The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-10-15
ST. JOHNS ACCEPTANCE.
Letter Of the Prohibition Candidate
GOf President.

Letter Of the Prohibition Candidate
fOf President.
The secretary OF the national Prohibition
party furnishes the following letter Of accep-
tance from Governor St. John, the candidate
of that party for President Of tbs United
States:
OLATHE, Kan, Sept 20, 1884. '
Hon. Samuel Dickie, Chairman of the Com
mhtee, Etc:
MY DEAR SiR.-In formally accepting tho
nomination for President rendered to me by
the National Prohibition convention at Pitts
burg, Penn. July %, 1881, take the opportunity
to state that while the honor was neither
sought nor desired by me, yet 1t IN greatly
appreciated, bestowed us it was by con
vention composed Of delegate, who In
point OF real worth and mental ability were
fully equal IL not superior to those OF
any political convention that ever assembled
In this country. The war for the Union y
over. The rebellion has been crushed. Afrh
can slavery has been abolished. The old Is.
SUES have passed away, and with them should
go the old prejudices and sectional strife 10
day the products Of the North and South fbas
in friendly relations in the same channels,
under the same flag, every section OF our
country acknowledging allegiance to the sauo
government
There never was time when our people
could better afford to, and when 1t was more
important that they should, stop and think
than now. With manufactures shutting
down, banks breaking, merchants failing in
business, securities unsettled, Western wheat
selling at the home market for forty cents
per bllsliel and hundreds of thousands OF in
dustrious mechanics and laborng men VINO
aro willing TO work but can get nothing 10
do, it seems to me that the time has come
for the people, who are the source OF all
political power, to call halt and stop and
think, for there must be u reason for TINS
condition of things
The little time and space the old parties
can spare after dealing out the full measure
Of personal abuse and vilification that eacn
seems to think tile other merits is mainly do
voted TO the discussion of the tariff question:
Ignoring all matters that relate to the moral
elevation of the people. am of the opinion
that the manufacturer who by reason Of inc
depressed condition of business, has been
compelled to make an assignment Tor tne
benefit of his creditors, will not find relief IN
the agitation of that question now, nor VIII
the average farmer become enthusiastic
over its discussion, with his wheat not
worth 50 much in tho bin as it cost him to
produce it.
The amount received by the government
for duties ON imports is less than $2O0,OOO,OO
annually. There are about Ia, ,OOOretaildealers
in intoxicating liquors in the United States,
each of whom pays t. our government SO, In
con ,idrl alton of which sum they are per-
mitel 10 carry on their business for term
Of twelve months, When we add to this the
amount paid by distilleIs, brewers and whole
sale d, ,aers, we find that the interest of the
government in the manufacture and sale or
intoxicating liquors is about $4,000, 600 an
nually. This traffic, sanctioned as 1t is by
the laws Of our country, costs the people, at
u low estimate a thousand million dollars
year, not to speak of the destroyed homes,
debauChcd manhood, poverty, heartache,
crime aud corruption it produces. This dis
| graceful business should be suppressed, and
| the enormous sum of money that under
| the present system is worse than thrown
away, saved TO the people; and thus a pro-
| lection would bc given to the industries OF
| this country that would enable us successful
ly TO throw our doors open wide to the COM
petition of the world.
The Republican and Democratic parties
favor the continuance of the manufacture
and ale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage,
| while the Prohibition party demands that the
| same shall he forever suppressed. Thus an is
sue is presented to the people in which is in
| volved the protection of every home IN the
| land II is not n mere local issue either butit
| is "A national as well as IA practical question,
| upon which a large and respectable body OF
citzens--against whose convictions party
| discipline is powerless-havc decided to vote,
| and they will not he found halting between
| the two opinions touching this matter, but
will work and pray and vote against this great
evil, until it is driven from our land
never to return. The government is simplya
reflex of the individuals composing it. We
want an honest, sober people, but weican never
| I. I,l.a.n anil Innu IN