Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-10-16
STATE rEnrnRANCa 4LIIAsor.
An Address TO the Public Upon the
Situation.

STS q TEMPERANCE SLLIAROE.
An Address 10 the Public Upon the
Situation.
On Saturday afternoon an adjourned
meeting of the Slate Temperance Al
lance was held in the MoClary Building,
President Charles Moore preceding.
Professor Webb of Delaware College, was
chosen permanent secretary.
A committee consisting Of W. II. Pur.
oeil, Of Delaware College, CHARLES N lore
md TIE Rev. C. W, Prettyman was sp-
poInted to attend the next session OF the
Nomsn's Christian Temperance Union
eNd icit i:S cooperation.
TIE ocmwittss OH public address read
The following paper aud decided to give
it the widest publication possible
TO The People Of Nelo Castle County The
friends OF local option have tried In vain for
years past to have the policy OF liquor
traffic submitted to vote OF the people
Some members OF the Legislature have as
individuals favored local option by casting
their votes for measure of this character,
but they have been in minority, and neither
Of the existing political parties Of Delaware
has ever endorsed the principle In other
states, for example Maryland, Georgia,
Kansas and Maine, the people have by com
mon consent, been allowed to express their
will, aud the result is that the evil OF the
liquor traffic has been there partially
Oh wholly subdued, but unfortunately for
our State our Legislature will neither enact
prohibition nor permit tne people to do So
This is a violation of the fundamental pfiil-
ciple OF our republican institutions, for our
government in state and nation was designed
to be IA government OF the people, by the
10 4s.V.N
party, We believe the liquor traffic would be
abolished by the popular vote. But the voice
of the people has been stitled aud gigantic
evil continued year after year by the strength
OF party attachment aud the force of party
machinery. The partisan leaders crack their
whips and large numbers Of the temperance
men fall into the traces aud draw their usual
burden once more to the polls. They suffer
themselves to be deluded by the appeal
made to their prejudices. The liquor
advocates, who arc wise iu tneir
| generation, cannot be caught with
such chatf. II their principles are not re-
| spected they repudiate the party Hence the
greater Difference paid to their wishes. IL
the meantime the dreadful traffic goes on.
Hundreds of thousands OF dollars are worse
than wasted, countless lives destroyed. and
/ woe and wretchedness In every form stall
through the land. One moments consider
alton would convince the unprecedented mind
that this question is Of far more Importance
to the community than questions Of tariff
currency, civil service REFORM assessment law
and the like. 1t is the paramount issue Of the
times. Influenced by such consideration
the State Temperance Alliance at its las
regular meeting determined to bring the sub
ject directly before the people, and, therefore
instructed its county committees to nominal,
legislative tickets. Nevertheless being per
fectly willing that the respective p0litica
parties should be afforded another oppor
tunity Of setting themselves right on thi
vital subject, 1t was declared that i'll cas-
either OF them should insert local optiol
plank in their platform the local optioi
legislative tickets should be immediatel
withdrawn. Accordingly sub committe
was appointed to make proposition to tn
state conventions of the two partie
respectively, asking them to approve of tn
principle Of local option.
This request was submitted to the oonven
ton OF the Democratic party on the 23d o
September, 1884 1t was read in convention
and referred to the committee on resolutions
but no report whatever was made upon tn
subject. The same request was laid befor
the Republican convention, which met on
week afterward, and there il met no bette
fate. Without being read it was referred I
the committee on platform and the chairmal
Of that committee advised against its adop
ton and recommended the friends OF loca
option to look to the Democratic party for re
lief.
But such an appeal had already been mad
in vain. Then the point we make before til
people is, that since there is no hope G
securing local option from either OF til
political organizations in our State tn
friends OF the measure are compelled to stan
by their own ticket and do all they can I
elect it, The members Of the alliance do nj
wish to go any further into politics than
absolutely necessary Ia accomplish tnepurpos
/. they have at heart and therefore they hay
confined their action to the nomination
candidates for the Legislature The tick
: for the Legislature which is presented to ii
voters of New Castle county, il compose
OF men Of intelligence aud integrit
u and we ask for it the support of d
/. the friends of morality and regio
just laws and righteous government. \
:, one should be deferred from giving his su
a port to this ticket by the fact that thiI
years ago this measure was attempted al
= abandoned The old Wing part
n which WAS mainly instrumental in pas
d, ing the local option law Of that tim
y did not suffer decline and death on th
,s account but because it failed to tai
- decided position on the slavery questl
y "a question that was then stirring t
0 whole country to its profoundest depth
70 Nor should the friends OF local optlOli
discouraged because the court OF appet
Of that day decided the law then passed
be unconstitutional. The court as at prese
;. constituted is not bound to adhere to Il
decision rendered so long ago. In otI
" states whose constitutional provisions
/ this respect are precisely the same with q
;. own, the decisions have in every case wht
u the question was raised, been in favor of /
N constltu ionality of local option laws. I
!. Supreme Court Of the United States has
~ variably sustained such decisions. In {
10 own state local option is the vital principle
our free school system. The school vot
70 in their respective districts vote tax. and |
to tax is accordingly levied and collected III
vote down tax and no tax can be levied a
collected. What sacredness hedges about
liquor traffic that the people should not
g. permitted to vote that down il q majority
ia sire to do 80? Equally untenable is the
i, gument that you can justify yourself in V
u ing against local option because there is
present prospect Of its success a
the vote cast for it will
small No such excuse is
missible in the form Of conscience. Tn
was time when many a good cause n
81 triumphant, wac weak and had but I
W. friends The good book tells us not to
IT, with the multitude to do evil. That gra
as old Bible hero, Joshua, said "And il
H. seems evil unto you to serve the Lo
OF choose you this day whom ye will serN
T.. whether the gods which your fathers serN
~ that were on the other eide Of the flood,
IL the gods Of the Ammonltes, in whose land
:, dwell but as for me and my house. we
Ut serve the Lord" Suffrage is perso
re privilege not to be exercised at the bidd
lie Of party, tut in obedience to the dictates
t. an enlightened conscience. But we
not concede that tine friends OF 10
IL option or the foes Of the liquor ira
OF are few. There are thousands who b,
n. not bowed the knee to Baal. We appeal
you to speak out at the ballot box and
~, your faith be known. We appeal to the N
nd listers Of the gospel, who ought by virtue
,le their high and holy calling to be exempt
i, citizens and foremost in every good word d
vi work, to give efficient aid TO this good eau
q We appeal to all professors Of religion
Ill come up TO to the help Of the Lord TO &
r. the right We appeal to fathers Of famili
III whose sons are exposed to hourly temptat
at by reason OF the prevalence of this dread
al traffic, to vote to put it down. We appeal
an the women of our county, by the woes VIII
T. this terrible evil has inflicted and il oonti
30 ing to intlict upon their sex, to lend til
lis powerful influence in making success
~ this first practical effort to cradle
ly the liquor traffic Let them persu,
ul and entreat their husbands, brothers q
an SONS to testify by their votes against /
OF monstrous and widespread ell Finally
Vt: appeal to all Of every class and condit
I'D who love justice and right, and who va
ry the peace and happiness Of their fellow N
60 more than the ephemeral triumphs Of par
10 to lend their countenance and support to [
ne good work. CHARLES MooRE, President
n; WESLEY WEBB Secretary.
"a