Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-01-30
spERUa OF Ex.eov. ST. JOHN
Before the Prohibition State Conven-
tlon at Topeka, Dec. 10, 1884.
Mr.. President and Citizens:


felt it was a greater honor to do so than
now. .IApplause.l Anybody can drift
with the mnjority-even n chip can float
down stream-but when IL comes to stem
the current of political tyranny, falsehood
and bitter persecution, as Prohibitionists
have had to do for few months past, It
requires just a little pluck, a devotion to
principle, such devotion as impelled the
large number of delegates in this Conven-
tion TO come here through one of the sever
est storms of the year, to stand up, and
be counted, upon platform that leaves no
one In doubt as to the position we occupy
in the great struggle against the liquor
traffic There is but two sides to the qnes-
tion-license or prohibition. tCries of
that's SOL Our party is unequivocally for
prohibition. The old party that survived
the November election is against it. The
Republican party having deliberately COM
mitted suicide, whoever attempts to occupy
neutral ground will be compelled eventu-
ally to come TO us or go into the Democratic
camp. [Applause.l gave nearly twenty
eight years. loyal service to the Republican
party. Icast my first ballot for Fremont
and freedom, and am voting for freedom
yet, freedom of ballot, freedom of con-
science, freedom of soul, [Applause. l
am not here to- might to defend the Prohibi-
tion party. 1t has already ceased to be an
infant, and is abundantly able to take care
of itself. Nor am here to indulge in per-
sonal abuse or villifcation, as prefer to
ter to uphold their cause. [Applnuse.l
NV aim shall be to show that the Prohi-
btionists have not changed front, but are
standing to-day just where they were
taught to stand by class of Kansas Re-
publicans who seem not to be imbued with
the old Republican spirit of charity for
all and malice toward none," but rather
to think that the way to restore life to
political party is to bitterly abuse and say
hard things about its opponents.
fbac ,.,fN tafa lar oil ufttrn in,
1879, to avoid other legislation that threat
ened Immediate danger to the liquor traffic,
the Senate unanimously passed joint res
olution to be submitted to vote of the
people, so amending the constitution of the
State as to forever prohibit the manufac-
ture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a
beverage. The friends of the saloons voted
for this measure, feeling confident that 1t
would easily be defeated when it reached
the House, and notwithstanding the Re-
publicans had the necessary two-thirds
vote to pass it through the House, the
measure would not have been submitted to
the people had il not been for the aid of
Democratic and Greenback members of
that body. When we commenced the cam
paign for the adoption of the amendment
the Republican politicians, as a rule, were
opposed to it, for it was generally believed
at first that its success was Mt least very
doubtful; but as the campaign progressed
and the people became more and more
ment, the politicians began to get ION the
fence" and in the course of time they COM
menced to come down, one by one, then in
twos and fours, until eventually they were
nearly all for Constitutional Prohibition,
and when the votes were counted it was
ascertained that the measure had about
5000 majority. AT this same election new
members were chosen for the House and
Senate. This Legislature passed our pres
ent prohibition law. Up to this time, re-
,In,- n-tr had nt
committed itself on the question of pro-
hibition. In 1882, however, ut its State
Convention the following resolutions were
adopted as part OF its platform:
"Resolred, That we declare ourselves un-
qualihedly in favor of the prohibition of the
manufacture and of the sale of Intoxicating
liquors us n beverage, and pledge ourselves
TO such additional legislation as shall secure
the rigid enforcement of the constitutional
provision upon this subject in all parts of
the State"
"Resolred, That we request our delegation
in Congress to secure such an amendment to
the revenue laws rs will prevent the issuingof
recc'pts or stamps to sell Intoxicating liquors
to ANY persons other than those authorized
so to do under the State laws"
Upon that platform the party, although
1t had legitimate majority of at least
10000 in the State, deliberately defeated
the head of the State ticket and elected n
Bourbon Democrat" and strong Anti
Prohibitionist as Governor. At the same
election new House of Representatives
was chosen, which, with the Senate that
helped to pass the prohibitory law, COM
posed the Legislature of 1888. Both
branches being Overwhelmingly Republic
an the political duty devolved upon that
body to make good the solemn pledges that
the party had made in its platform by
giving to the people "such additional leg
islation as shall secure the rigid enforce
ment Of the constitutional provision
R0n a parts ' Of sf0'tfS the 9a,"'0h state" Did IT
do 1t! No. Yet if the party had desired
to have been true to the principles of pro-
hibition the Legislature could have not only
passed and sent to the Governor for his APP
proyal a law to carry out the pledges made
in the Republican platform, but in case he
had vetoed the bill, there were a sufficient
number of Republican members in each
branch to have passed it Orer his veto. But
nothing was done by the Legislature for
prohibition, and the party's pledges to the
people touching that matter have been
wholly ignored. The faith of the Prohibi-
tionists in the Republican party's fidelity
to prohibition having been somewhat
shaken by the result of the State election
would do but little, if anything, to help
along the cause with a view to encouraging
that body to be true to its pledges, a
State Prohibition Convention, COM
posed of over 1,2OO delegates,
representing every county in the
State, assembled at Topeka the 9th of Jam
uary, 1888, being the day before the inau-
guration of herecently elected Democratic
Governor and the conyening of the Legis-
lature of 1888.
During the session of the convention the
Hon. Albert Griffin, of Manhattan, de-
livered to the assembled delegates a very
able, instructive and interesting address, in
which he laid down a few fundamental
principles for the guidance of many of US
who recognized in him an able leader fully
pDmpatapt tn nOint ~ fha in x.-hi hi,l,
we should go. He commenced his speech
by truthfully saying:
81 have been announced to speak on The
relation Of Prohibition to the Republican
party, but my SUBJECTS more properly The
relation Of Prohibitionists TO the Republican
party 1t is a common practice for the ag-
ginning the contest. In DfReis the old days, @ the the
pro-slavery men, by such acts as the fugitive
slave law and the repeal of the Missouri
iect of political action and at the same time
vehcmently denounced the Abolitionsts for
srends as sIe snaen tn ae
asking why cant you let prohibition stay
out OF politics? Temperance is n moral
ea arena e thaa nt0 se se
mics Of prohibition and not its friends have
made IT. partisan question"
How inspiring We're the following words
of encouragement to those who were in
doubt as to their duty In that trying hour
when devotion to party pointed in'one di-
rection and adherence to principle in
another; f''if.H
I'VE care comparatively little about the
0thces, but the principle win never be aban-
doned and kept in the background. You
may think this is unwise, but we do not.
Present defeat may be possible on our line,
but victory IL gained VIII be glorious and
valuable; whereas, If enough concessions
are made 10 reclaim any considerable portion
OF the whisky end of the party, u victory
would be worse than defeat"
But our distinguished friend gives us the
very best reason why we should stand
firmly by the principle of prohibition.
Hear him:
Some Anti-Prohibitionsts seem TO really
think that II Is unreasonable for ProhibI.
tionists 10 insist that the party must adyo-
cate principle which was first put in the
Constitution, then in the laws, and atterward
in the party platform. ask of them
in return; II prohibition is eliminated, what
will there be left to fight over? There are no
National party issues The old question OF
slavery. reconstruction, manhood suffrage
civil rights, reputation, etc, have all beer
definitely acted upon and the results at least
ostensibly accepted by the Democrats. Upor
lmnnFtnnf III thn arI0