The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1884-11-27

| 10 come east Ut SOutl anu puC uo"H ai
other democratic rebellion. If you won
let us vote, do your own fighting.
THE ADVOCATE does not desire
to record itself as an uncompromis
ing enemy OF prohibition, neither does ii
desire to class the followers Of sumptuary
legislation along with the traitors of the
St. John stripe Those who were heartily
in sympathy with the prohibition feature
became convinced at glance that the can
ddacy of Saint John occurred at a time
when the result could only prove disas
trous, consequently the 'S4 canvass was
impportune and uncalled for. We have
the statement of members of the national
republican committed for proof as to the
assertions of the prohibition leaders being
sold bodily to the highest bidder, and in
the very face of this damning testimony
the prohibition voters of the deciding
state deliberately and malisciously proceed
ed to overthrow the republican party.
| The republican press Of the country are
probably unduly hasty in their righteous
Indignation at this unexpected display OF
disloyalty to both their own party and the
republican, and it is now the duty of the
press to disclose the tue inwardness Of the
whole affair The prohibition voters of
New York are charged with being allies
of fanatacism. THE ADVOCATE last week
considered that certain degree of fanati-
cal affiliation attached itself to the cause
of prohibition in that state, and stated
that as national question at this particu
lar time the excessive enthusiasm toward
the cause had led men to blind their judge
ments and thus adopt pure unadulatera-
ted sectariansm as their issue. Adher-
ence to certain religious or denominations
al issue is an indulgence worldwide and
unauestioned as to its perfect Righteousness
but sectarian views in national political
contest are not only beyond precedent but
decidedly beyond the ban Of constitutional
domination. This was pointed out to
prohibition leaders in the republican con-
vention, and was accepted by the majority
as the true phase of the affairs existing.
Now then, right in the teeth of this constl-
tutional wrong that was urged to make
this national question, the prohibition
lists of New York not only assert right to
make prohibition national law, but as
sumo the robes of arrogant dictators as to
whether democracy or repubicanism shall
rule in the future. According to their
dictation democra cy has triumphed. Now
comes the question of faratacsm or hy-
periodical demogogueism.
John B. Finch, chairman of the nation
al prohibition committee, by his own ad
mission is ranting bourbon. Judas
saintjohn was invested with commission
as licensed auctioneer, and placed him.
self for barter before the national demo-
cratic and republican COMMITTEES. The re-
publican committee refused to consider
his begging demands, and the transfer Of
prohibition was then made to the dcmoc
racy, the price being $4,000 These facts
were we'll known to the voters of the state
Of New York, some Of the prohibition
leaders denounciug the candidacy Of S. j.
as an infamous scheme for the detraction
oftheir issue. Admitting every prohibi-
ton voter in New York to be endowed
with common intelligence, there is direct
evidence they did not exercise the spirit
of hypocrisy in ignorance of the ultimatum,
and knowing that vote for stjohn was
half vote for democracy they deliberately
proceeded to encompass the defeat of
Blaine. Under these circumstances the
Finch.jack followers are either fanatics or
deliberate dogmatic dictators. For the
sake of argument we will retract the as
sertion as to fanatism and sectaranism,
and resolve the question down to pre-
dictatorship. Admitting that
the voters were not surcharged with eX-
extravagant notions we must GER
talnly place the issue on footing where
equality of strength was not considered.
There are about 2OO,O prohibition vo-
ters in the United States, as against s.
900, 900 republican. On the stump, in
state platforms and at the fireside the de-
as party sneer at prohibition, in
several instances carrying state elections
on the free whiskey issue. Take the his
tory of all the western republican states
and it will be found that high license and
laws now rule as a result of re-
publican government, while in democrat
ic states of doubtful proclivties the re-
verse order is practiced. State prohibi-
ton cannot be gained at one sweep, the
surest way to accomplish the result being
firstly the introduction of high license
and then a gradual ii tightening of the
structures that surround the sale of rum.
The republicans have nurtured this infant
from the outset, bearing uncomplainingly
the German and Irish disafection, and
have all along been identified with the
idea of stute legislation for the elevation
of the Temperance cause. But now
helpless minority, as regards national
strength, arises and demands of the re-
publican party an immediate national
adoption of their issue, and failing in this,
transfer their force to the common enemy.
Let them stay there. Assuming that the
prohibitionists of New York represented
the national issue then certainly the pro-
hibition supporters of st John are either
fanatics or demagogues-hypocrites Or ar
dictators. If their zeal blinded |
their judgment they are fanatics. If they
voted intelligently they certainly, with
maliscious intent dictated the defeat of
the republican party. Let them alone.
A slight tincture of irony intcrmingles
throughout the make up of the average
republican while participating in turkey