Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-03-14

port from PrOhlbltlOnlstS, shifted
the balance of power in last Novem-
Der. This is we'll authenticated
fact. Now, in view of what then
was dene, does any one think that
party-the Prohibition party-will
not come out again painting for an
other conflict Does any one sup
pose that the mere ideal desire to
preserve the autonomy of parties
will prevent Prohibitionists coming
again to the front, with renewed
ardor, when there is no reason why
they should NOS forlIs a new party,
with "Banishment to Liquor" for
their watchword!
All things must have a beginning.
The struggle against liquor calls up
universa,, animation everywhere,
and will meet a responsive echo
coming from almost every breast.
The unread woman, the broken
hearted wife, the demon-haunted
drinker, who knows and cares little
about tariff and currency, all can
understand what a vote against
liquor means. In this they will
read the thrilling motto Of freedom
for fatherland. You know the mis-
erable have no medicine beyond hope
and they will cling to that as the
sinking mariner to the floating spar
that alone has power to buoy him
while tossed on the world of waters.
Young men, Prohibition is the
Nations coming party. One of the
old ones has died and We need not
fear anything by clinging to one
that has moral strength, peace, re-
Iigion and order for its broad rocks.
So long as we are afraid to make
Prohibition an open political issue.
so long will our laws against liquor
sleep inert and dead in the Statute
Book. Ours is the strongest midi
vidual question in this or any State.
Lat US give it political incarnation,
and banding together as grand
and glorious brotherhood, pledged
to the extlrpation of this hereditary
cause that feeds upon the yitals of
our children, let US fear no conse-
quences to any political parties, but
just
Vail to the mast our holy flag,
spread forth each loyal sail,
And give the old ship to the storms,
The lightning and the gale. /"
To do this we must be genuine
Prohibitionists. We must be able
to stand out against the whippers-in
of party, and bear the name of fanat-
les and zealots, but the grand old
fight is coming, and through the
darkened clouds that hang above us
there IS a broken rift and through
that small, blue, broken space, We
must look and leave all meaaner
thoughts behind, and like Arnold
Winkelreid, of martyr fame, at the
battle Of Sempach, when he broke
the Austrian phalanx of spearmen,
and made way for liberty and died ;
50 must our young politicians who
desire coming prominence, cease to
follow on in the old ancestral grooves
of party. These must enthrone
loftier sentiment in politics, must
live under the inspiration of no
bier manhood, and see that a higher
moral perfection is formulated and
materialized on our Statute books.
These elected upon a platform that
means Prohibition, will be interest
ed IN the success of the party that
has placed them in office, and they
will be stimulated to see the law
working we'll, but without party
following, without something behind
to make Prohibition strong, as we'll
as respectable, is friends will find
that although strong enough to pass
a law, that they will be powe1less to
enforce it. The power strong
enough to pass great law should
not be afraid to elect officers
of every kind pledged to its
execution, and to do this the ques-
ton should be made political and
the issue enter at once into every
department of their politics.