The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-09-16

EDITOR OF The TRUE NoRTHERNER:-Whi
you acknowledge in your last weeks paper
that legal prohibition is the remedy for the
liquor traffic, you take issue with the method
/ advocated in my lecture on Sunday even
| ing, September 9th. In the same issue OF
the NoRTHERNER is TO be found an article on
Legal Prohibition, in which you labor un-
der some difficulty to show your readers that
the plain, practical, obvious method to secure
this desired legal prohibition is through one
of the already existing parties. But ask
which one? Of course the NoRTHERNER will
present the republican party as the medium
through which we are to get Legislature
that will prohibit the manufacture and sale OF
intoxicating liquors as beverage. Are there
any reasons for believing that such legisla-
ton could be secured through the republican
party? Is the republican party, as party
in favor of prohibitory measures in dealing
with the rum traffic? What are some of the
facts connected with its past history?
At the opening of the republican national
convention at Chicago in 1884, which nomi-
mated Mr.. Blaine, Ex-Congressman DOMAIN
of Iowa, a temperance republican, requested
to read a brief memorial. Suspecting Its ma
ture, the convention would not hear it;
several times afterwards he begged for a
gan, and Lamb of Iowa, appealed for courte-
sy, and DOMAINS paper was read. 1t proved
to be request from the national w. G. L. L..
for the insertion of prohibitory plank in
the republican platform. The convention
Uttered; motion to adjourn was carried
and that was the last of it.
Richard Smith, noted republican, in
writing for the Cincinatti Commercial Ga
zette, says: "Do you think that a republican
legislature would submit a prohibition
amendment to the people? No, sir, the re-
publican party is done with the temperance
question"
The Chicago Tribune says: prohibition
must be prohibited in the republican party
Republican platforms condemn and de-
nounce as measure essentially unrepublican
and despotic, the adoption of constitutional
amendments prohibiting the manufacture
and sale of fermented and distilled beverages;'
they also call upon the state legislatures Ito
resist and oppose every effort to submit to a
vote of the people any constitutional amend
ments like those lately adopted in Kansas
and Iowa."
The history of the republican party in
Michigan is one of downward step,
resulting in tax trucking and saloon subserv-
iency. When the party took control of
offairs in 1854 it properly adopted prohib-
tory law: and while the party saver may
boast of this fact. it should be remembered
that the prohibitory law was in no sense an
original measure nor the outgrowth of re-
publican ascendency. In substance the same
law had been adopted by the democratic
party. During the time the prohibitory law
continued, it was admitted to be success in
at least three-fourths of the state. But the
party finally yielded to the rum power and
repealed the prohibitory statute by law APP
proved May Sd, 1875. At the same time was
passed what is known as our statute for the
taxation of the business of manufacturing
and selling intoxicating liquors.
Many promises have been made by the
republican party to resubmit the constitution
to the people for amendment. Such prom
Use was made four years ago and q similar
pledge two years ago, but in each instance
they neglected to give what they promised
From the proceedings at the recent con-
vention at Grand Rapids, we are justified in
in believing that the party, 80 far as the
liquor traffic is concerned, is following the
same course which it has maintained in the
past.
Now, the good people of our country are
becoming sick and disguised with this kind
OF WOrk. lie cOnOltlOL OF tulngS makes III
absolutely necessary that new party shall
take the matter in hand. Such party has
already been organized. Its agencies and
appliances are now at work most efficiently
The much talk about the prohibition party
being failure, and "the st. Johns, the Ores
seys, the Dickies end other like impractical
bles" is only the dying wall of the old
parties. 1t comes from opponents who have
no better argument. The signs of the times
portend the dawn of a better day. Victory
is perched upon the prohibition banner. Let
us arise and 90 hence. w. j. RUSSELL.
We regret very much that the foregoing
communication, emanating from the source
il does. should contain so many misleading
statements, but we have long since abandoned
the hope of seeing anything like q fair
recital of facts from political prohibitionist
Mr.. Russell is no exception TO the rule. and
evidently takes Cressey's Center for his
political guide, n sheet that can compress
more untruth into given space than any
other newspaper in Michigan. AS a man and
as minister of the gospel, we entertain the
highest respect for our correspondent but
as a politician-well-we are willing to con.
c de his good intentions, seeing that he is
young in the business.