The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-10-31
TO TEMPERANCE REPUBLI-
CANS

The TINES believes that the sober,
second thought of most total absti
nence Republicans has prevented the
political prohibition movement in all
the country, and especially in this
State, from attaining to the serious
proportions which at one time
seemed possible. Realizing that at
least eight out of everv ten prohibition
votes are cast by Republicans, and
that, therefore, the only possible ef-
feet of voting for St. John would aid
in the election of the Democratic
ticket, the true temperance Republi.
cans have very generally declined to
injure the temperance cause by con-
tributing to the success of its avowed
enemies.
But in order to show the temper
ance Republicans who may still be
disposed to assist the free whis-
ky party by voting for the candi-
dates of the Prohibtionists. just what
they have to expect in the event of
Democratic triumph, We again call
your attention to the position of the
Democratic candidates, and the re.
cord of the national Democratic par
ty with respect to this temperance
question:
Grover Cleveland, as is well known
to the American public, is man of
incorporate habits. He has often
been seen by well known residents of
Buffalo in such a beastly state of in
toxication that he CoSld not walk
without assistance, and it is stated by
the clergymen of Buffalo, and not
contradicted that even when he was
the reform Mayor of that city, he
passed his evenings in the grog.shops
and other places that good citizens
do not visit That his views on the
temperance question conform to his
personal habits, and that he would,
as President, veto anv prohibitory
legislation, can hardly be questioned
in view of the following extract from
his letter of acceptance:
"The limit between the proper
subjects of governmental control and
those which can be more fittingly left
to the moral sense and self imposed
restraint. of the people should be
carefully kept in view. Thus laws
unnecessarily interfering a0iM the ha6-
its and customs of any of our people,
which are not offensive to the moral
sentiments of the civilized world, are
unwise and vexatious." ]"
The would-bc Vice President, Thorn
as A. Hendricks, has given consider
able portion of his time during this
campaign to the making of free-rum
speeches in Ohio, Indiana, and Hi
nois. Just what his attitude towards
the temperance question would be,
if he should be elected to the Vice
Presidency of the Nation, and hence
become President of the Senate, is
made perfectly plain by the following
brief extract from his Toledo speech
Of the 10th Of September:
"What say you. my German friends
is prohibition right or wrong ? Voice,
'Wrong.'] Wrong, of course 1t is, as
the Democracy in every platform has
declared. In the state from which /
have come to-day, our Democracy
have fought this battle well out upon
the idea that whether man shall
take drink Of beer, or, if you please,
drink of whisky belonging to him.
lf,and fyou choose to take drink,
| would not advise you to drink any
thing to disturb the composure of
your judgement at any time, but
if you choose to take drink, shall
you come to me and ask my permis-
sion, or in other words, shall l seek
to interpose to prevent you from in
dulging habit that you think is not
hurtful to you ,"
The record of the Democratic par.
ty in Congress has been as uniformly
one of opposition to all temperance
legislation, as that of the Republican
party has been one of unfaltering
friendship to it.. In proof we ask the
attention of our readers to the fol-
lowing votes on the temperance
measures that have been before Con-
gress:
On the asth of January, 1916,
bill was introduced in the Senate pro-
viding for the appointment of o COM