West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1885-05-13
WEST VIRGINIA FREEMAN
1,he IntelIigencer and the Exodus.
a Prohibition Party the Need Of the
Age.
ED. FREEMAN

ED. FREEMAN:
The IntelHgencer of recent date,
in an editorial under the caption,
& Shall the Enemy have an Easy
Victory" refers to the anticipated
exodus Of Republicans to the Pro-
hibition party.
The idea that occurred to me
upon reading the article was, that
the party had nothing worth urg-
ing to induce its mem bers of Prohi-
,bition proclivities to remain with
it any longer. True it was charg-
ed that the Democrats had acted
badly, but this charge is equally
applicable to the Republicans of
late years, so that Democratic pa.
per may use the same tactics with
the same force. In fact the two
parties are simply like two dogs
with bone, one must necessarily
wait while the other has it. l
would ado further that any prohi-
bitionist in either, is in the same
situation as the man who inquired
about the roads and was informed
that, take either one he chose he
would be sorry he didn't take the
other.
The Intelligencer expresses the
opinion that nine-tenths of the
Prohibition party in the State will
be recruited from. the Republican
party. The proportionate loss of
the old parties is in no way mate
rial to the new party; but the opin-
ion is so glaringly ridiculous that
1 desire to suggest to the editor an
Investigation before occasion re-
.quires further statements.
In the same issue of the Iatelh.
eaezcer attention is called to the
National Temperance League"
In further explanation of this Or
ganization, l would say that it is a
comparison Temperance Society
formed by Republicans-that is to
say-it's Republican non-parti-
san League. The little coincidence
that it was conceived by the net
tied followers OF Mr.. Blaine should
not mar its usefulness as a strictly
partisan arrangement, and |
would not put straw in it's way.
w lille | believe it eminently true,
&s Miss Willard said in New York
the other day, "The need of the
country is not so much non-par-
.tisan Temperance Society, as a
non-sectional political party" yet
come on with the leagues, societies,
moral suasion efforts, and every
manner of temperance doctrine,
and as fast as the right principles
are established, the converts will
desire in some way to promulgate
their convictions, and all can be
utilized in the sectional Prohi-
gbition party.
The Prohibition party is the
greatest need of the age. Mediate
upon the Vast array of temperance
sentiment manufactured for years
and years past, while the liquor
traffic at the same time has been
growing faster than the population.
This sentiment must be applied,
i utilized and made effective to wipe
out the monster iniquity that is
destroying individuals by the tens
OF thousands, and has it's clutches
upon our perpetuity as nation.
[ desire to ask every man who
has the good of his fellows at heart
why he should be a Democrat or
Republican? Both of these parties
have bid for the liquor vote and the
simple difference is, the Democratic
party bid the highest and got it ;
but the Republican party since the
election have outstripped the cold
boy" in their efforts to concilia e
and recover.
FRANK BURT.
Warrington, W. Va, May 4, '85.