River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-10-30

There are many conscientious men this
wear who are in quandary in regard to
the temperance question. For years
they have affiliated with one or the 9TH
er of the great political parties yet they
heartily Sympathlze with the temper
ance movement. Party ties are very
strong, and to part them is like bidd ing
adieu to dear friends Yet they are not
satisfied. Their party does not come up to
the full measure of their desire. The
Democratic party is pronounced against
prohibitorv laws, and its presidential
candidate is an acknowledged roue and
iibertine, who has, according to testimony
that cannot be impeached, been repeat
edly carried home by friends from a
house of prostitution in a maudlin,
drunken condition, even within the linn
its of the year 1884, 1t gals conscien-
tious temperance Democrats, land there
are many of them) to swallow such a
dose of moral corruption. On the other
hand the Republican party is silent on
this great question. The distillers and
brewers association has the Republican
party by the throat, and while many of
the best members would gladly speak out
for prohibition, the organization itself is
completely throttled. Its presidential
candidate has given some of the most
Washington, is not a total abstainer in
practice, and lodged the vote in his own
state on prohibition. There are thou
sands of temperance Republicans who
will stultify themselves and do violence to
their honest convictions if they vote for
Blaine. And hence the quandary what
to do at this time. There are two di fer
ent elements in both the great parties
One element in the Republican party
consists of the great army of office holders
and their dependents to whom the sue
cess of the party is a financial matter, a
question purely Of bread and butter.
Arguments from such scources should be
taken with due allowance. An element
also of the Democratic party consists of
those who would gladly turn their oppo-
nents out, and themselves fatten at the
public crib. But aside from these two
elements which make the most noise
but do not constitute the bulk of either
party, are the the two grand divisions OF
quiet voters, who cast their ballots from
settled convictions. 1t is from these di
visions that new parties get their Access
sions. In the Republican party this ele-
ment conscientiously believe that if the
government should pass into the hands
| Of the Democrats the fruits of war and
reconstruction and over 20 years of work
would be destroyed and oYerthrown and
| the government thrown into anarchy and
| confusion if not plunged into war. The
opposing division of the Democrats be-
| lieve that Republican misrule and cor
ruption in high places causes hard times
| low prices for wheat and encourages mo-
| nopolies, and that nothing short of an
| absolute change of administration viii
| bring about an era of prosperity. From
an outside standpoint it is very evident
| that both these views are distorted anC
exaggerated. There is at present no es
sential difference aside from mutual re
examinations, between the two parties
Divested of the abuse of eaoh other, ths
sentiments expressed in the balance o
their platforms are so similar that {
stranger could not tell to which it belong
ed without reading the title. There il
| now but one question OF absorbing inter
est before the American people and tina
is the temperance issue. i is in politics
and it has come to stay. Politicians MAJ
try to ignore it, timid people may seek I,
avoid it, but it will not down; like Ban
duo's ghost ii Is ever present and will new
er be settled until it is settled right. Tn
liquor interests realize its importance PC
J litically, and are leaving no stone unturn
ed to hold the grip and ascendancy whicl
they have long held en- both parties
There is only one way for oonscientIou
men to do, who believe in the suppres
sion of this giant evil, and that is. to sto
temporizing, to stop lodging, ard com
out nanfulIy for the right and vote fo
principle, and vote their honest eonvit
tions, vote fuI the principle which yo
know to be right, and the God of Righ
viii see that no vote is lost.