The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1886-05-05
The Republican Party Is Com.
mitted.
Liquor StrOngholds an Republican
States,

In representing the attitude of
the Republican and Democratic
parties toward Prohibition, it is
common to hear the statement that
the former is neither for nor
against Prohibition. This position
is untenable. The cause of Prohibit
ton was presented at the Chicago
Republican Convention, and reject
ed by that convention. And the
platform adopted by that conven-
ton is against Prohibition. AS
proof of this statement, let that
platform be subjected to analysis
as to this point. 1t says, eve re-
affirm the doctrines of the Republi-
can party as declared by its plat
forms Of the last twenty years"
Thus making any one of those plat
forms its present doctrine. But tn, :.
10Th resolution of the platform of
1872, is as follows: THE Repu oil
can party proposes to respect the
rights reserved by the peop lie to
themselves as carefully es the
powers delegated by them to the
State and to the Federal Govern
ment. 1t disapproves IF resort
to unconstitutional la US for the
purpose of removing evils by the
interference with rif Ihts, not sur
rendered by the pc ople, to either
State or National governments, :"
The simple mea' ning Of this is q
sovereignty Of the sdloon with which
the party will 'lot interfere. The
"sumptusrY legislation referred to
by the Democrats is not clearer
than the above. Lest we may be
| biased in our Interpretation, let
the author of this resolution make
! his own Interpretation. Soon after
the appearance of the platform of
1879, Mr.. M. J. Miller wrote the
editor of Stats Zeitung, Chicago, TO
= get his views of the resolution and
received the following reply:
! "ln reply to yours of July Sth, |
bave to say that I wrote the 10Th
. resolution of the Philadelphia plat
form and that it was adopted by
t the platform committee with the
full and explicit understanding
that the purpose was to discoun-
tenance all so-called Temperance
(prohibitory) and Sunday laws.
This purpose was meant to be ex-
| pressed by reference to the rights
of the people which had not been
: delegated to their National or State
l government; it being assumed that
2 the right to drink what one pleases
) (being responsible for all acts COM
: mitted under the influence of
: strong drink and the right to look
: upon the day on which Christians
have their prayer meetings as any
other day, even among the rights
: not delegated by the people, but
7 reserved to themselves"
And not only is this part of the
Republican platform, but it has
: been carried into effect by the
party, in spirit and in some
instances to the letter, ever
} since. In nearly all the States
both the old parties have steadily
refused the people an opportunity
to vote on Prohibition, And in
Illinois, the Legislature (Republi-
can by large majority of 1885,
granted the use of the legislative
halls for a Convention of engineers
on Sunday; but declined opening
their doors on Monday evening for
Prohibition meeting. That is
: Mr.. Raster's resolution in practice
to ignore Sunday and Temper
ance, But the Republican party
received that resolution at the
hands Of Mr.. Raster in 1872 and
endorsed it again in 1884 at Chi
cago. Why then do we say the
party is not committed On the
very best authority the law is
stated, He that is not for IS against
And the party that is not for
Prohibition is against it.
But, is there a reasonable hope
that the Republican party will
change its attitude toward Prohi-
bition? The great strength of the
liquor traffic is in the Northern
States, and this fact alone is sufi-
Gent evidence that the party could