West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-08-06
The National Prohibition COnven
ton.

The National Prohibition Con-
vention met in Pittsburg, Pa, July
%, and continued in session two
days, Thirty-one States were rep
resented by COZ duly elected dele
gates. Many visitors were in at
tendance from all parts of the coun-
try. Gideon 7. Stewart, of Ohio,
called the Convention to order.
The opening prayer was by Rev.
DR.. A. A. Miner, of Boston. G. l..
Rose, Esq, of Pittsburgh, made an
address of welcome, which was re-
sponded to by Mr.. Stewart, of
Ohio. Hon. William Daniel, of
Maryland, was chosen temporary
President, and Prof. Samuel Dickie,
of Michigan, permanent President
of the Convention. The usual
committees were appointed.
The following platform was
adopted, subject to literary revis-
ion by special committee.
THE PLATFORM.
"The Prohibition Home Protec-
ton party, in National Convention
assembled, acknowledge Almighty
God as the rightful sovereign Of all
men, from whom the just powers
of government are derived, and to
whose laws human enactments
should conform. Peace, prosperi-
ty, and happiness only can come
to the people when the laws of
their national and State govern
ments are in accord with the Di-
vine will.
That the importation, manufac-
ture, supply, and sale of alcoholic
beverages, created and maintained
by the laws of the National and
State governments, during the en-
tire history of such laws is every
where shown to be the promoting
cause Of intemperance, with re-
sulting crime and pauperism max
ing large demands upon public
and private charity, imposing large
and unjust taxation and public
burdens for penal and sheltering
institutions, upon thrift, industry,
manufactures, and commerce; en-
dangering the public peace, caus-
ing dissertation of the Sabbath ;
corrupting our politics, legisla-
ton, and administration of the
laws; shortening lives, impalring
health, and diminishing produc-
tive industry causing education to
be neglected and despised; nullify-
ing the teachings of the Bible, the
Church, and the school, the stand
ards and guides of our fathers and
their children in the founding and
growth under God of our widely
extended country, and which, i'm
perilling the perpetuity of our civ
il and religious liberties, are bale
full fruits by which we know that
these laws are alike contrary to
Gods laws and contravene our hap
piness; and we call upon our fellow
citizens to aid us in the repeal of
these laws and in the legal sup
preston of this baneful liquor traf-
fc.
The fact that during the twenty
four years in which the Republi-
can party has controlled the gener-
al government in many of these
States, no efforts have been made
to change this policy, that Terri
tories have been created from the
national domain and government
tor them established, and States
from them admitted into the
Union, in no instance in either of
which has this traffic been forbid
den or the people of these terrific
ries or States been permitted to
prohibit it; that there are now
over 100000 distilleries and brew
cries, wholesale and retail, dealers
in these drinks holding certificates
claiming the authority of the gov
eminent for the continuation of a
business so destructive to the
moral and material welfare of the
people, together with the fact that
! they have turned deaf ear to