Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-10-16
NUMBER IS
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An APPEAL
To Republican Temperance Men as to Their Duty
in the Present National Contest.

NC, StSaNAdSN tciu pcIduCG liSil anu
Prohibitionists ourselves, ask your care
ful consideration of the following rea-
sons for not voting the National Prohi-
bition ticket, and thereby aiding the
Democratic ticket:
First-Because it is the general senti-
ment of the Prohibitionists that the
cause will hereafter, as heretofore, be
more successful when the question of
prohibition is submitted to vote of the
people, separate from other issues and
distinct from party politics.
Second-Because prohibition cannot
be successfully made a National political
issue until policy TO be pursued has
been clearly defined and approved by
the great body of the friends of the
cause in the United States.
Third Because the present Prohibi-
ton ticket was put in the field without
such approval. The convention that
inaugurated the movement and nomi-
mated the ticket, did not represent the
great body of Prohibitionists through
out the country, and large part of the
convention opposed placing Il ticket in
the field. Temperance people in States
IN which prohibition has been success
full, as Maine, Iowa and Kansas, gener-
ally oppose it.
Fourth-Because the present move
ment is confusing plan of opera
tons being properly defined. Accord
ing to It's platform, vote for St. John
is as much a vote for Woman Suffrage
for Chinese emigration to this coun-
try--for taking the appointing power
away from the President-for its unjust
imputations against both Blaine and
Logan, as it is for temperance and pro-
hibition.
Fifth-Because the platform is not The
expression of the convention, but of
committee appointed to revise and
publish it. The platform adopted by
the convention contained fat money
greenback plank which the committee
eliminated. Gov st. John in his ac-
ceptance heartily indorses the platform,
but fails to say whether it is the one
adopted by the convention or the com
mittee.
Before presenting this crude docu-
ment in the name of the Prohibitionists
of the country for the sut1rages of the
American people, the questions to be
voted on should have been more care
fully considered and authoritatiyely
adopted, specially before requiring
them, as this platform does, to ignore
all other questions of public interest
represented by the Republican and
Democratic parties, and to Immediate
~ withdraw from all connection with
these parties.
SiXth-Because ii is unfair to patriotic
citizens to bring the question OF prohi-
bition before the people in such shape
as not only require its friends to vote
/ for what many Of them do not approve;
but to sacrifice their votes on all other
questions. however vitality important to
the welfare of the country, when there
is not the slightest prospect of success.
1t is true that the Republican party
declined to make prohibition an issue
in its platform
For it tn have done 50 would have
been political suicide 1t would have
driven out of the party all of its mem
bers, excepting the Prohibitionists. 1t
would therefore have been the abandon
ment of the field TO the Democratic
party. 1t would have been to turn
over the protection of their rights and
the education and elevation of the
freedman, the preservation and main
tenanee of all of the wiseand beneicent
measures and the great achievements
of the Republican party, to the care,
enforcement and preservation of the
party that has always been bitterly
opposed to them
1t is also true that its candidates arc
not ut liberty to make new issues for
the party by letters, speeches, or acts;
for either IL do so would be unwar-
ranted assumption Some Prohibition
lists have censured Mr. Blaine for not
voting on the amendment To the Con
stitution in Maine. But little reflec-
ton will satisfy every fair-minded per-
son that it would have been an assum-
ton of party authority, Immediately
after the National Convention had de-
clined to make the question an issue.
For Mr. Blaine to have voted against
the amendment would have been unjust
to the Prohibitionists, and to have voted
I for it, Just to those who are opposed
both having joined in adopting the
/ platform and nominating him TO stand
upon it.
Seventh Because votes by Republi
cans for ST. John are thrown away
from the party that favors majority
rule-a free ballot and fair count-a
Government of the people, by the people,
and for the people, and which permits
vote on the question of prohibition
under all proper circumstances; thrown
away in favor Of the party that is OPP
posed to all prohibitorv legislation.
whether the people are in favor Of it or
4 not.
Eighth Because Republican votes for
/ the Prohibition ticket are threefOld
worse than thrown away. i. e., they
weaken the party Of fair play; they
strengthen the party Of uncompromis-
lug hostility; and they indorse an I'M
wise and illGigested movement that win
greatly embarrass, retard, and weaken
the cause OF prohibition.
Ninth Because there not being the
slightest prospect Of the election OF this
So-caiied Prohibition ticket, the only
result Of Republicans voting for it in
/ large numbers will be to put the Demo-
cratic party in control of the general
Government
Tenth Because If this is the object,
as some leaders in the movement aYOw
it to be, it viii be more honorable and
straightforward to vote for Cleveland
and Hendricks direct than for St. John,
as this would avoid the odium Of prac-
ticing a deception upon the friends Of
temperance in order to do a thing Of
such doubtful propricty as 10 put Gov
Cleveland into the White House.
Eleventh Because we do not believe
any true Republican can honestly throw
away his vote or aid directly OF indi-
rectly in electing the Democrat ticket
Ii Republicans have allowed abuses.
Democrats have always been worse 1t
is unreasonable to favor q change from
bad to worse simply for change. II
would be tempting a great calamity.
The success Of the Democratic party at
this time would throw dark cloud Of
doubt and uncertainty and gloom Of
impending danger over the business
interests Of the country that would last
for years.
No one can tell what policy it would
pursue. What Of the Republican legis-
lation Of the last twenty-five years il
would repeal or what new measures it
would adopt
The danger and probabilities are that
its acts would be in accord with its
former course, doctrines. and tradi-
tons. for it processes to adhere 10 All Of
its '.time-honored principles. II is
only safe to Judge of these by its former
acts and by the known and oft-re-