The Republican journal., 1886-05-20
A Letter from Prof. F. W. Gowen.

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: 1 no.
ticed that in last weeks Journal ''Temper-
ance Republican, of Clinton village i'll Kenne-
bee Co., had word to say about myself and
the cause of Prohibition. l remember lectur-
ing upon temperance in Centennial hall Clinton
one cold, bitter night last winter and the
thought came to me as | stood on that plat
form, if we wish to keep the people thinking
about this great question we will have to con-
tinue hammering away at it, That is the way
Grant took Vicksburg, and that is the way
every great victory that shines bright upon the
pages of history has been achieved. "No great
question:" said that silver tongued orator Wen
dell Phillips, "can ever be settled until settled
right SO with this great question of Prohi
bition, it can never be settled until settled
right. I will say to ''Temperance Republican,"
that do not mean to blindy follow any prin-
ciple if l can help it. If something better
than prohibitory laws with prohibition party
to enforce them shall be found to rid this coun-
try from the liquor traffic, whose annual con-
tribution per capita is S11, while that of reig
ion is only Sill and that of education $2.02. |
would gladly ACCEPT it. But as I look at this
question Il man who wishes to be true to the
principles of prohibition must enlist in this
great war and march upon the battle fields
under flag that will say d0tcn with any man
or political party that in any way upholds the
rum traffic. which is the gigantic crime of
crimes. As | said in my open letter to the See
retarv of the prohibition party of Maine, n. f.
Woodbury., the Republican party has done
noble work for the cause of temperance in
Maine. All honor 10 that party, whose past
pnrI iS ttn ti,l.a fh1tf fn11
from the heavens for what it has done for the
cause of prohibition. The words of Lincoln,
Greeley, Sumner and FesSenten can never die.
am aware that the Journal does not feel as
do in regard to how this question of prohbi-
tion should be settled. ] am aware that many
leading men in Waldo County are on your side
and against the position | may take, and may |
be pardoned when ask why has the Repub-
can party. if they wish to settle this question
on non-partisan basis, refused to submit Con-
StltutlOna Amendments to the vote of the peO-
pie in sixteen Republican Legislatures in this
country? The future political party of this
country must say and do one of the two things.
1t must either license the sale of liquor or it
must prohibit it. Which Shall it be: Shall we
license Il traffic that commits crimes and theft
and has a dcsi ign to crush out the small dealers
and leave the field to the large and wealthy
dealers! | have always said if it is right to sell
liquor let the poor man sell as well as the rich.
On the other hand, what shall we say of Pro-
llbltlon! we say that TINS liquor tralc Will
never be stopped until Constitutional Prohib-
tory Amendment is Incorporated in every state
constitution i'll this Union and in the con>ttu-
ton of the United States. GOD hasten that
day. Prohibition says to this traffic simply
and plainly, as it says to murder, theft, rape
and obscenity: SIN the name of the public good
so far as it lies in my power to determine, thou
shalt not be-"
How many times | have heard people who
know nothing about prohbtory laws say,
''Prohibition never has amounted to anything
and it never will" Prohibition has been tried
and has won IA large degree of success. Let us
look at the official figures they appear in the
Revenue Report for the year ending April 30,
1881 and see whether prohibition has amount
ed to anything or not.