The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-10-03
FORMALLY ACCEPTED.
st. Johns Letter Accepting the Prohibi
tion Nomination for President,

st. Johns Letter Accepting the Prohibit
ton Nomination for President.
OLATHE, Kan, Oct. 1.-Some days ago
Mr.. St John the Prohibition candidate for
President, sent telegram to Samuel Dickie,
Chairman of the committee, to the effect
that his letter of acceptance would be ready
in a short time and that it would embrace
his views. The letter was given out yester-
day, and is addressed to Mr.. Dickie. 1t is
as follows:
In formally accepting the nomination for
President rendered to me by the National
Prohibition Convention at Pittsburgh, Pa,
July % 1854 take the opportunity TO state
that, while the honor was neither sought nor
desired by me, yet it is greatly appreciated,
bestowed as it was by convention composed
of delegates who, in point of worth and men
tai ability. were fully equal, II not superior. to
any political convention that ever assembled
in this country. The war for the Union is
over; the rebellion has been crushed; African
slavery abolished; old issues have passed away,
and with them should go old prejudiceS and
sectional strife. To-day the products of the
North and the South float in friendly rela-
tions in the same channels, under the same
flag, every section of our country acknowl-
edging allegiance to the same Government
There never was time when our people
could better afford to, and when it was more
important that they should stop and think,
than now. With manufactures shutting down,
banks breaking, merchants failing in bush
ness, securities unsettled, Western wheat
selling at the home market for forty cents
per bushel, and hundreds of thousands of
industrious mechanics and laboring men,
who arc willing to work, but can get
nothing to do, 1t 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 a reason for
this condition of things. The little time and
old after
out the full measure of personal abuse and
villification that each seems to think the
other merits is mainly tdyr devoted devoted to
noring all matters that relate to the
moral elevation of the people. am of the
opinion that the manufacturer who, by rea-
son of the depressed condition of business,
has been compelled TO make an assignment
for the benefit of his creditors will not find
relief in the agitation OF that question now,
nor will the average farmer become very en-
thusiastiG over its discussion, with his wheat
not worth as much in the bin as it cost him to
produce it. The amount received by the
Government for duties on imports is less
than $500, 900 annually.
There are about 10000 retail dealers in in
toxicating liquors in the United States, each
of whom pays to our Government twenty-five
dollars, in consideration of which sum they
are permitted to carry on their business tor
the term of twelve months. When we add to
this the amount paid by the distillers, brew
ers and wholesale dealers, we find that the in
terest of the Government in the manufacture
and sale of Intoxicating Ii luorS is about $780,
100000 annually.
This traffic, sanctioned as tits by the laws of
our country, costs the people, at low esti-
mate, thousand million dollars year. not
to speak of the destroyed homes debatiched
manhood, poverty heart-ache, crime and cor
fuption it produces. This disgraceful buSl-
ness shou d be suppressed, and the enormous
sum of money that under the present system
is worse than thrown away saved to the peo-
pie, and thus protection would be given to
the that would
Bile us successfully to throw our doors open
wide to the competition of the world.
The Republican and Democratic parties IA
vor a continuance of the manufacture and
sale of intoxicating liquors as beverage,
while the Prohibition party demands that the
same shall be forever suppressed. Thus an
issue is presented to the people in which is
involved the protection of every home in the
land. It is not mere local ISSUE either
but it r.ot is ,os National I,no as well VEL
large and respectable body of citizens
against whose convictions party discipline
| is powerlesS-have decided to vote, and they
will not be found hating between two opin-
ions 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 simply the reflex of the
| individuals composing it. If we want an hon
| est, sober Government, we must have an hon.
| est, sober people. But we can never have an
honest, sober people SO long as the Govern
| ment sanctions that which makes its citizens
| dishonest drunken and corrupt.
The declaration of principles, which I heart
lily indorse. as set forth in the platform Of the
! Prohibition party, is entitled to the thought
! full consideration and earnest support of all
| good citizens, without regard to locality or
| former political utilization. Our country
| needs an Administration that will rise above
| mere partisan considerations, and in the
| selection of public officials make hon
| esty, sobricty and efficiency, and not service
to party the test. 1t should be conducted,
| not in the interest of any particular
section, party, race or color, but in the inter-
| est Of the whole people. TO accomplish this
! all good people should promptly step to the
| front and be counted for the right. This is no
| time for lodging. Moral cowardice will never
win and surely never deserves a victory.
| Then let us look to God for His guidance,
| and fearlessly and faithfully do our whole
| duty, never doubling that He will take care
| of the results