Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-08-28
A LETTER FROM NEAL DOW.

tfOr the new Era
The following letter was written to .
prominent citizen Of Cincinnati in answer
to note OF inquiry from him. 1t is in
terseting and valuable ss showing the
opinion of this great temperance leader on
The battle In Ohio.
PORTLAND, July 2s, 1885.
DEAR SIR:-Your note OF the 25lh is
Just received. Az a temperance man do
not zee how you could he misled to rup.
pose, as you sny You did, that tax upon
grog shops. or a license to them, could
possibly, IN ANYWAY. diminish the evils Of
the Iiqnor traffic. Under that system
there never was and never will be fail
ure TO supply the full demand OF inioIi-
Giants; then how can it diminish the evils
arising from the traffic? There never
was more perfect sys,em of license than
that existing in England to-day, and never
anywhere better enforcement Of the law
vet that country ia conlessedly the most
drunken in the world, and prohibition j,
now .gilated there with vigor, system and
persistence that we have never had in this
country.
You voted for St. John in 1884.
voted for Blaine, led to do il by the re-
.olve of the State Republican Committee
(printel in may article to the Cmmerciai
Gozeite (which supposed to have been
adopted in guod faith, thoroughly commit
ling the party to radical, enforced prohI-
bition. But in fact il was sham, II chea,
u frand, the leaders in Maine ~ well M in
Ohio being the humble slaves OF the liquor
interest TO which they have committed
the party in Maine without reserve, m has
| heen done IN Ohio. | therefore repudiate
| the leaders Of the party and their policy,
believing without doubt, ns | do that ii
must die, since it has boldly assumed the
| defense OF the saloons against the peoples
| homes. l say all this without hesi siintion,
qua ificati0u or reservation OF any kind
though have been from the beginning IN
ardent, loyal member OF the party. 1t
must die in the interest 1T temperance and
prohibition "a the old Wing party died in
the interest Of free speeei, free labor and free
men.
You say, "Do you object to state, either
confilen,ially or for pub cation, whether
| YOU believe 81. John To tie nm unworthy or
| \ slandered mani" In my opinion there
| il nU more honorable aud upright man in
lie country than St. John. | was aware
two months before the election, that earn
est efforts were to be M;t,ic To induce him
TO Withdraw. l was repeatedly solicited
hy the influential movers in that matter
| 10 help IN il, or nj least to lend my nam.
to il. My earnest advice 10 ,lose men
was, not to attempt il, assuring them that
| his answer would he ~ mine was in 1880
| TO similar very influential proposals., that
to do no would be- treacl,ery M base ~
would lie the desertion OF general from
the head oi his army IN the hour OF battle,
leaving il without a leade,. The treach
ery of such dereriiOn would he no more
| than Was the attempt 10 lead him aud me
into the guilt OF 1t, and it is these men
self-convcted Of 40 foul n conspiracy, wht
charge ST. John with lending willing enl
To their haze proposals.! II Ia the men
who have hung and burned him IN efiisy
and only in effigy because they could not
do il to him in person, who accuse him o
contemplating IL dishonorable acl. II Il
The men who. while talking boldly ant
hoarsely about the sacred right ol ever,
citizen TO free vote and an honest coun
OF it, show by their bitter mnrcierous at
lacks on the character of ST. John and Dr.
Leonard that they would adopt the sho
gun against votes which they did not lik
M readily M they resort To sl'Dder-th'
fuuler, deadlier weal on Of the two, were
not for the fear of The law.
| Respecilully NEAL Dow.