The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-08-13
A USELESS PARTY
PROHIBITION WILL Nor COME By
WAY OF A THIRD PARTY

We admire the zeal-so intense as
to be considered crankiness by many
well-intentioned people-of orr Pro,
hibition friends. That their cause, OF
rather, the idea which they advance as
the predominating one in their organ
ization, is just, no man with his rea-
soning faculties unimpaired will at
tempt to deny. Prohibition is right
eternally right-the liquor traffic is
wrong, horribly wrong. And it is the
most miserable and contemplate
nonsense to advance in argument
against Prohibition, the statement
that the liquor traffic increases under
it's workings, merely because the traffic
is prohibited. No law amounts to
anything if not enforced. Prohib-
ition enforced would be a grand
thing Prohibition not enforced
would be a signal and ignominious
failure. On all these matters we
doubtless agree thoroughly with our
Prohibition friends. But there is one
point to which we desire particularly
to call their attention: In Iowa, Kan
sas, Maine, and in communities where
Prohibition prevails, there as no Pro-
hibition party. The great idea of Pro-
hibition was taken up by the old
parties, and is endorsed by them to-
day, or if not publicly endorsed, at
least not opposed. But the Prohibi-
tion party is a thing unknown in
politics, because it's only idea was
taken away by the people composing
the old parties. Had there been no
Prohibition Ticket in the field in
Ohio, the Second or Prohibitory
Amendment, would have triumphed
in this State. But the third party,
actuated more through an idea of in
dividual Importance than desire for
the success of the great principle, re-
fused to listen to the suggestion of
such thing as keeping out of the
field their ticket, and the result is
well known. The fact Of the matter
was, and is, that the party feared, and
still fears, that by an earnest cooper
alton with any other party for the
success Of the Temperance cause, the
little party might lose its identity.
The old and strong party might, with
the aid of the disgruntled Prohibition
lists, achieve success with Prohibition
plank in the party platform, but the
one idea of the little party would be
taken away, and then where would
the party be? 'Prohibition" is the
engine which drives the machinery of
the little party Take that away, and
not wheel will turn.
We do not hesitate to say that we
are as strongly in favor of the Prohib-
ition Of the liquor traffic as the most
Jealous Prohibitionist can possibly be,
yet we believe there are other matters
connected with the government Of
great Nation besides the mere sup
preston of the drink crime. The
Prohibition Party seeks, simply, the
defeat Of the Republican Party-that
Party which has record uneoualed
in the history Of the world, for the
magnitude and grandeur Of the work
accomplished. The aim of the Pro-
hibitionists is not the success Of any
thing but the defeat of something.
Should that party, by any possible
combination of unfortunate circum-
stances, be enabled to defeat the Re-
publican party in Ohio this Fall, Pro-
hibition would be much farther away
than ever before, and the members Of
the Prohibition Party know it. Yet
they do not take kindly to the idea Of
being called an aid to the Democracy.
They are working just as strongly in
the interest Of the Democracy as
though their ticket had been nomina-
ted by a regular Democratic Conven-
tion AS we'll might man walk arm
in arm with Satan, and proclaim
himself in favor Of the salvation of
souls. If you want Prohibition, you
should get out of the Democratic
party with all possible haste.
The subject of Memorial Grafton
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