The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-28
FORMAL NOTIFICATION OF THE
PROHIBITION CANDIDATES
BY THE COMMITTEE.
Speech of st. John Endorsing
the Principles of
the Party.
The Cause and the Party to
be Kept Alive for
Future Use.
A Review of Political Parties
iii Relation to the
Liquor Tariff.

hlnltlon ratification proceedings Were
held to day at ST. John camp meeting
circuit grounds, two miles from Cuba
village. A temperance camp meeting
to last five days is in progrss. The prin-
cipal leaders and speakers Of the pro-
hibitiOn movement are in attendance,
and will address the meeting during
the week. An audience of 1900 is in
attendance. The exercises opened
with music and prayer, after which
Prof. Dickey, chairman of the notifi-
cation committee was introduced to
the audience and candidates, and ad-
| dressed the candidates, Hon. Jno. z.
st. Johns and VIM. Daniel, as follows:
Gentlemen:-I am to speak for this
committee, representing here to-day
the national convention of the prohi-
bition party, recently in session at
Pittsburg, in harmony with political
usages and in keeping with the digni-
ty and Importance of the high
position In which we shall en-
deavor to place you. We are
for the purpose of notifying
you, in this official and formal
manner of your selection as candidates
of the national prohibition party, for
positions respectively of president and
vice-presldent of the United States.
| The convention then honored
itself by gathering men there bowed
under the weight of many years, who,
a generation ago, gathered in the
same hall, to organize for victory
what seemed to some hopeless case
the battle against that other slavery.
Young men were there with the ar
dor of youth and devotion, and heroic
women were there. Francis Willard
and Mary Woodbridge, Mrs. Burt and
Mary Lathrop, and Esther Hugh,
representatives of the best brain and
heart of American womanhood 1t
was a convention of earnest men and
pure women, who were there to
express their conviction that the gov
ernment ought to be government of
the people, and by the people, and for
the people, and not d government of
the saloon, and by the saloon,
and for the saloon. 1t was a
convention representing a power
full constituency from all parts
of our land; a constituency
composed of citizens grown tired of
the spectacle of the old political par
ties rivaling each other in their eager
ness to serve the liquor traffic, going
down on their faces in the dust before
the monarch of man, and crying out,
in the language Of scripture, "Am l
not thine ass, upon which thou hast
ridden ?" l need not assure you the
prohibition party will give you the
most ardent support. We may not
succeed in electing you to the high
| position for which you have been
named, but we shall enjoy the proud
satisfaction of knowing our caDdi-
dates were the only candidates and
our party was the only party, that
ought to have succeeded, and now,
gentlemen, in the name of the noblest
manhood, and the purest womanhood,
of America, / invoke the blessings of
Almighty God to rest upon you, and
may that devine power which rules
and over rules in the affairs of nations
and of men, vouchsafe unto you
such measure of strength
and courage and wisdom as shall ena-
BILE you to bear well the burden,
which the national prohibition partys
with supreme confidence, now lays
upon you.
ST. JOHNS REPLY.
Gov. st. Johu replied as follows;-
Mr.. Chairman and Members of the
committee:-In receiving this formal
notice of my nomination for the high
est office within the gift of the people,
by the national convention Of the
prohibition party, permit me-not!
WithstaGd ding the distinction was
neither sought nor desired by me-to
assure you, in view of the unani.aity
with which it was given, of my high
appreciation of the very high honor it
confers. There are more political
parties in the field to-day than there
are political issues. On the
great question as to what
shonld be done with the
traffic of Intoxicating liquors
as a beverage, both the democratic
and republican part V are united in fa-
vor of making the traffic permanent,
| while the prohibitionists demand that
it be forever placed under condemna-
ton under the laws of the land. This
issue is clearly made, and l think it
safe to say, it is the only one, to-day,
that really reaches the heart of the
citizen. On this issueI we go to the
people, the source of all political
power. Let us appeal to reason rather
than prejudice. Let those resort to
personal abuse and scandal who have
nothing better to uphold their cause.
The prohibition party was not organ
| lied as mere threat, 1t is an out
growth of q rapidly increasing crys-
taliZed sentiment against the great
evil of the age; an evil that
parties dare not attack, but
against which this young
| party of the people, in defense of the
homes of the nation, has entered upon
a warfare that shall never cease as
long as the flag OF the country waves
its protecting folds over legallzed
dramshops. In this struggle let us
ever remember we are accountable to
God; that our duty to Him is para
mount to our allegiance to any politi-
cal party; that political ties will
ne TSsrr, in his sight, excuse ballot for
any party that does not stand up fear
leSslv. for the right of their homes,
and. paving no fear of the people,
vote as they pray.
DANIELS REPLY,
| Mr.. Daniels followed, and said to
the Chairman and members of the
/ committee; am profoundly graf
ifed for the> honor conferred
upon me by selecting me as one Of the
standard bearers or this great move
ment. L accept thS nomination for
the Office Of yfce-p-esa and expect
to do so more Formally. ~ letter, here
after. knowing vel that5sit IS one of
responsibility and invoI ving~~po little
personal sacrifice. l sppreclat3- he
honor, not merely as personal, but an