The Monitor., 1884-10-31

Carolina, fights for Prohibition in the same
ranks with Coy. Plasted. of Maine. and all
through the North and South the men once
at swords points are now, upon the tenn
perance question, sworn allies.
But don't take temperance into poll
tics, is the cry of sundry surface thinkers.
| wish every one of these delegates would
read Miss Victor's pamphlet on that ques-
tion, and for that purpose have arranged
for its free distribution here. | am proud
that a woman-and Southern woman, too
should have furnished us this earliest and
ablest of campaign documents. 1t will be
a discovery to some that since beer is
| already in the political arena, shaking its
fists, temperance must go forth to the en-
counter, or fail to exhibit Davids faith in
the presence of Goliath. "How will you
vote on the question of beer?' is the shib-
boeth of the majority of the Republican
party to-day. By the explicit and unani-
nous resolutions of every Liquor Dealers
Association from Boston to San Francisco,
they put the candidates Oh trial of their
lives. And as You read Miss Victor's
pamphlet, You will see that from the year
of their organization in 1862, until to-day,
the brewers wing of the Liquor League
''has issued IN tie caucus and at tie polls,
commands which the Republican party in
Congress has scrupulously obeyed. And
yet in this great organization are temper
70 I,oI1 Al, l,o1o
power; but they are only members of the
great body, and accept the candidates
chosen by leaders whom they have followed
so long that party allegiance seemed to be
second nature to them. For, party is
like some huge, masterful, aggressive man;
the head thinks out the orders, and the
lin hs execute them. But when beer has
muddled the head, and the right hand ca
tempts to crush, there is no more absurd
figure above ground. In this imbecle at
titude stands the Republican party of to-
day, while at the North the Democratic
openly espouses the cause of the saloons,
against which in the South it is beginning
to contend. And yet in the magnificent
arena of public opinion, opposing parties
are the only gladiators worthy of the scene,
and upon their victory or defeat depends
the veal or woe of nations.
We point to the bipartisan homage of
which our murdered President is the sub
ject, but We must not forget that when
fifty millions gathered around his dying
couch, it was to lament over man who
was one of the most loyal partisan leaders
of his day, man, too, whose name they
would never have heard except as he be-
came the standard bearer of the party
which for generation had never known
defeat.
No; parties are the moulds into which
God pours the principles that are to bless
humanity. But when these have crystaliz-
ed into the law and life of a people, God
breaks the mould for which he has no
further use. Parties, like men, travel the
long road from cradle to coffin; but un-
fortunately, when dead, they are not so
sure of a burial as men. In Illinois we
| i
are organic-they grow by gradual accre-
tions and require nourishment and care.
As whirlwind begins with few leaves
or particles of dust, so a party begins with
a few individuals, often obscure: but if
Gods breath sets them in motion, the
widening and ascending spiral of their pro-
gress draws in the multitudes. But par
ties have their best analogy in well discip-
lined armies, under intelligent and faithful
leadership. First, the soldiers must be re-
cruited, one by one, for well-understood
contest against foe detested by them all.
Our temperance woman have been petition
ing Legislatures which were, as a rule,
companies of soldiers enlisted for no other
purpose than to defeat their measures Is
it any wonder we have grown tired of it,
and decided to invest our valuable time
where it promises better results-namely.
in recruiting, one by one, from the people
of the country soldiers committed to the
proposition, "1He s0looh mast go.''
The men who will naturally unite in
this party will also strongly support Civil
Service Reform, Anti Monopoly, and Anti
Mormon Legislation, and commit the or
ganization heartily to the cause of Nation
al and Compulsory Education. The best
elements of the dsintegrating parties of
the past will gravitatc toward this; from
their worn-out hulls the sound timbers will
help make up our life RATS.
Very soon this new party of great
moral ideas will hold the balance of
power. When we see q David Davis or a
Mahone determining which of two exist
ing parties shall aspire to national as
tendency, when We review the record of
the Grcenbackers in and out of Congress.
the prediction should not seem To Ms
absurd that erelong one new party will
hold the balance of power. At first. per-
haps, this will occur in some obscure but
carefully canvassed locality, later in
state, and finally by the inevitable Sc
quence OF party evolution in the nation it.
self.
Here, then, at the nations capital LET ms
declare our allpuiauoa. b.ro ia+ az. ...