The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-12
last in 1874, its greatest strength being

last in 1874, It's greatest strenSth Delng
90 SOC votes.
In 1874 most Of It's members united With
the "Baln. burners" Of New York Demo.
crats), and formed the Free Soil party, !"
resulting in the defeat Of General Cas-, in
New York, and the consequent election Of
General Taylor (Whig) President. This
new party did not propose any Interior
ence with slavery in the States, but the
prevention OF It's extension into the Terri
tories then free. 1t planted itself on the
policy OF the Fathers, as shown in their
unanimous adoption OF the Ordinance Of
1887" In 1852 it took the name Of the
Free Soil Democracy" and continued the
policy OF hostility to slavery extension.
It's total vote in 1852 was but little more
than half OF that poiied in 1913. :.
The Republican party" was organized
in 1856, and was likewise pledged to the
prohibition Of the existence or extension
Of slavery into the Territories. 1t pro-
posed no Interference with slavery in the
States, but on the contrary, it positively
declared for 'the maintenance inviolate OF
the right OF each State to order and con.
troll its own domestic institutions" II is
pervefs;on OF history to call the Repuh-
lean party OF lS56-lSG0 an abolition party.
1t was the Secession OF the Southern
States, and the resulting civil war, that
doomed slavery. II the South had &C
quiescsd in the election OF Lincoln and the
restriction OF slavery to States where il
existed, the adoption OF the thirteenth
amendment might still be in the fnture.
The only event in the history thus
briefly sketched that needs special con.
sideration Is the dissolution OF the Wing
party in 1855. It seems 10 be taken for
granted by many thg9 the dissolution Of
the Wing party was due TO its defeat in
1913, and that this defeat was due to the
Free Soil party. The truth Of history is
that the Wing party was accustomed to
defeat. It had been victorious but twice
in its career as a party, and for one OF
these successes it was indebted to the Free
Soil party, The chronic trouble with the
old Wing party Tho writer was born In it,
was that It had not enough rOters-eSpeC.
tally on rainy days! 1t was u minority
party. Moreover, 1t would take wise
man to show that the defeat OF General
Scott was due to the Free Soil party. The
great majority OF the members of that
party in 1913 were Democrats, and tits be.
| iieved that there were as many Democrats
as Wings in the party in 1852. 1t is DIM
dult to see how great party thus consti-
tuted could defeat either party by itschoice
There is more reason for the belief that
the dissolution OF the Wing party was
the result OF It's loss Of all the slave.hold
ing States. except Kentucky and Tennes-
see. and the assured loss OF these-espec.
tally OF the increasing demands OF the
South. 1t was the aggressive spirit OF the
slave power that united the increasing
anti.slavery sentiment OF thu North into
great party pledged to resist the extendon
OF slavery.
But whatever may be historically true
respecting the dissolution OF the Wing
party, there Ia nothing in the career Of
the Prohibition party thus far that shows
it to be foreordained to repeat the bit OF
history under present changed conditions.
There is, 1t is true, some analogy between
the rise OF anti.slavery opinion d that
OF temperance, but what analogy does the
the Prohibition party as such present to
the old Liberty party
The Liberty party abandoned its organ.
ization after two elections and merged into
the more moderate and practical Free Soil
party-a party that never dreamed OF at
tempting to abolish slavery by securing
an. amendment to the Constitution by
party action and as party MEASURE. The
Prohibition party has now taken hand
in our Presidential elections and has been
voting in State elections for twenty years.
When it initiates the practical wisdom OF
the old Liberty party and merges into
more modern party, we shall be able to
note striking analogy. Is this to be the
fate OF that party that now demands
prohibitory amendment to the Con-
stitution or nothing?
1t is seen that our brief survey reveals
no important analogies, either between
slavery and the liquor traffic as evils, or
in the history Of the related political par
ties, that justify the existence or policy oil
the Prohibition party: and it takes no
prophetic ken to see that there is TO b., no
history parallel in the outcome. The sup.
preston OF the evils Of intemperanCe will
require the practical wisdom and the
united action Of the good men OF all par
ties, and the ireer the cause is kept from
the antagonisms and conflicts Of political
parties, the sooner will effective legislation
be secured. Z. E. WHITE.
Walnut Hills, o.. October 8, 1885.
An Eloquent and Effective Speech.
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