Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-09-04

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following letters deserve considerable
attention. The first is an "Open letter.
dated Aug. %. 1884, from Michael j. Fan
ming to Robert 4. Frazer, both of Jack
SOn.
Mr.. FANNING's LETTER.
"DRAR SIR You are recognized by
many a. a leader In the Temperance
work In this state. You have been hon
Orsd on at least two different occasions
by being called upon to preside ever the
deliberations of tho representative tenn
perancs men and women of this state, In
state convention assembled. /, with
many others, have willingly followed
your leadership, and would gladly con-
time to do 80, could We be convinced
that We would thereby advance the In
terests Of the cause, which believe Is as
dear to you as to any of a.. Those of us
In this state who believe that the best
interests of this state demands the legal
suppression of the liquor traffic are d.
vided 40 regards the best method by
which this desirable prohibition may
be secured-sOme of US think it can be
best secured through the agency of a po-
litical party organized for that purpose
-ef this class am one. Others think
we can serve the cause of prohibition
best by throwing the weight of our in
fuenee with and for the Republican
party-0f this class you are the most
conspicuous representative In this state.
1t Is to you a. such representative, and
not personally, this letter Is addressed.
am interested In uniting the temper
aace people Of this state in one line Of
work, and 1t IL this interest that leads
10 NM Ia m fol 0vuiv
IL will work from now till election
day for the success of the Republican
party, II you will show me how any per-
son, who says he believes In prohibition,
can vote the Republican ticket this fall
without telling lie."
Mr.. flaming then quotes the "Ras-
ter" plank In the Republican national
platform Of 1872, and implies that this
plank was direct blow at prohibition.
"Th8 Republican national convention
of 1884 renews allegiance to this plank,
not only In word, but in deed. The
words renewing this allegiance are
found in the platform. The deed, renew
ing this allegiance, was done when they
so stability treated the representatives
Of National WOmen's Christian Temper
ance union. When they snickered and
sneersd ut the petition presented by the
devoted mothers and wives of this coun-
try, who appeared before them in the in
forests of God and home and native
land II those are facts, and / chal-
lenge denial. then should /, or you, or any
OtherlpersOn, who says he believes In pro-
hibitiOn, vote this fall for Msssrs. Blaine
and Logan, We would, by our votes, say
to tho wsrld: We approve of the action
OF the party, which these men respect, in
Ito AA0Io q finn onoinot oil Iad
Temperance" (prOhibitOry) and Sunday
laws. We hold with the party, that the
right to drink what one pleases," land
tho right to look upon the day on which
Christians have their prayer meetings as
any other day" are too sacred for govern
mental interfsrance.' In ether words,
we say with our tongues, prohibition
Is right, and we believe in it'-and we
say by our ballots, prohibition is |
wrong and we don't believe in it, This |
looks to me very much as though no
man who believes prohibition Is right |
can vote the Republican ticket this fall |
without telling lie, either with his |
tongue or ballet. Now as yourself, and
few other men, for whom l have great |
respect, occupy position which will |
force you this fall to either vote the Pro- |
hibition ticket, or with your ballot, give |
the lie to- your tongue (as ii seems to |
me), / would be much obliged to you if |
you would enable me to retain my re-
spect for such person-by showing how |
man who believes In prohibition can |
vote the republican ticket this fall with |
S S:1l.t lyying-'i'h'r with tongue or
MR.. FRAZER's REPLY.
To this letter Mr.. Frazer made the fol-
lowing answer:
DEAR SIR-You addressed to me to-day
an open letter which you caused to be
published In the Democratic paper of |
this city. Yen style me most cOnspicu-
Gus representative in this state of those
temperance men who think the cause of |
prohibition can be best served by voting
the. Prohibition ticket. You offer to work
for the Republican party If can show
you how a Phr0hibitiOnist can do 30
without telling lie.
You quote the 10th plank In the Repub-
lican platform OF 1872, and the action
of the Republican convention of 1884 in
rejecting the request Of the w. T. u.
40 conclusive evidence that the Repub-
lican party Is not In favor OF prohibition.
do not expect to convince you, but 1
propose to show my temperance friends
why vote the Republican ticket.
l do not claim that the Republican
party has ever In national convention
declared for prohibition, or that IL is
committed to that doctrine in this state.
All claim Is that il is freely committed
to the principle that the people Of Michi-
gan have right to say what the consti.
tuition shall contain on that subject, and
they ought to be allowed to speak that