Morning journal and courier., 1886-03-04
PR0EzIRaTiON AND POLITICS.
Extract From an Address by Rev.
 James Nudge.

Extract From an Address by Rev.
 James Nudge.
 One other point. There are some here who will grant me that the liquor traffic is wrong that to license it is wrong, it ought to be put down and prohibited. But you ask how shall we best accomplish thiss Had we not best trust to the old parties, work in the old parties, try to influence and shape legislation through the old partiess I say no, that has been tried long enough and found futile. Why cannot we trust and use the old parties? I will tell you simply, because each of these parties has in it so large liquor element that it cannot be de- pended for any effective work in pro hibitory lines Dare either of the old par = ties drive out of their ranks this liquor ele- ment? Noa. Dare either of the old parties give mortaf offense to the liquor deal lers! No Dare they take any decided, unequiyo cal, straightforward stand either in their platforms or their candidates for either en- acting or enforcing prohibitory law? No, of course they do not. Every convention of eiGher party in every State of the Union as we'll as every national convention shows it be- yond question so that the blindest must see it. Why are they afraid to take such stands Simply because they know right well that if they do they will lose the cleo tion. They know the liquor element in their party must be placated or it will bolt the ticket and defeat them at the pulls. The Equor men mean business every time. They are in politics for 8 single object, to protect their profits and swell their gains. They say to the party managers, do as bid you or you will lose my vote. And the managers have found out that it will be so.
 But you say there is large temperance element in the old parties, quite large pro- hibition element. Yes there is; and what does this element say to the party managers? Why it says: do as 1 wish, or, or, or, will talk, and will pray, and I will threat en and I will bluster, and then--why then, lest the other party should get in, I will vote with you whatever you do. And the party manager says Ha, ha, ha, all right, so long as we are sure of the votes we do not care for the talking and praying. It is votes that count, so it is prudent for to do as the rumsellers command. Do you see the point? The ballot is the only argument that the pol itician respects. Votes are the only thing that make laws and give offices in this coun. try. When good men are as united and de- termined to overthrow the saloon the rum sellers are to defend ssthe saloon the saloon will go. When good men are as remorseless, and energetic and persistent ill this matter as the bad men are, something will be done, not before Just as long as so many good men let themselves be cajoled, and wheedled and bamboozled, and driven into line with the saloon by the party whip, so long will bad men carry the day. We say it is time for good men to come into politics with but single aim, as the liquor men do, and drop ping other issues, minor issues, worn-out is- sues, to unite at the polls against this gigan- tic foe of the church, the home and the nation. Hence the prohibition party. The friends of prohibition cannot combine inside either of the old parties for they belong to both; they are still found within the ranks of both fighting against each other and neu- tralizing each others endeavors The only way they can effectively get together is to come out of these rum-ruled organizations and unite in new, vigorous, independent or ganization that stands out clear from all complicity with this tremendous evil and is l pledged to fight it to the death. Both the