West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-07-09
THE GREAT ISSUE.
BY DIR. A. C. GEORGE, OF CHICAGO.

BY DIR. A. c. GEORGE, OF CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, ILL, July 2.-To the
Editor: The Washington Sentinel,
the recognized organ of the brew
ers, says; DHH HuTaf
"There can no longer be any
doubt that the prohibition question
will be the great political issue of
the day."
Why should it not be2 1t is the
only really great question in cur
rent politics, and it demands con-
sideration. 1t is question which
touches the very foundations of
our social life. 1t is the supreme
financial question. 1t involves the
extent of pauperism and crime,
and 80 the amount and burden of
taxation. The support or the sup
preston Of the dram shops is the
one great issue now before the
American people having moral sig
nifcance and import. The saloons
and distilleries are arrayed against
the schools and the churches. The
whole liquor business is a curse
and crime. 1t is the foe of patriot
ism, of philanthropy, and of re-
ligion. It is time that the legal
lied trade in poisonous drinks was
denounced and demolished. There
is no other political issue begin
ming to have the proportions of
this question, or pressing so earn
estly for hearing and settlement.
1t has been pushed aside from va
rious considerations till it can be
pushed aside no longer. The hour
has struck for its consideration,
and it will never cease to agitate
and disturb the public mind till
the whole system of traffic in in
toxicating liquors. to be used as a
beverage, is de-legalized and de-
throned. The odious despotism is
doomed. There can be no ques-
ton in American politics which
will take precedence of this ques-
ton for O. generation. The Ameri-
can republic is to be saved from
drunkenness and from an oligar-
chy of distillers and saloonists and
their natural allies and CONDUCTORS,
the whole body of corrupt and con-
scienceless politicians.
at is not practical" we are told,
"to carry this question into poll
tics" 1t is never practical" in
this wicked world to serve God and
work righteousness. The race pro-
crosses by impractical attempts
and forlorn hopes. Jesus of MAJ
areth was impractical and was cru
CITED. The apostles, despite the
warning, followed His example.
The confessors, reformers, martyrs
and missionaries have kept along
the same road. The men of prin-
ciple, and not the men who are
seeking pelf and power, are the
men by whom civilization ad-
vances toward the millenial morn.
Beside, it is not proposed to take
the liquor question into politics. 1t
Is IN politics, and it is there to
stay till the day of its death. 1t
lives by law, it is sanctioned by
legislation, it is shielded by the
statute book. 1t is, therefore, a
community crime for which every
voter whose ballot is not a protest,
is, in his measure, responsible.
There are a good many citizens
who do not propose to bear any
measure of that responsibility
henceforth forever.
1t is urged that prohibition
should not be made partisan is
sue. If that be so, the temperance
men are not responsible. They
asked the Legislature of this State
to send the question of constitution
al inhibition to the people for de-
termination at separate election,
and the dominant party refused.
The National Republican Conven-
ton was asked to recommend the
submission of a constitutional
amendment prohibiting the traffic,
to be "adopted or rejected according
to the will of the people," and the
request was buried out of sight by
the committee on resolutions. In
r I \ Il