Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-09-24
The Anti-saloon Convention.
Chicago. Ill. Sept. 1G. 1886.

Dear HERALD: inc National Re
publican Anti-Saloon Convention is
now Il thing of the past. The future
only will reveal whether it bodies good
or i'll TO the great republican party,
as party organization. In NY opin-
ion it can only be good If the party
sees in it its opportunity. Opportuni-
ties come to all men, and all parties.
They who sec and seize them are
borne on to victory and success. The
healing waters are troubled for the
nations, but only those who step in
are healed. Progress in Gods plan,
and this movement is in that line.
One of the speakers said we already
had all the ministers. That certainly
shows progress.
The platform adopted is very
broad; not up to the public sentiment
of Vermont, or in fact of any of the
New England States or of Kansas and
Iowa but far ahead of the State of
Illinois, as portrayed by one of the
speakers who gave the names of the
persons on the State ticket who were
rum sellers and rum makers, to say
nothing of the rum drinkers. The
universal sentiment was to reitrict, low
license in preference to free rum high
| license in preference to low license
! prohibition in preference to high IL
cense-to outlaw the saloon, to stamp
it out just as soon as possible was to
be the watchword, and that through
the republican party. No man init
mated any desire to leave the party.
Senator Blair of New Hampshire,
on being elected Temporary chairman
sail
feel highly honOrcd in being asked to pre-.
| side over this great ana historic convention
which lirml' believe will live in tho annals
of time. We are here for the destruction of
ii @ rum traffic throughout this country and
| thron Sbout the world. I think l speak the
| sentiment OF the convention, when Isay that
| as between free rum and low license we arc
| in favor OF low license; that as between low
license and high license We are in favor Of
high license (checrs); that as between high
license and prohibition We are in favor of
prohibition. [Groat cheerias,l Mr.. Blair
went on to say they also met as Republicans,
They were in that party and could not be
driven ont.
Ex-senator Windham of Minnesota
on being elected permanent chair
man, said:
81 highly appreciate the great honor you
have conferred upon me- There are possibly
other gentlemen present who could state bet
ter than can the precise purpose of this CON
vcntion. VIC arc here under the call OF true
and legal Republicans; desiring through
that party to accom- pliah what re think will
bea great good for the American people
For myself, never had the slightest thought
of attempting to start new political party
/ think that such a thought does not enter
the mind of any other delegate here present
| Tho issue was as grave as any that the Re
| publicans had ever had 10 meet in the past
| 1t resolved itself TO the question whether
: the saloon was TO dominate the politics of the
nation. 1--WE do not meet to dictate to the
! Republican party" said the spcakcr;"we are
i here SIMPLY for consultation. We meet to
encourage 1t to take hold of this question,
which it will surely have to do, and the
sooner the better" The speaker said he
would look at the question solely from pol
| itical standpoint and not from Il moral stand
point The saloon was in politics with its
assessments and money. Ii was an open ally
Of anarchy 1t to-day controls the politics
He touched on the Prohibtonists,and said it,
was his view that they could carry out their
purposes, in a better way, in following the
| lead of the Republican party If the Repub-
| lican party would declare for high license
and local option and recognize the right of
| the people TO vote on the question directly
when they wished to do SO, all lovers of tenn
pcrance should follow that lead "
At the afternoon session short
speeches were made by u number of
delegates on the general temperance
issue in the several States Mr.. Nc
Farland, of Vermont said his State
was faithful to the Republican party
and the delegates from that state were
sent by that party to obtain advice
/
for further movements of the republi-
cans of that state. lie would antagon-
ne no other element than the saloon
element, but unless the Republican
party could free this country of this
curse it SHOULD give way to some other
party that would consider the morals
of the country.
So you see it was distinctly repub-
lican organization. About 300 dele
gates were present representing near
ly all the Northern States, and were
u noble looking set of men, and the
G.. o. p. will do well to heed the warn
ing.
| shall leave Chicago tonight but
not to 90 directly home. Shall leave
the Grand Trunk Road at Flint,
Mich, go north to Bay City, then by
steamer up the lake. This is a new
route to me, and If l see anything
worth writing about will send you
another letter. Yours Truly,
S. d. HoBsoN.
Eucklen's Arnica SaIve.