The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-10-11
GOV. ST. JOHNS LETTER.
The Prohibition Candidate Observes All
the Formalities.
determination of the Liquor Traffic Offered
the Nation, Socially and Politically.

determination of the Liquor Traffic Offered
as the Cure for All the Ills That Aniict
the Nation, Socially and Politically
Following is the letter of Governor st.
John accepting the Prohibition nominal
ton for President:
''ln formally accepting the nomination
for President rendered to me by the Ma
tional Prohibition convention at Pitts.
burg on July %, take the opportunity
to state that while the honor was neither
sought nor desired by me yet it is greatly
appreciated bestowed as it was by con
vention composed of delegates who, in
point of moral worth and mental ability,
were fully equal if not superior to any
political convention that ever assembled
in this country.
The war of the Union is over; the re-
belllon has been crushed; African sla-
very abolished; old issues have passed
away, and with them should go old pref
udices and sectional strife. Today the
| products OF the north and the south float
i'll friendly relations in the same chan
nels, under the same flag. every section
of our country acknowledging allegiance
TO the same Government. There never
was Il time when our people could better
afford to, and when it was more IMPORT
ant that they should, stop and think
than now. With manufactures shutting
! down, banks breaking, merchants fail.
ing, securities unsettled, Western wheat
selling at the home market for 40 cents
per bushel, and hundreds of thousands
of Industrious mechanics and laboring
men who are willing to work, but can get
nothing to do. 1t seems to me that the
time has come for the people, who are
the source of all political power, to call
halt and stop and think, for there must
be reason for this condition of things.
The little time and space the old part
les can spare, after dealing out the full
measure of personal abuse and vilifica-
ton that each seems to think the other
merits, is mainly devoted to discussion
Of the tariff question, ignoring all mat
tiers that relate to the moral elevation of
the people. am of the opinion that the
manufacturer who: by reason of the de-
| pressed condition of business has been
compelled to make an assignment for the
| benefit of his creditors, will not find re
| lief in the agitation ofthat question now,
nor will the average farmer become very
| enthusiastic over its discussion with his
wheat not worth as much in the bin as it
costs him to produce it. The amount
| received by the government for duties on
| imports is less than 5000 900, 600 annu-
| ally. There are about rs, 900 retail
dealers of Intoxicating liquors in the
United States, each of whom pays to our
government $2J, in consideration of
which sum they are permitted to carry
on their business for the term of IL
months. When we add to this the
amount paid by the dstillers, brewers
and wholesale dealers, we find that the
interest Of the Government in the manu-
facture and sale of intoxicating liquors is
about $S90,000,000 annually. This
traffic, sanctioned as it is by the laws of
our country, costs the people, at low
estimate, thousand million dollars a
year, not to speak of the destroyed homes,
debauched manhood, poverty, heart.
aches, crime and corruption it produces.
| This disgraceful business should be sup
pressed, and the enormous sum of money
that under the present system is worse
than thrown away saved to the people,
and thus protection would be given to
the industries of this country that would
enable us successfully to throw our doors
open wide to the competition of the
world.
The Republican and Democratic parties
favor continuance of the manufacture
and sale of Intoxicating liquors as bev-
erage, while the Prohibition party de-
mands that the same shall be forever sup
pressed. Thus an issue is presented to
the people in which is involved the pro
lection of every home in the land. 1t is
not a mere local issue, either, but it is
national as well as practical question,
upon which large and respectable body
of citizens have decided to vote, and they
will not be found halting between two
opinions touching this matter, but will
work and pray and vote against this
great evil until it is driven from our land,
simply the reflex of the individuals com
posing it. If we want an honest. sober
Government, me must have an honest,
sober people SO long as the Government
sanctions that which makes its citizens
dishonest, drunken and corrupt.
'The declarations of principles, which
L heartily endorse, as set forth in the
platform of the Prohibition party, is en-
titled to the thoughtful consideration
and earnest support of all good citizens
without regard to locality or former po-
litical utilization. Our country needs an
administration that will rise above mere
partisan consideration, and in the selec-
ton of public officials make honesty, So
briefly and efficiency, and not service to
party, the test. it should be conducted,
not in the interest of any particular sec
ton, party, race or color but in the IN
terest of the whole people. To accom-
plish this all good citizens should
promptly step to the front and be count
ell for the right. This is no time for
dolging. Moral cowardice will never
win, and surely never deserves victory.
Then, let us look 10 God for his guild
ance, and fearlessly and faithfully do our
whole duty, never doubling that He will
take care Of the results.
JOHN p. ST. JOHN
DYING ABOVE THE CLOUDS.
Miss Welton'S Fatal Ascent of Longs Peak
| i'll Colorado Last Tuesday.