The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-09-09

Moral and Religious StnndpOint-Ex.
tract from Letter written by Him on
the a7th OF August 1885, and Pub.
lished in the Chicago Inter Ocean ON
August goth.
There are two methods of procedure
open to the friends of prohibition. The
one is with and the other is without
separate political organization. Which
is preferable? Undoubtedly that which
promises the permanent success of the
cause, in the shortest time, and with the
least friction and animOsity.
1t may be that some cherish the con-
lecture that both methods, substantially,
can be employed but this is a deluson
If we adopt the party method we must
adhere to it, and make it successful by
party methods, or we must fail. There
is no such thing as securing the sympa-
thy 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. Itneeds no argument to show
that this is an undertaking of such mag
nitude that generations will be required
to accomplish it.
The usual argument in favor Of this
method is that the separate-party Organi-
zatiOn was successful in the old contest
with slavery. This is unsupported as
sumption. The separate-party vote
only strengthened the hold of the pro-
slavery power, and gave it such assured
control of the government as to intensity
| the contempt it entertained for the OPP
! position. The separate party did not
succeed Providence interpOsGd, cir
cumstances changed, old party lines
were disrupted and the slave power was
broken by influences which no man can
trace to any separate political Organiza-
ton. The analogy is not complete
The precedent does not apply. The
fallacy is manifest. 1t remains that nc
great reform, involving moral elements
has ever been successfully carried out in
this country through the agency of sepa
rate political organization.
This docs not prove that such an aCh
ievement will forever remain impossible
but it suggests the necessity of serious
inquiry before assuming the practica
bility OF a movement incumbered will
so many grave difficulties, and fraught
with such questionable elements.
One of the serious objections to this
plan is that it can not concentrate the
temperance sentiment of the country
In spite of fate and good intentions il
will ALLEVIATE men by hundreds and
thousands whose moral instincts are
right and whose influence might be
secured for prohibition on any plan thai
simply appeals to their Consciences as
men, as citizens and as Christians.
This battle is too great to be fought
by factions. 1t requires union wisdom
prudence, as well as courage and persist
enCe. The old Liberty party, of which
so many fine things have been said
never enrolled more than a small frac
ton of the anti-slavery sentiment of the
country and therefore never became
formidable. The Prohibition party in
it's party organization includes only
about three per cent. of the prohibition
sentiment The votes it casts will not
amount to that much. In the State o.
Ohio, for instance, under very unfavora
BILE circumstances, the direct vote fol
constitutional prohibition was 323, 600
while the vote for party candidates was
about II 600. This is less than three
per cent, and the proportion is not bet
ter in other places,
In such leading Prohibition States a.
Kansas and Iowa the ratio is much
smaller. 1t isa mere faction. 1t leaders
are earnest and jealous, but they do moi
command the following needed for sue
cess. MOdesty is a virtue which in itsel
is not less beautiful 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 prOhibitiOnists have ac
quired a monopoly of this grace. In the
multitudes of the nOn.partisan friends
of the cause there are some whose judg
ments ought to entitle them to respect
yet, in the ClamOr of the politicians, al
voices are drowned which do not shout
the praises of "the management" Pru
denCe is pronounced CoWardiCe. Con
ciliatory methods are derided as com
promises with sin. Every practica
measure which seeks the cooperation O
those who abide in their old pOlitiCa
associations is set Mt naught as lacking
in principle. The result is that mucl
the larger number of prOhibitiOnists are
ignored and the small minority stanC
out before the public as the representa-
tives and strength of the cause, while
the chief supporters of the public senti
ment which must ultimately achieve the
victory, deplOre the unwisdom of thi
state Of things, and patiently and sadl.
wait the coming OF the day when thD
battle for prohibition will be pitched
upon ground broad enough for all it
real friends to stand upon, and wher
they can fight under leadership strOnl
enough to concentrate all available
forces.
Constitutional provisions should neve
be made the basis of party organiza
ton. The organic law Of the State anC
the nation ought to have the support o
the patriotic citizens of all parties. Tn
only way to secure this end is to avoi,
thrusting platforms into the constitution
Prohibition of the liquor traffic can no
be permanent till it is in the COnstitu
ton, and it cannot 60 into the COnstitu
ton as a party measure. 1t is too brOa
for a party. Like the iundamenta
principals OF the government, it must b
the common ground of the better classe
in all parties like the common schOC
system, it touches interests too vital t
the common veal to be made the foe
ball of politicians. Parties divide on il
terpretatiOns of the constitution, not o
the constitution itself. Interpretation
from politics, and party issues relate I