The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-20
The Prohibition Lecture.

At the Prohibition meeting In Cases
hall Tuesday evening last, addressed by
Mr.. Chas. J. English, of COncordia,
there was not large crowd, but eager
interest and good attention was mani
tested.
The speaker first dwelled upon the
moral phaze of the question, and then
proceeded briefly to give his ideas touch
ing the political situation, in substance
as follows:
lon every hand we find persons who
tell us not to put our religion into poll
tics, but my opinion is that if my reli-
gion is worth anything at all it is to be
taken into every act of my life. When
find man who will not take his re-
ligiOn into his politics, cOncede to him
one of two conditions: either he has no
religion to take into his politics or his
politics is of such a character as to be
distruSted. We have been trying for
ages to settle this matter outside of pol
itics, and we are thoroughly convinced
that it cannot be done. 1t is through
the ballot box, and by that means only
it can be settled, hence we are pointing
our batteries in that direction.
1t is well established fact that there
are prOhibitiOniSts enough in all of the
different parties to settle this question
unto final victory if they could be
brought together in one party. There
are thousands of prohibition republic
cans who will not do anything to en-
danger the Republican party, and they
arc honest in it, for they look to that
party for the final victory, and think
it best to sustain them, and compel
them to accept the issue and carry it to
victory. There are also vast number
of Democratic prohibitiOnists who are
affiliated with fhe old party and dislike
to leave their idol even to accomplish
this great benefit, and they are all hon
est In it, But in my opinion it is an
absolute certainty that neither of the
old parties are going to accept the is
sue, hence we contend that those of our
SympathiserS who cast theit strength
with the old parties cast it against the
best interests of Prohibition. The re-
publicans tell us that they have given
us prohibition in Kansas and sustained
it, but deny the charge. They never
did, and more than that they ha T,ent the
strength within their own party o.
themselves, to do it.
1t IS true that the legislature which
submitted that question to the people
for decision, in Kansas, were anti
prohibitiOniStS. They submitted the
question Ill response to an immense DE-
tition signed by people of all parties.
and they believed it would be defeated
when ii came before the people. and
thus taken out of the way, and they
were mistaken, and when they found
the large sentiment IN favor of the
measure the politicians began changing
front.
The Greenback party which was pref
" strong in this state at that time voted
Tor the measure almost solidly, and nu- .
nervous democrats did likewise. and Won
VIII therefore see that the republicans I
nd not give us the law-aS they claim $
o have done. And no one will DENY :
hat the last legislature, which amended
he law, was republican, and they gave :
is such sllmsy law as to be wholly in $
nectual. There is such a hole in it t
hat coach and six mule team could a
'o uIlNeH through IL.
But we are not content with state
and were it true that they s
ad given us prohibition in Iowa. Kan t
as and Maine, as they claim, none will ,
eny but they have refused to help us t
ntO that end. {
We admit the fact that as rule the O
epubhcanS of the North have shown a
ne most sympathy for the cause, while d
ne reverse is true of the South. Now L
oW can you expect to accomplish ma e
onal prohibition through either of the a
ID parties. The same old feelings ex- b
{ between the two old parties. The =
,pubhcans are living on the war issues II
the past. The Southern democratic C;
lrty is living on the dead issues of +,
lie war and the past Now how can CT
,u expect to concilliate the two ii
d parties of the past upon the only Ii
Vlng issue to the final settlement of If CT
q national issue? 1t appears clear to fo
e that there is but one thing left to b;
}: and that is to organize new party.
Ithout any of the old Clogs attend
g 1t, and unite the different elements
various localities to the accomplish
ents of the national victory.
To-day the old parties are represent-
no issues except to get office. and ~
ISL ole on occount Of cOwardice. No
ward can succeed. God has no place wi