The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-10-10
ST. JOHNS ACCEPTANCE.
Letter of the Prohibition Candidate
for President.

The secretary of the national Prohibition
party furnishes the following letter of accep-
lance from Governor st. john the candidate
of that party for President of the United
States:
OLATHE, Kan, Sept 90, 1884.
Hon. Samuel Dickie, Chairman of the Com
mittee, ETC.;
MY DEAR SIR-In formally accepting the
nomination for President rendered to me by
the National Prohibition convention at Fits
burg, Penn July %, 1854, | take the opportunity
TO state that while tie honor was neither
sought nor desired by me- yet it is greatly
appreciated, bestowed as it wa; by a con-
vention composed of delegates who in
point of real worth and mental ability were
fully equal if not superior to those of
any political convention that ever assembled
In this country. The war for the Union is
over. The rebellion has been crushed Afri-
can slavery has been abolished The old is
sues have passed away, and with them should
go the old prejudices and sectional 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 time when our people
could better afford to, and when it was more
important that they should, stop and think
down, banks breaking, merchants failing in
business, securities unsettled, Western wheat
selling at the home market for forty cents
per bushel and hundreds of thousands of in
dustrious mechanics and laboring men who
are willing to work but can get nothing to
do, it seems to me that the time has come
for the people, who are the source of all
political power, to call halt and stop and
think, for there must be q 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 vilification that each
seems to think the other merits is mainly de-
voted to the discussion of the tariff question,
ignoring all matters that relate to the moral
elevation of the people. | am of the opinion
that the manufacturer who, by reason Of the
depressed condition of business, has been
compelled to make an assignment for the
benefit of his creditors will no. find relief in
the agitation of that question now, nor will
the average farmer become enthusiastic
over its discussion, with his wheat not
worth so much in the bin as it cost him to
produce it,
The amount received by the government
for duties on imports is less than S2l0,000,0J0
annually. There are about l15, 900 retail dealers
in intoxicating liquors in the United States,
each of whom pays to our government S25, in
consideration of which sum they are per-
mitted to carry on their business for a term
of twelve months. When We add to this the
amount paid by distillars, brewers and whole.
sale dealers, we find that the interest of the
government in the manufacture and sale Of
Intoxicating liquors is about $4,000, 900 an
nually. This traffic, sanctioned as it is by
the laws of our country, costs the people, at
a low estimate, thousand million dollars a
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, saved to the people; and thus a pro.
lection would be given to the industries of
this country that would enable us successful.
ly to throw our doors open wide to the com
petition of the world.
The Republican and Democratic parties
favor the continuance of the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors as beverage,
while the Prohibition party demands that the
same shall be forever suppressed Thus an is
sue is presented to the people in which is in
volved the protection of every home in the
land. 1t is not a mere local issue either but it
is national as well as practical question,
upon which a large and respectable body of
citizens-against whose convictions party
discipline is powerleSs-have decided to vote,
and they will not be found hating between
the two opinions touching this matter, but
will work and pray and vote against this great
evil, until it is driven from our land
reflex of the individuals composing it. We
want an honest, sober people, but we can never
have an honest, sober people so long as the
government sanctions that which makes its
citizens dishonest, drunken and corrupt.
The declaration OF principles, which 1
heartily indorse, as set forth i'll the platform
of the prohibition party, is entitled to the
thoughtful consideration and earnest support
of all good citizens without regard to locality
or former political utilization. Our country
needs an administration that will rise above
mere partisan considerations, and in the Sc
lection of public officials make honesty So
briefly and efficiency and not service to party
the test. 1t should be conducted not in
the interest of any particular section,
party, race or color, but in the interest of the
whole people. To accomplish this all good
citizens should promptly step to the front and
be counted for the right. This is no time for
lodging. Moral cowardice will never win,
and surely never deserves victory.
Then let us look to God for His guidance,
and fear.essly and faithfully do our whole
duty, never doubling that He will take care
of the results
Very truly your friend
JOHN 7. ST.. JOHN.