St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-09-18
The Prohibition Party.
A letter from Frederick Douglass to the Ne
York Tribune.

Among the political forces of the
hour, characterized by irrational indi-
vidualism and n rampant tendency to
faction which threatens not only the
stability of political parties but popu-
lar government itself, reducing society
to a condition of chaos, that one which
proposes to organize a national prohl-
bition party and to give its vote in the
present election for Ex-Governor St.
John of Kansas is, perhaps, best en-
titled to respect. 1t certainly Is more
worthy of consideration than that
other party which, masquerading Ill
the sham of independence, is laboring
might and main to bring back to pow
er the old democratic party, and is
willing to assassinate Il great and good
party merely from personal dislike to
James c. Blaine, though to this hour
it has not proved Il single charge 1t has
made against the object of its spite.
The prohibition party stands upon a
different footing, and it is actuated by
different motives. Though, as think,
it is manifestly wrong and abundant
in mischief, its members are among the
| most conscientious and philanthropiC
of the American people.
There is no denying that these peO-
| pie, though manifestly in error, are
actuated 10y pure motives. Dominated
bv a single idea, detached from al
questions affecting the general moral
| and material interests of the country
having before them an object which
excludes all else, assuming to follow il
the footsteps of those noble men anC
women who waged Il thirty years NOR
al warfare against slavery, and wer,
instrumental in making possible tn,
overthrow of the slave system, thes,
prohibitionists think to do the same
| for intemperance.
Such people are not to be rldiculet
or denounced out of their convictions
Against them no weapons should b'
brought less effective than reason
truth and humanity.
Lest what | am about to say shall b'
rejected on the presumption that
have leaning toward liquor, | ma.
saw that | am both Il temperance maj
and a prohibitionist. | neither drink
smoke, chew, nor take snuff. Yet
am not in party sense, prohibition
ist. or in favor of entering Il pOlitica
party upon that single issue certainl..
not at the present time, when the prac
teal effect of the organization of sue
party is to withdraw votes from til
republican, party, and thus to strength
en- and place in power the rum an
slavery democratic party.
From the nature and composition O
the republican party, composed of tn
most moral and philanthropic of til
American people. the prohibition part
will naturally draw ten votes frOl
that party, to one from the democrat
party.
1t is notorious that the strength an
prestige of the democratic party is dr
To the solid vote of the dram-shOps
the north.
When, therefore, | am asked to vo
for Mr.. st. John, | am asked to assis
not the cause of temperance or prob
bition, for at present such assistance
impossible, but to place in power
party distinguished for its sympati
with intimidation, lawless viOlenC
and the destruction of the freedom
r the ballot in the south, while it su
ports the whiskey-drinking customs
the north.
1t is nothing against this, that o
friends of the prohibition party are
heart opposed alike to the grog-sh
and the bulldOzer's whip. | spe
only of the effect of their political &
tion and of the defence that they ma
il of that action.
an an They say, Suppose we do def
nd the election of James G. Blaine a
John A Logan, and thus overthrow
republican party, and bring into po