The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-10-24
MISLED PROHIBITI0NISTS
A Ringing Appeal from
Fred Douglass.
DO NOT AID THE GROG-SH0P AND
BULLDOZER.

To the Editor of the Ne,o York Tribune.
SIR: Among the political forces of
the hour, characterized by irrational
individualism and n rampant tendency
to faction which threatens not only the,
stability of political parties but popu-
lar government itself. reducing society
to a condition of chaos, that one which
proposes TO organize national prohi-
bition party and to give its vote In the
present election for Ex-Governor st.
John, of Kansas, is, perhaps, best en-
titled to respect. 1t certainly is more
worthy of consideration than that other
party which, masquerading In the sham
of independence, is laboring might and
main to bring back to power the old
democratic party, and Is willing to as
sassinate great and good party merely
from personal dislike TO James e. Blaine,
though to this hour 1T has not proved a
single charge it has made against the
object of its spite.
The prohibition party stands upon
different footing. and IL is actuated by
different motives. Though, as think,
it is manifestly wrong and abundant In
mischief, its members are among the
most conscientious and philanthrOpic of
the American people.
There Is no denying that these peo-
pie, though manifestly In error, are ac-
tuated by pure motives. Dominated
by single idea, detached from all ques.
tions affecting the general moral and
material interests of the country. hav
Ing before them an object which ex-
clndes all else, assuming TO follow In
the footsteps of those noble men and
women who waged thirty years moral
ell N
strumental in making possible the over
throw Of the slave system, these prohi-
bitionists think to do the same for
intemperance.
Such people are not to be ridiculed
or denounced out of their convictions.
Against them no weapons should be
brought less effective than reason, truth,
and humanity.
Lest what 1 am about to say shall be
rejected on the presumption that have
leaning toward liquor, may say that
l am both a temperance man and pro-
hibitionist. / neither drink, smoke,
chew. nor take snuff. Yet l am not, In
a party sense, rohibitiOnist, or In
csvor of erecting political party upon
Shat single issue; certainly not at the
present time, when the practical effect
of the organization Of such party Is
to withdraw votes from the republican
party, and thus to strengthen and place
In power the rum and slavery demo-
cratic party.
From the nature and composition of
the republican party, composed of the
most moral and philanthropic of the
American people, the prohibition party
will naturally draw ten votes from
that party, to one from the democratic
party.
1t is notorious that the strength and
prestige of the democratic party is
due to the solid vote of the South, and
almost equally due to the solid vote of
the dram-shops of the North.
When, therefore, i am asked to vote
for Mr.. st. John, am asked to assist,
not the cause of temperance or prohi-
bition, for at present such assistance Is
impossible, but to place In power a
party distinguished for Its sympathy
and the destruction of the freedom of
the ballot in the South, while 1t sup
ports the whisky-drinking custom Of
the North.
1t is nothing against this, that our
friends of the prohibition party are at
heart opposed alike to the grog-shop
and the bulldozer's whip. i speak on
ly of the effect of their political action
and of the defense that they make Of
that action.
They say: Suppose we do defeat the
election of James G.. Blaine and John
A. Logan, and thus overthrow the re-
publican party, and bring into power
Grover Cleveland and Thomas A.
Hendricks, and the old democratic
party, the final result will be good,
since out of the ruins Of the republic
can party there will arise prohibition
party, which, four years hence, through
disgust at the wickedness of the demo-
cratic party, will come into power and
destroy the manufacture and traffic In
ardent spirits altogether;" an assump-
tion about as wild and irrational as 1t
is possible to conceive.
Suppose the main fact In this prohl-
bition argument be granted, thing
utterly opposed to reason, what better
Is that argument than open, undis-
guised justification of doing damna-
bic evil I'm order that, by some mys-
terious way, good may Gomez