The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-09-18

Bishop MeFTilps Lettor-A Document Fell oi
Good suggestions.
The following letter OF Bishop S. NJ.
Merrill, OF the Methodist Episcopal church,
will be Of interest to Republican Prohibi.
tionists in Ohio:
There are two methods OF procedure
open 10 the friends OF prohibition. The
one Is with and the other ia without sepa.
rate political organization. Which is pre-
ferabIe? Undoubtedly that which prom.
ises the permanent success Of the cause, in
the shortest time, and with the least fric-
ton and animosity.
1t may oe that some cherish the conjec-
ture that both methods, substantially, can
be employed; but this is telusion. II
We adopt the party method we must adj
here to 1t, and make it successful by party
methods, or we must fail. There is no
such thing as securing the sympathy and
cooperation OF the good men in the other
parties without inducing them TO abandon
their party affiliations and join the new
party which we propose for them. 1t
needs no argument to show tina. this is an
undertaking OF such magnitude that gen.
erations will be required to accomplish it.
The unusual argument in favor OF this
method Ia that the separate.party organi.
ration was successful in the old contest
with slavery. This Is unsupported as.
sumption. The separats-party vote only
strengthened the hold Of the pro-slavery
power, and gave 1t such assured control Of
the Government as TO intensity the con-
tempt it entertained for the opposition.
The sepsrate-party did not succeed. Prov
idence intertered, circumstances changed,
old party lines were disrupted, and the
slave power was broken by influences
which no man can trace to any separate
political organization. The analogy is not
complete. The precedent does not apply.
The fallacy is manifest. 1t remains that
no great reform, involving moral elements,
has ever been carried out in this country
through the agency OF separate political
organization.
This does not prove that such an
will forever remain impos.
sible, but it suggests the necessity OF seri-
Gus inquiry before assuming the praclica.
bility Of a movement iucumbered with 90
many grave difficulties, and frauRht with
such questionable elements.
One of the serious objections to the plan
is that it cannot concentrate the temper
ance sentiment Of the country. III spite
OF fate and good intentions it will alien.
ate men by hundreds and thousands
whose moral influence might be secured
for prohibition on any plan that simply
appeals 10 their conscienCes as men, as
and 81 Christians.
The battle is too great to be fought by
factions. 1trequires union, wisdom, pru-
dence, as well rs courage and PERSISTENCE.
The cd Liberty party, Of which so many
fine things have been said, never enrolled
more than q small fraction OF the anti
slavery sentiment OF the country, and
therefore never became formidable. The
Prohibition party in its party organization
includes only about 3 per cent, OF the pro-
hibition sentiment. The vote it casts will
not amount 10 that much. In the State OF
Ohio, for instance, under very uniavorable
the direct vote for consti-
tutionai prohibition was 323, goo, while the
vote for party candidates was about II 900.
This is less than per cent, and the pro-
portion is not better in other places. In
such leading prohibition States as Kansas
and Iowa The ratio is much smaller. It is
q mere faction. Its leaders are earnest
and jealous, but they do not command
the following needed Tor succeFs. Modesty
is virtue which in itself ia not less beau
tifnl because the leaders OF this faction fail
to cultivate it. 1t is not to be assumed
that wisdom is always with majorities,
but it is scarcely to be believed that this
very small majority in the ranks Of prohi.
bitionists have acquired a monopoly Of
this grace.
In the multitudes OF the non.partisan
friends of the cause there are some whose
judgment ought to entitle them to re-
spect; yet, in the Clamor Of the politicians,
all voices are drowned which do not shout
the praises Of ''the management" Pru.
dence Is pronounced cowardiCe. Con.
ciliatory methods are derided as compro-
mises with sin. Every practical measure
which sacks the cooperation OF those
who abide in their old political aSsocia-
tons Is set at naught es lacking in prin-
ciple. The result is that much the larger
number OF prohibitionists are ignored,
aad the small minority stand ont before
the public % the representatives and
strength OF the cause, while the CHIEF sup.
porters OF the public sentiment, which
must ultimately achieve the victory, de.
plore the unwiBdom of this state OF things,
and patiently and sadly wait the coming
Of the day when the battle for prohibit.
ton will DO pitched upon ground broad
enough for all lis real friends to stand
upon, and where they can fight under
leadership strong enough to concentrate
all available forces.
Constitutional provisions should never
be made the basis Of party orsaniza ions.
The organic law OF the State aud the
Nation ought to have the support Of the
patriotic citizensin all parties. The only
way 70 secure this end is to avoid thrust.
ing platforms into the Constitution. Pro-
hibition OF the liquor traffic Bsnnot be per.
manent till 1t is in the Constitution, and
It cannot 20 into the Constitution as
party measure. 1t is too broad for party.
Like the fundamental principles Of the
Government, 1t must he the common
ground OF the better classes in all parties,
like the common school system, 1t touches
interests too vital to the common veal to
be made the foot ball Of politicians. Par
ties divide on interpretations Of the Con.
stituuon, not on the Constitution itself.
interpretations from politics, and party
Issues relate to policies. This is tho legiti-
mate battle ground OF politics. But there
is realm OF principle beyond the con-
fiicts Of parties, where the moral charac-
ter Of the Government rests upon the
foundation Of right, where the enduring
elements Of Christian civilization crystal.
lie in organic Law, and to that broader
realm OF essential right this question Of
nrobihfKtoO 1nUak Nona
Another serious objection to the party
feature j. that II renders it inexpedient
and improper for the churches to take the
active part in the advocacy oil the cause
that Is desirable. When the party Is or
Ranized, with candidates in the field, the
conferences, synods, associations and con-
ventons OF the churches cannot and will
not give indorsement to the measures
proposed. They are excluded by the
nature Of their constitutions, and must
stand slooi, as ecclesiastical bodies, What
ever individuals In their Gommuniops may
think oP desire. II Also Eileneea the mil