The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-10-24
A WARNING FROM MRS. FOSTER.

Mrs. j. Ellen Foster, one Of the fore
most workers In the cause of temper
ance, and an officer of the National Wo-
mans Christian Temperance Union,
writes the following letter on the duty
Of temperance people in the present
campaign:
BUFFALO. AUG. 81, 1SS4.--The Rev. K.
X. Young, ID. D., Dcs Moines, Ia.-My
Dear Friend: My allegiance in public
work is first of all due to the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union. believe
that as a National organization we
should be non-partisan in our attitude
toward the political questions of the day.
even toward party prohibition. 1t is my
sincere conviction, strengthened by
personal knowledge of the work the
country over, that the overthrow of the
liquor traffic will be soonest accom-
plished If our organization withhold
party effort and give themselves wholly
to the regular lines of temperance work
which have been developed by Gods
providence during the ten years since
the crusade. We have some twenty-five
distinct departments Of work under the
general divisions, preventive, educa-
tional, evangelistic, social, and legal
These cover every phase of the question.
and afford the widest scope for the work
of our organization. deprecate great
ly the seeming attempt on the part Of
some of our women to ally the National
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
with the national prohibition party. 1
believe the larger part of our member
ship and our best advisers deplore what
they consider an unwarranted and an
untenable position.
Having been chosen by the national
union superintendent of the department
of legislative work and petitions, / must
keep myself free from partisanship. AS
an individual l cannot and do not
smother my convictions. Either James
G. Blaine or Grover Cleveland will be
president Of these United States. AS
between them | do not see how any
Christian voter can hesitate. Writing
as do from this city of Buffalo, where
Clcveland's home is--no, where he lives,
he has no home-I do not hesitate to
say, as for me and mine, let it be the
true husband, the honest father, the
home man-James q. Blaine.
Further than this, do not believe
the demand for national constitutional
prohibition is the "best Endorsement
of prohibition principles" The pro-
hibition of the liquor traffic Is not, by
either the letter or the spirit of the
constitution, the subject Of national
legislation. 1t must come by states;
/ can come in no other way, unless by
an armed resistance to law in the states
by military intervention. Peaceable
revolution according to constitutional
methods must come by state legislation.
SO also just as prohibition cannot be
carried in state till considerable
number of voters in the state are them
selves prohibitionists, so national pro-
hibition cannot be a practical issue,
until q considerable number of states
are prohibition states. When three
quarters of the states agree the con-
stitution of the United States may be
amended and national prohibit be
the rule of the land. 1t is sometimes
argued that the thirteenth amendment
abolishing slavery In the states was
submitted by congress before the states
had taken similar state action, but we
remember at this time there was so
large n majority of free states that
they controlled the government and
carried on a great and terrible war.
The question of slavery on its politi-
cal side was u controversy between
states, concerning which the general
government and national legislation
was the only court of appeal. The
prohibition of the liquor traffic is not a
question between states, but between
the people of state, and national
political action is not at this time the
proper court in which to try this cause.
l have taught this doctrine from
ocean to ocean; could l now fail to
stand for the application of the truths
not If / were O voter enter the politi-
cal field for the nominees Of the Pitts
burgh convention. honor John p. st.
John, he has my high esteem my pro-
found respect, and so of Mr.. Daniel,
whom / am honored by numbering
among my personal friends. ] believe
they each were actuated by the high
motive of disinterested prtriotism
simply do not agree with them as to
this one method of obtaining what we
all desire.
/ do not see how there can be two
opinions as to the duty of Iowa Pro-
hibitionists. have no arithmetic with
which to estimate the mental calibrc
or the moral sense of any Iowa man
who claims to be for temperance and
does not stand by the Republican
party, with the rights and privileges
conferred by the "bad mans plank"
The Prohibitionists of Iowa, DWELL
Ing In the Canaan of triumphant ma
jorities, can hardly appreciate the
WEAKNESS, even the bitterness of those
still In the wilderness with their chill
dren daily dying by the wayside. God
has many ways of accomplishing His
purpose: there are many battali0ns In
His great armies. Let us not sit In
Judgment upon those who differ with
us rs to what is the most effective mode
Of warfare at this particular point Of
time In the long struggle. Let no
friend be disturbed at this difference
of opinions; let no enemy be rejoiced
thereby. We shall still keep "the
unity OF the spirit In the bonds of
peace" aud In the final victory shall