The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-04-23
,ut Of statescraft.

we must analyze all the facts and fig
ures not as moralists or prophets, but
as political economists and Statement.
In Great Britain today we see the
terrible, the grandly terrible conflict
going on as to the question of"lIome
Rule for Ireland" and as the most
mavelous act of the life of the most
marvellous man of the day, Mr.. Glad
stone, a man who has been seen on
his knees beside poor penitent
pointing him TO Christ, is using
his accumulated energy to push the
measure through Parliament. What
hath wrought such mighty change
relative to Ireland at the Capital Ct
Great Britain A young man, an
Irishman, protestant, leads the few
Irish voters, and he says to
them: be Liberals in your
vote here, be Tories in your vote
there, be in favor of home rule for
Ireland ever. And he says the
same to his friends In Parliament, and
the results astonish the world. He
becomes the maker or DESTROYER Of
governments until in a time SO short
that we wonder even this fast age-we
see the throngs about Westminster,
and the civilized world lists for the
verdict, knowing that if lost now it
must come soon, and they all say
that to the astute craftsmanship Of
Mr.. Parnell this result must be &C
credited.
Now | give as my undoubted belief
that if that man had left Oxford de-
termined to mix the moral principles
of home rule for Ireland, with the
political question GLOW best manage
politics to get it," he might have
cried no alliance, no compromise,
and he could have knocked at the DIOR
of Parliament till the crack of doom
and got no affirmative answer or
friendly look. How far this is anal
gous to the question of the hour in
America, l am not saying. aim to
show that there are two distinct and
separate views among prohibitionists
on this matter of how best to reach
the result purposed. One partisan,
the other non-partisan, and of these
methods prohibitionists must choose.
There is another distinction be-
tween the political and the legislative
prohibitionist. 1t relates to the EN-
forcement of law. Judge Pitman lays
it down as one of the reasons for a
separate party that the party prohi-
bitionists will give no aid or counte-
nance to the enforcement of such laws
as may exist as tax or license laws.
And he has very strong following in
his party. On the other hand the
legislative prohibtionists lay it down
that present laws must be obeyed ard
enforced, because of respect for law
as law, and because the enforcement
of law is not question of party at
all, but question of government
that is the people. Then no matter
how soon it may come or what party
may be in power, the love for law
may make prohibition success.
At greater length than | intended,
| have dealt with this theme. If any
one says the arguments for either side
have been strong or weak, | reply, |
have offered no argument on which ]
would let the matter rest. | have not
been taking sides, though | do take
sides because | must. But beneath
that | have in mind another purpose,
the confusion of til, why and how OF
prohibition is doing harm. The fail
ure to see just what each class of pro-
hibtionists purpose, is doing harm
And all that tends to embitter pro-
hibtionists OF one class against those
Of another is doing harm. If you
confuse the why and how of prohibi.
ton, then you will confuse prohibi
tionists who are partisans, with III ose
who ere not; then what,YoU GAG EVERY
PULPIT WHICH WILL NOT BE PARTISAN
BUT WHICH WOULD ADVOCATE PRoHI-
BITIoN.
While | minister in it, this pulpit
shall be as closed TO the discussion o.
party questions as are the Gates o.
New jerusalem. Prohibition as &
political devise shall not be argued
here while / control the pulpit. But
this pulpit shall be as wide open tc
the discussion of prohibition WHY, a:
are the Gates Of Heaven to the re
deemed. Now unless you separate
the questions and clearly distinguish
between the moral issue of prohibition
as PRINCIPLE, which is prohibition
why? And the POLITICAL ISSUE
which is prohibition how? TO YOU
mind this must become a politica
pulpit, or be sienced on the question
And then unless you distinguish be-
tween the partisan and the non.parti
san prohibitionist, to make this pro
hibition pulpit is only to make it ;
party pulpit as you will see it. Tha
failure to justly discriminate in man
ner, l have shown, has practically