Dodge City times., 1884-09-18

at our hands. At least the friends of
prohibition should be disposed to give it
the benefit Of doubt.
That either the Republican party or
the Democratic party will prevail in the
present campaign there can be but little
doubt.
That either John A. Martin OF G. w.
Click will be elected Governor in No
vember seems to me equally certain.
This being conceded, prohibitionists
should support that party and that can
didate which will do less harm to prohi-
bition.
While the platform of the Republican
party may not be declaration for pro-
hibition, the Democratic platform is ab-
solutely declaration against it.
take it that either of these gentle
men who shall be elected v i'll carry out
substantially the principles of his party.
Common honesty would dictate nothing
less, so that while some of our prohibi-
ton friends may feel that they have
little to hope for prohibition from John
A. Martin as Governor, they have moth
ing to expect from G. w. Click. While
Mr.. Martin may do nothing for, yet am
constrained to believe he will do moth
ing against prohibition. Mr.. Click, on
the contrary, would not only do nothing
for prohibition, but do all he could to
destroy it. So as between these two
gentlemen, it seems to me that the for
mer is certainly the more preferable for
Prohibitionists to support, seeing that
the alternative is that one or the other
will be chosen the Executive of the
State.
But it may be said, why not organize
an independent political party exclu-
sively in the interest of prohibition, to
the end, that we may be enabled
to support candidates who are Pro-
hibitionists. Wisdom would suggest,
that this course should only be adopted,
if at all, when by so doing, the cause of
prohibition can be more successfully
promoted.
All great moral reforms at first are
necessarily weak, and need to be pro-
tected by some independent power or
agency, until they acquire sufficient
strength and influence to maintain an
independent existence.
The Christian religion had to be
placed under the protection OF the
Roman Empire-not very favorable
protector-until it acquired sufficient
strength and influence to maintain an
independent existence. BY this means
it was enabled to survive in the Dark
Ages, and is our present living, aggres-
sive Christianity. Likewise, it seems to
me, the temperance reform should be
placed under the protection OF the Re-
publican party, seeing that it is the party
of progress. until it snail become strong
and powerful enough, and capable OF as
suming an independent position.
1t may be said that the Republican
party is desirous of eliminating prohi-
bition, in order to secure the support of
the rum-power which is thought by
many to be more potent aid for the
political success of the party.
Now 1 entertain but little apprehen-
sion that this can be successfully accom-
plished. At least, prohibitionists should
await the consumation before politically
emancipating themselves from the party.
The future position of the two great
political parties on the temperance ques-
ton, will be, as it seems to me, that the
Democratic party, as it did by slavery,
will ally itselfwith the whisky influence.
Ave! it has already done so.
The "solid south" and the rum-power
substantially constitute the Democratic
party. And in order for the Republican
party to successfully compete with the
Democratic party, it will have to ally
itself with prohibition, not merely as a
qustion of temperance philanthropy
of sentiment, but of political necessity.
Hence I confidently entertain the
opinion, that the Republican party will
be compelled to remain loyal to prohibi-
ton, falling in this, like the old Whig
party, when it refused to take up the
banner of freedom, it will be destroyed.
But could Prohibitionists accomplish
more for prohibitionists, at this time, by
Independent political action?
Unless the friends of the cause would
substantially cooperate and unite insuch
movement, nothing could be accom-
plished, other than to assist in the de-
feat of the Republican party, and let the
Democracy in power, which, as above
stated, would be against prohibition.
This would make the Republican par
ty the enemy of prohibition, and have
the effect to place prohibition between
the upper and neither political mill
stones, and leave its friends with no in
fuence for good with the Republican
party.
AS constituency, Prohibitionists
would have more influence in and with
the Republican party, and may accom-
plish something, while as enemies they
become wholly impotent to accomplish
ANYTHING for prohibition.
Again, the most ardent friends to be
found, who favor an independent politi-
cal movement by Prohibitionists, are
Democrats.
In fact, so disinterested are some of
their politicians, that they voluntarily
offer aid and comfort to the Prohibition
lists, in their efforts to promote prohibi-
ton, by independent political action.
We would do well to heed the old,
but homely fable of, the "wolf and the
lamb"
From what have said with reference
to prohibition in the State, will apply
with equal force to the nation.
Until public sentiment of the people is
sufficiently educated to adopt local pro-
hibition in the states, and to send prohi-
bition representatives to Congress who
will agitate the measure in the National
Legislature to such an extent as to COM