West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1885-11-11
WEST VIRGINIA FREEMAN
OUR DAYTON LETTER.
Saloon Fruitage; A Real Fight
and Real Victory; Why POliti.
clans Oppose Prohibition, &c.

OhSho OPPOkoS - WV
Load the Prohibition Gatling Gun
and Fire Away at the Enemy; If
Preachers get IN the nay they'll get
hurt, like other people.
Exciting events have occurred
in Ohio since my last, and the gen.
eral result is known. The proof is
constantly multiplying in favor of
the fact that politics are thorough
ly bad in method and purpose.
The reason is plain: 1t is, be-
yond all question, the truitage of
the saloon.
Christians and temperance peo-
pie are in no sense connected with
the shameful frauds developed in
Columbus and Cincinnati. The
"Third party" has made a real
fight and won real success, in that
it has drawn from both parties in
nearly equal numbers. The time
to sneer at, or curse the movement
is nearly gone. In a short time
political leaders will be on their
knees to the rising power to Sc
cure its help.
A careful study of current facts
has convinced me that two things
are true as to the professional poll.
ticians of to-day. The first is that
the principle of Prohibition is alb
horrent to them because it is right.
They have not the moral sense to
appreciate the sound moral charac-
ter of this sacred cause. They hate
the principle. They also hate the
policy, for two reasons:
1st. If it succeed, then the only
source of corruption money will be
cut off, and they can no longer car
ny elections by the use of money.
End. There will no longer be a
large class of demoralized and i'm
bruited men who can be used for
purposes of fraud, by repeating and
ballot-box stuffing on election day.
The saloon makes all these, and
everybody but idiots know it.
The Prohibitionists must add
another principle to those already
adopted, and that is the principle
of national economy. Both parties
know or do not know, that pub
lie policy which makes it lawful
for one citizen to take the property
ofanother without giving anything
in return, is not only unsound but
wicked public policy. 1t has pre-
vailed, however, and created large
pauper class.
The most serious charge that can
be made against either of the "old
parties" is that they have favored
this policy, but persistently denied
its results. They are either too ig-
norant to know these results or too
dishonest to acknowledge them,
Sound political economy and intel
ligent craftsmanship would legis-
late the saloon out of legal exis-
tence in one year. While IT'S, 900
indolent, non-producing men are
taking, for nothing, $S00,O00,000
annually, and destroying $4,000
citizens each year, great political
editors and orators, are expanding
their time and thought on the
"Aid Society,"" "The Fraud"
"Cranks," &C., and seem to think
this is both patriotic and pious.
The Prohibition Army has two
guns that should be turned on it's
political enemies. The first is, that
the liquor traffic is wicked; and the
second, if it is not suppressed it
will impoverish the nation. Load
these taOo guns to the muzzle with
grape and canister, and fire into the
CROWD on the other side. Never
mind the preachers that are half
way between, If they get hurt it
is their own fault. L. w.