The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-11-20

II. We deny that our action is an aban-
donment OF the spirit of liberation and
Christian courtesy. unless the triumph
Of any majority over the minority is intol-
e%rance.
4 clear division Of opinion IN any organ
ization where the majority decides new de-
p%artires in method. or advancement in sen
timent. necessarily establishes a new test
Of allegiance for the dissenting members
of the society. Woman's Suffrage, Finan-
eial Basis, and other debated questions fur
nish illustrations. A refusal 10 accede to
the will Of the majority after fair research
and debate. is not only unworthy Of the
Spirit of our noble Christian organization,
but against the very genius of our free IN
~stitutions.
III. individuals and States are left to free
expression Of opinion on this, as other
questions. and have in the past used such
freedom, unrcbuked aud without loss of
official or friendly relationst to the National
Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
This unquestioned right is still accorded,
provided, always. that fidelity to the Union.
its unity, and its officers be sacredly main
tanned. The fact that the influence of the
minority may be compelled into channels
against their will, by the fact of their
membership, is not sufficient cause for the
suppression of the decision of the majority
whose right it is to rule.
We also reply that not one dollar from
the treasury Of the National Woma.'s
Christian Temperance Union has ever gone
for party purposes. When such use Of
funds shall appear in the report of the
Treasurer, proper action can be taken.
N. In reply to the fourth allegation, We
appeal to the history Of a year of unprece-
denied success in every line of our many
sided endeayor for this great reform. In
organization, eYangelistic and educational
work. We have reached more ears. and
moved more hearts than in any previous
twelve months. and to the Temperance
question has come such serious and decis-
i've action in legislative halls, as plainly
shows that the will of the home is on its
way " - pItSSfOI III 6pftl iiiItIiL+ III ut
monstration that the confidence of the
christian public has not been wounded by
our action of last year. more churches have
been opened, more pastors. more christian
and philanthropic associations than ever
before, have come TO the National Conyen-
ton of 1885, offering their greeting. and
inviting our cooperation.
Y. The action was taken to the transfor-
nation of the work from the broad politi-
cal basis Of pointless effort TO the focus Of
power, where alone the finality we seek
can be secured.
The momentum of the prohibition move
ment. evidenced by the vote of Kentucky,
Ohio, New York and others States, proves
the wisdom of our action and the direct
ness Of our aim. This success las been
secured by the effort of those temperance
advocates who are in opposition to the
utteranccs of the protest.
VI. 1t is the province Of an official organ
to set forth the conviction and methods Of
the organization it represents; fairly and
impartially to record diverse views of
the members thereof, excluding none
from the freest, fullest expression Of opin-
ion. This has been e~minently true OF our
organ, during the past year. An UMPIRE
JUDGED review Of It's columns will show
that more space proportionately has been
/ given 10 the arguments and protest Of a
small minority than to the ~utterances Of
the majority.
VII. The allegation that the action was
unjust because made possible by rep
resentatives from States which do not
pursue the same policy in their territory,
is incorrect, as shown by the recorded
vote on the St. Louis resolution. The
majority vote which decided the question
was from Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, New
York, New Jersey, Missouri, Nebraska,
and other States which, in their own Con
y~ention expression, and home prohibition
work, have proven that the position taken
by their representatives in National Con
~yention one year ago, was sustained by a
well-nigl solid constituency at home; and
now after a year which has severely tested
the wisdom Of this policy, these States
again take the SAM position with I'M
broken line and doubled majorities.
VIII. The debate upon the question at
st. Louis resulted in 1873 yeas to 4s nays.
After one year of calm, careful consider
alton, the result Of the vote at Philadel-
phia was 245 yeas to 80 nays.
Forty States. Territories and the Dis
trict Of Columbia, were represented at the
latter Convention. A fraction of delegates
from five of these entered their protest,
viz: Pennsylvania, 10; Iowa, s: Vermont, a;
West Virginia, 2; Massachusetts,, ); total,
20. Thirty-fivc States, Territories and the
District Of Columbia, were almost a unit
in its advocacy.
In the interim between these COnven-
tions, State Unions in the above ratio en-
dorsed the st. Louis action, and by con-
tinuous discussion upon the platform and
through the public press, the principle of
Prohibition. more clearly understood, has
laid hold Of the public conscience and its
speedy achievement through party action.
has become an assured fact TO defenders
and opposers of the liquor traffic. As to