Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-10-09
OLATHE, KAN, S,

ance:
OLATHE, KAN, September 20.
To Hon: Samuel DteEte, Chairman Of Committee
MY DEAR SIR-In formally accepting the
nomination for President rendered to me
by the National Prohibition Convention, at
Pittsburg, Pa, July %, 1884 take the op-
pOrtunity to state that while the honor was
neither sought nor desired by me, yet it is
greatly appreciated, bestowed as it was by
a convention composed of delegates who in
point OF moral worth and mental ability
were fully equal if not superior to any pO-
htlcaI convention ever assembled in this
country. War for Union is over, rebellion
has been crushed, African slavery abolish
ed, old issues have passed away, and with
them should go the old prejudices and sec
1Onal strife. To-day the products of the
North and South float in friendly relations
in the same channels, under the same flag,
every section OF our country acknowledging
allegiance to the same Government. There
never was a time when our people could
better afford to, and when in was more i'm
pOrtant that they should stop and think
than now. With manufactures shutting
down, banks breaking, merchants failing
IN business, securities unsettled Western
wheat selling at the home market for forty
cents per busbel and hundreds of thousands
OF industrious mechanics and labOring men
who are willing to work, but can get moth
ing to do, 1t seems to me that the time has
come for the people, who are the source Of
all political power to call a halt and stop
! to think, for there must be a reason for
this condition Of things. The little time
and space the old parties can spare after
dealing out the full measure of personal
abuse and utilization that each seems to
think the other merits, is mainly devoted
to discussions of the tariff question, iguOr-
ing all matters that relate TO the moral ele-
Walton of the people. am of the opinion
that the manufacture who by reason of
the depressed condition Of business has
been compelled to make an ASSIGNMENT for
the benefit of his creditors, will not find re-
lief in agitation Of that question, nor viii
average farmer become very enthusiastic
over its discussion, with his wheat not
worth as much in the bin as it cost him to
produce 1T.
The amount received by the Government
for duties on imports is less than 500 00O,-
GOO annually. There are about 175 600 re-
tail dealers in Intoxicating liquors in the
United States, each of whom pays to our
Government S25, in consideration of which
they are permitted to carry on their bust
ness for the term Of twelve months When
we add to this the amount paid by the dis
tillers, brewers and Wholesale dealers, we
find that the interest of the Government In
the manufacture and sale Of Intoxicating
Liquors is about $SU, OOJ, 600 annually. This
traffic. sanctioned as it is by the laws of
our country, costs the people, at the lowest
estimate, one thousand million dollars per
year, not to speak of the destroyed homes,
debauched manhood, poverty, heartache,
crime and corruption it produces. This dis
graceful business should be suppressed, and
the enormous SUM Of money that under the
present system is worse than thrown
away, should be saved to the people, and
thus a protection would be given to the iH-
dustries Of this country that would enc
able Us successfully to throw our doors
open wide 70 the com petition of the world.
The Republican and Democratic parties IA
vOr a continuance of the manufacture and
sale Of Intoxicating liquors as a beverage,
while the Prohibition party demands that
the same shall be forever suppressed. Thus
an issue is presented to the people in which
IS involved the protection Of every home Ia
the land 1t is not 3 mere lOCalissue, either,
but it IS 8 National as well as q practical
question upon which a large and respect
able body Of citizen against whose conViC-
I tons party discipline is pOWerless have de-
cided 70 vote, and they viii not De found
hating between two opinions touching on
this matter, but VIII work, pray and vote
against this great evil until it is driven from
/ our land, never TO return. The Government
is simply a reflex Of the individuals COM
| posing IL. If we want an honest, sober Gov
eminent, we must have an honest, sober
/ people, but we can never have an honest,
sober people as long as the Government
san taons that which makes its cIti-
zens dishonest. drunken and cor
rupt. The declaration Of principles which
( ] heartily endorse, as set forth ia the plat
form OF the Prohibition party, Is entitled 70
the thCughtfui consideration and earnest
support Of all good citizens, without regard
/ TO locality or former political atdllat1ons.
{ Our country needs an COMMUNICATION that
VIII rise above mere partisan consld eratlonsi
and ia the selection OF public oInelals make
ts's,e7fgs RebrietT snd elnciencyi ana dot