahnlitinri Of tho. trnfI 70