Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-30
Prohibition and Politics.
REASON Why THE THIRD PARTY MOVEMENT
is A MISTAKE.

Movrxrxr
REASON VIII me ,a
Tbe,e .,a two metbods of procedure open
m tne friends of prohibition. The one is
w;,h and the other il without separate politi-
COL organ;zat,on Which il the preferable !?
Ir,donb,adIv thar which promises the per-
manent success of the cause in the shortes.
80 nd ,;tb the leas, friction and animosi-
re- I,m.v ha that some cherish the coniec-
INC Tho, both methods substantially can be
emnloved. but This i. deIusion If we
49,, The marry method we must adhere to it,
and maLs !, .nccessfuI by party methods, or
We nina, fail. There is no such thing as Sc
,n,;ng the .vmnatby and cooperation of the
aood nen IN the other parties without induc-
inc them 10 abandon their party affiliations
ord ;oin rho new party which we propose for
,bem II needs no argument to show that
th;. ia an undertaking of such magnitude that
generations will be required to accomplish il.
The usual argument in favor of this meth
cd ia that the separate party organization was
sucre..fnl in the old contest with slavery.
Thi. i. unsupported ASSUMPTION. The sep
a,a,e marty vote only strengthened the hold of
nro-slayery power. and gave it such assured
control of the government as to intensity the
contempt il entertained for the opposition.
The separate party did not succeed. Provi-
dence interposed, circumstances changed, old
marty lines were disrupted, and the slave
mower was broken by influences which
no man can trace to any separate
nnIi,ical organizations. The analogy is not
comolete The precedent does not apply.
The fallacy is manifest. 1t remains that no
great reform. involving moral elements, has
ever been successfully carried out in this
tha NJ mill
ticL organization. One of the serious OBJ
iections TO this plan is that it cannot concen-
trate the temperenee sentiment of the coun-
try la spite of fate and good affections it
will ALLEVIATE men by hundreds and thousands
whose moral instincts and right and whose
influence might be secured for prohibition on
any plan that simply appeals to their con-
sciences as men, as citizens and as Chris
tlans
The battle is too great to be fought by fac
tions. 1t requires union, wisdom, prudence,
as well as courage and persistence.
The Prohibition party in its party organiza-
ton includes only about per cent OF the
prohibition sentiment. The votes it casts
will not amount TO that much. In the State
of Ohio, for instance, under very unfavora-
bic circumstances, the direct vote for con-
stitutional prohibition was 1913, 900, while the
vote for party candidates was about ll,OoO.
This is less than per cent, and the proper
ton is not better in other places. In such
leading Prohibition States as Kansas ana
Iowa, the ratio is much smaller. 1t Is
mere faction. Its leaders are earnest and
Jealous, but they do not command the follow
Ing needed for success. Modesty is a virtue
which in itself is not less beautiful because
the leaders OF this faction fail to cultivate 1t.
4, 70 m ha pd THAT " iainm ALWAYS
with majorties, but it is scarcely to be be-
lieved that this very small majority In the
ranks of Prohibition have acquired a mon
opoly of this grace. In the multltudes OF the
non-partizan friends of the cause there are
some whose Judgments ought to entitle them
to respect; yet in the clamor OF the politicians
all voices are drowned which do not shout
the praises of the management.
Constitutional provisions should never be
made the basis of party organizations. The
organic law of the State and the nation ought
to nave the support of the patriotic citizens
in all parties. The only way to secure this
end is TO avoid thrusting platforms into the
Constitution. Prohibition of the liquor tatfic
cannot be permanent till it is in the Consti-
tuition, and it cannot go into the consultation
as a party measure. 1t is too broad for a
party. Like the fundamental principles OF
the government, il must be the common
ground of the better classes and parties; like
! the common school system it touches inter-
ests too vital to the common veal to be made
the football of politicians, Parties divide on
interpretations of the Constitution, not on the
Constitution itself. Interpretations from
politics and party issues relate to politics.
This is the legitimate battle-ground of poll
tics. But there is realm of principle be-
yond the conflicts of parties, where the moral
character of the government rests upon the
foundation of rignt-where the enduring ele-
ments of Christian civilization crvstallize in
organic law-and To that broader realm O,
essential right this question of prohibition
mpst come Another serious objection 70
the marty feature is that it RENDERED it inexpe
dient and improper for the churches to take
the active mart in the advocacy of the cans.
that ia desirable.
In word tbsn the writer after forty
r..rs of ..t,ys work in tho ,omneranco conse
and "a an advocate of everv measure rho,
nrom;sas -os,ric,;on 70 tho l,nror Get ont
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