The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-11-20
The National Noman.s Christian Tenn.
perance Relation
TO Politics.

The following resolution was dIOpLed Al
the recent National Convention Of the No
mans Christian Temperance Union, Phila-
delphis. October 80 to November ,, 1885:
ssWe refer 10 the history Of ten years Of
persistent moral suasion work Is fully cs-
tablishing cur claim to be called a nom
political society. but one which steadily
follows the white banner Of prohibition
wherever it may be displayed. We have.
however. as individuals. always allied our
selves in local and State political contests
with those voters whose efforts and ballots
rave been given to the removal of the dram
shop and its attendant evils. and at this
time. while recognizing that our action a.
a national society is not binding upon State
orindiyiduals, we reaffirm the p~ositiontasen
BY the society at Louisville in 1892, and at
Detroit in 1883, and at st. Louis in 1854.
and ratified by a large majority OF the
States and Territories in the ANIMAL Con-
v~entions of 1885, pledging our influence to
that party. by whatever name called. which
shall furnish us the best embodiment Of
prohibition principles. ard will most surely
protect our homes. As we now know
which national party gives Us the desired
embodiment of tine principles for which our
ten years labor has been expended. we viii
continue TO lend our influence to the ma
tional political organization which declares
in its platform for National Prohibition and
| Home Protection. In this, as in all pro
gressive effort, We will endeavOr TO meet
argument with argument, ~misiudgment
with patience. denunciation with kindness,
and all our difficulties and dangers with
prayer.
Upon the adoption of this resolution, by
a vote Of 245 to 30. J. Ellen Foster, of
Iowa, presented a protest bearing twenty
six signatures. Mrs. Mary y. Wood
bridge, of Ohio; Mrs. Mary T. Lathrap, OF
Michigan, and Mrs. Clara A. Hoffman, OF
Missouri, We're appointed a committee u
prepare an answer. The protest and an
swer will be found below
PROTEST.
With a deep sense of the grave response
bilities resting upon us at this hour. and
with a conviction Of duty SO oyermastering
that it will not permit us to be silent. We
solemnly, and in tie presence Of Him whose
name we bear, protest against the action
of this Convention in committing this
Christian organization to the aid and sup
port of a political party.
/. That this action is wrong in principle.
A moral reform association, having as its
test of membership a total abstinence
pledge, ought not to ally itself with any
organization. political or otherwise. having
no such test of its membership.
II Il = e,,o;Ga an1,puan+ IF +Iaf
spirit of liberation and of Christian courtesy
which has permitted harmony of action
with a wide diversity of opinion. 1t es-
tablishes a new test of allegiance. and is a
practical refusal on tie part Of the major
ity, in the interests of a political party, to
recognize that equality Of rights which is
the sure basis Of permanent organized ef
fort.
III. r. contravention OF this equality Of
rights, while protesting to lel We individuals
and States free, it uses the collective infiu-
ence OF the Union, and its moral power, as
an entirety, including that Of the opponents
of this policy, i'll the upbuilding and adj
yancement of a political party, to which
some Of our members, as individuals, re-
fuse allegiance. 1t lends our influence and
may appropriate our money to aid a po-
litical party over which We nave no ON
troll.
N. 1t circumscribes the grand moral
power of this great body of Christian wo-
men and wounds the confidence Of the
Christian public, subiectiug our work to
party limitations without comforting added
political power.
V. 1t transforms the broad political work
Of our organization for the triumph OF Pro-
hibition principles, and will unnecessarily
hinder the speedy accomplishment Of our
purpose.
VI. 1t makes the official organ Of our
Union a partisan political sheet and tends
to lower its high standard Of Christian
journalism to The level Of partisan political
controversy.
VII. 1t is unjust. The partisan political
policy of the National Union, so detrimen-
tai to Prohibition work IN many States, has
been made possible by the votes Of repre-
sentatiyes from States which will not carry
out or tolerate that policy in their own
States.
VIII. A year of the dominance of this
policy has brought confusion Of thought
concerning Prohibition as a principle and
party Prohibition as a policy. Its contin-
uance tends to alienation and discussion
among our members or the inevitable dis
intregation of our Unions.
In view Of these facts. we cannot con-
scientiously keep silence; but that We may,
as far as possible, free ourselves from the
responsibility Of this action we enter this
our most solemn protest against this action
of the Convention in committing this body
and those whom we represent to the sup
port of a political party.
Here We stand;
We can do no other:
So help MS God. Amen.
j. ELLEN FOSTER,
and twenty five others.
REPLY
/. No action which has. or can be taken,
by the National w. G. r. t.. Will have the
effect 10 make MS in reality 4 component