Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-01
Temporary Chairman of the Prohibition
state Convention, at Springfield, ohio,
July |, 1885, Delivered nt the Session for
Temporary Organiy alton.

Temporary Organization.
FELLOW PRoHlRlTIoSIsTs OF ONO: con
grnt.ln,c you as the rcprcsen atIyes Of the
Prohibition party Of ONO upon your safe ar.
rival in the Champion City, the suspicious cir
cumstaaces under winch you assemble, and
tee cheering prospects you are permitted 10
cherish concerning the future o, the reform
in which you are SO deeply interested L.
this grea, concourse OF delegates. alternate,
aud spectators We have another proof Of the
ialsIty Of that oft repeated 4 ClaratOn, that
10 the recent Prohibition P.es.deu'l lal cam
pagn the cause o. temperance was set back
twenty years. A few more set.backs of the
same character viii give the ProhlU touiss
the control of every State capitol in the
Uuion md o. the White House ami Capi ol
10 the District OF Columbia.
| congratulate you upon the fact that the
Prohibition party has reached II position
where it is recognized as factor 10 the poll
tics OF our country. While our party was
feeble aud able to command but few votes,
IT was treated with contempt, but having
gained sufficient strength to de'ermue the
results OF elections, ii has become an object OF
wrath TO all such as fatten upon the spoils o.
Office. In thu future 1t will be regarded as
the party OF reform, and will draw TO irs sup
port al that love righteousness and hate in
iniquity.
1t Is II third party now, but it is destined
to he II second party soon, and finally first
party, controlling and direcling the political
policy OF this great country.
As party, we have now fairly
entered upon the great struggle toi
prIjcal supremacy, and with God have
and native land" as our motto, we will surely
triumph.
Now hat the battle is begun, let US not
forget that we must fight our way to victory
Whal We gain must be by conquest. AS yet
although We are feared, our right to exis. as
a political organization is challenged.
During the recent presidential camptigu
our right 10 exist as party was denied upon
the ground that the management Of the liquor
traffic Wac State issue and should not there
tore be thrust into the arena OF National poll
tics; and now that We are entering upon II
State campaign, we are told that the prohlbi-
ton OF the liquor tratIic is a reform Ih It be-
isugs to the sphere Of morals and therefore
should not be dragged n'o TIE mire OF part .
zan politics. Non-partzsn is nov the watch.
word OF not IA few who claim to be Prohibi-
dOnlsts par excellence
This non-partisan idea 'cJk form January
/, 1855, in the city Of Boston lthe home OF
Yankee notiors) and assumed the name OF
the "Nttiynal League (non-partisan and nom
sectaIian), Tor the suppression Of the liquor
traffic"
the tide OF this league il good enough, but
there appears TO be a serious mi-take IN the
def1ition OF It's object II is led the Ma
tiOnsl League tor the suppression OF the quor
traffic, but its real object, as set forth by
STANDARD League document No. !, OF which
the Rev. b. DOrchc ter, d. D., i. the author,
is the suppress on OF the PtohibtiJu party, as
but little is said in it against the liquor tIaiHs
Il huris eight propositions directly against
the Prohibition party while ten more, By IT.
direction, are intended 10 aid in he work Of
demoIi,hIng, absolutely, our political exist
enCe.
First. 1t IL claimed that "a political TEN.
perance parry iuhicts fundamental injury
upon the tenn peraRce reigrm, by removing II
very largely trOm it's proper aud necessary
sphere into the arena OF State and National
contests" The proper sphere OF this reform
IS farther dcfned by the assertion, "Tho tem-
peraGce cause is primarily a moral reform,
puri ying the common lie Of society, having
to do chiefly with pesjnal habits ana social
customs"
Here it is assumed that /, i5 improper t.
but reform movement into politics that has
10 1t a moral element.
Now, it seems to NE that what politics
needs is more, and not less, OF morality. Our
politics are stencil, because they lack the
moral element. Besides, there can be no re-
form, that 10 worthy ol the name,