River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-11-13
Comments on the Situation from q
Prohibition Standpoint.

EDITOR JoURNAL-In behalf of the
Prohibitionists of this county, allow me
to express our thanks for the fairness you
have displayed during the campaign, IN
giving us an opportunity through your
columns to express our sentiments, ana
for the general courtesy you have shown
us. l am sure it will be remembered.
And now, as the smoke of battle is clear
ing away, permit few words of comment
from our standpoint. At this writing the
indications seem to be conclusive that the
National Democratic ticket is elected.
There is nothing in this result to cause
Prohibltlonists to exult. 1t is conceded
that probably 70 per cent. of the Prohi-
bitionists were formerly Republicans;
most of these would have been glad to
remain with the old party could they
have done so conscientiously. The DEM
ocratic party is pronounced and out spok-
en- against Pr0hibitionists, and they have
no utilization there. The Republican
party saw fit TO ignore them at the Chi
cago convention, and gave Prohibitlonlsts
to understand that their votes were not
worth recognizing. Now, IT the Republic
cans are punished in consequence of lost
Prohibition votes, they have only them
selves to blame. An analysis of the vote
shows that the neutral position assumed
by the Republican party lost them thou
sands of German Republicans whose in
terests are identified with the brewers
and distillers. These people will tolerate
no halfway measures, and are as dlssat-
isfied on the one hand as Prohibitionists
are ON the other. The sooner the Re-
publican party recognizes this fact, and
in a clean cut manner recognizes the
claims Of one or the other of these ele.
ments, the sooner they will recover their
lost ground. The only comfort that Pro-
hibitionists can derive from the present
outlook is the hope that this preston
will now receive more at.cntlon hOlll pol
itlcians than ever before, and that good
| to the nation may grow out of seeming
disaster. Prohibitionists feel much like
an indulgent and forbearing father does
when reluctantly compelled to punish a
disobedient and refractory child. The
| punishment may seem severe, but had
| Grover Cleveland been a better man
| morally, st. Johns vote would have
been increased by many thousands. AS
| it is, politicians will do well to cease their
cursing, drop their sneers and inuendoes,
look carefully at the signs in the skies
and proceed to take in sail accordingly.
Prohibitionists are not in the least dis
| couraged. The cause is growing with a
speed that is perfectly wonderful. In
proof of it, note these figures: In 1872
James Black, Prohibition candidate fol-
President, received only 5,6OS votes in
the entire United States. In 1876 Green
Clay Smith increased the number to g.
522. In 1880, even with Garfield in the
field, Neal Dow received 10,305, and in
1884, returns already give st. John over
200, 900 known votes, which will be large
ly increased when the official count is
made and the suppressed returns are Civ
en- Let politicians heed these figures,
and beware how they trifie with this
coming question. A. NJ. HUTCHINSON.