Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1884-10-09
ST. Johns Acceptance.
The Prohibition Candidate Gives to
the Public His Letter Accepting
the Nomination for President.

The Prohibition Candidate Gives Il
the Public His Letter Accepting
the Nomination tor President.
CHICAGO, September 29.-Gov. st
John 8 letter accepting the Prohibi
tion nomination as candidate fol
President of the United States, was
given to the public to day, dated
Olathes Kansas, September 26. The
Secretary of the National Prohibition
party furnishes the letter, which is as
follows;
OLATHE, KANSAS, Sept lG
Hon. Samuel Dickle, Chairman OF the
Committee, &c.:
My DEAR SIR.-In formally accept.
ing the nomination for President,
rendered me by the National Prohibi-
ton party at Pittsburg, Pa, July %,
1884, take the opportunity to state
that while the honor was neither
sought nor desired by me, yet it is
greatly appreciated, bestowed as it
was by a convention composed OF
delegates who in point Of real worth
and mental ability were fully equal
if not superior to those of any pohti
cal convention that ever assembled IN
this country. The war for the Union
is over. The rebellion has been
crushed. African slavery has been
abolished. Old issues have passed
away and with them should 60 old
preludices and sectional strife. To.
day the products of the North and
South float in friendly relations, in
the same channels, under the SAM
flag; every section of our country
acknowledging allegiance to the same
Government. There never was a
time when our people could better
afford; and when it was more import
ant that they ahould stop and think
than now. With the manufactures
shutting down, banks breaking, mer
chants failing in business, securities
unsettled, Western wheat selling at
the home market for forty cents per
bushel, and hundreds of thousands Of
industrious mechanics and 'aboring
men who are. willing to work, but can
get nothing to do. 1t 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 a reason for
this condition Of things. The little
time and space the old parties can
spare, after the dealing out of full
measure of personal abuse and Will
6cstion that each seems to think the
other merits, is mainly devoted to the
discussion of the question Of tariffs,
ignoring all matters that relate to
the moral elevation of the people. l
am Of the opinion that the manufac-
turer- who by reason of the depressed
condition of bu mess has been com.
PEELED to make an assignment for the
benefit of his creditors, will not find
relief in the agitation of that question
Danor will the average farmer be-
Athusiastic over its discussion,
- il |lat I5aits tbfsaacs &c ,ncsiis i.
The amount received by the gov
ernment for duties on imports is less
than $2O0,0O,O000 annually. There
are about $4,000 retail dealers in
intoxicating liquors in the United
States, each Of whom pay to the Gov
ernment $25, in consideration Of which
sum they are permitted to carry on
their business for the term of twelve
months. When we add to this the
amount paid by the dist,llers, brew
ers and wholesale dealers, we find
that the interest of the Government
in the manufacture and sale of in
toxicating liquorsis about $4,000.
annually. This traffic, sanctioned as
it is by the laws OF our country costs
the people, at the lowest estimate, a
thousand millions of dollars year
NOT to speak Of the destroyed honor,
and debauched manhood, poverty,
heartache,. crime and corruption it
produces.
This disgraceful 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 protection would
be given to the industries of the
country that would enable US sue
cessfully to throw our doors open
wide to the competition of the world.
The Republican and Democratic par.
ties favor the continuance of the
manufacture and sale Of intoxicating
liquors as beverage, while the Pro
hibition party demands that the same
shall be forever suppressed. Thus ah
issue is presented to the people in
which is involved the protection of
every home in the land. 1t is not
mere local issue either 1t it is 8
National as we'll as question
upon which lerge - respectable
body of citizens-against whose coz.
victions party displine is powerless-
have decided to vote, and they will
not be found halting between the
two opinions touching that matter,
but will work and pray and vote
against this great evil until it is
driven from our land never to return.
The Government is simply the reflex
of the individuals composing it. We
want an honest, sober people, but we
can never have an honest sober peo
pie 80 long as tn, Government sane.
tions that which makes it's citizens
dishonest, drunken and corrupt. The
declaration of principles which l
heartily endorse as set forth in the
platform of the Prohibition party is
entitled to the thoughtful considera.
tion and earnest support Of all good
citizens without regard to locality or
former political affiliation. Our
country needs an administration that