St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-08-12
LETTER FROM w. L. PEARL.
Mr.. Pearl Declines the position of dele
gate to the Republican Anti-SalooI
Convention.

MIR. Pearl Declines the position of dele
gate to the Republican Anti-saloon
Convention.
1t will be remembered that w. l..
Pearl of st. Johnsbury was selected by
the republican state committee to at
tend the Chicago anti-saloon conven-
ton next month. Since Mr.. PEARLS
nomination as candidate for lieuten-
ant governor on the prohibitory ticket,
he has thought it advisable to decline
serving as a delegate and gives his
reasons in the following letter:
Chairman Rep. State committee
Dear Sir: Since my letter to you ac-
cepting the position of delegate to the
republican anti saloon conference,
which is to meet in Chicago, Sept. Is,
1886, certain things have transpired
which lead me to withdraw from the
delegation. My reasons for accepting
the position We're:
/. believe constitutional prohibit
ton, vitalized by statute law and en-
forced by officers elected by national
party, one of whose primary principles
is prohibition, to be the only sensible
method of dealing with the liquor
trade.
2. The local republican party in
Vermont had declared in favor of pro-
hibition, and the first call for the anti
saloon convention declared its purpose
to be to pledge the national republican
party to the policy of annihilating the
liquor traffic of the United States.
Two years ago | became Disguised
with the policy of the party in declar-
ing for prohibition in Vermont, while
openly bidding for the liquor vote in
the nation. The recent action of your
state convention and the anti-salOOn
call seemed to promise cessation of
this dOuble-de on the temperance
question. If the policy of the repub-
lican party was to be prohibition, all
my old associations politically would
lead me to support it; but l am salts
fed that nothing will come of the pres
ent movement, and cannot afford to
waste time and money in attending the
Chicago conference.
| have reached these conclusions O
because the republican party since it's
convention in this state has done moth
ing to enforce the prOhibitory law.
The official machinery of the state is
in the hands of republicans. The par
ty declares in favor of prohibition, and
vet with the violation of the law open
and notorious, sustains and cOnters
honors on officers who seemingly wink
at the illegal sale of liquor. (2) The
recent call for the anti-salOOn confer
ence makes it evident that it is called
to save the republican party at the ex-
pense of prohibition. 1t is nov declar-
ed by the Originators of the movement
that no specific measures are to be
adopted. The conference is not to de-
clare prohibition, and is not to ask the
party to declare for it. If the national
convention of the party refuses to de-
clare against the liquor traffic, this
conference is to propose no remedy.
The proposition is to dodge the ques-
ton by leaving each state to do what
the good of the party (nOt the temper
ance cause) in that state demands.
This is exactly what they do now, and
is the policy that is killing the party.
(3) The call for the anti-salOon confer
ence was originated in Kansas, yet the
republican party of that state refuses
to indorse the call and the prominent
leaders of the party will not be at the
conference, and will not indOrse it if it
declares for prohibition.
Believing that the time has fully ar
rived for immediate action to totally
destroy the liquor traffic, can but re-
gard any attempt to postpone such re-
suit by halfway measures as treason
to humanity and civilization. The
people of this country have tried half
way measures, and such measures have
utterly failed to prevent or to any eX-
tent reduce the evils growing out of
the liquor traffic. Generalities, quib-
bles and evasiOns will not check or
disrupt the prohibition party. An open
declaration for constitutional prohibit
ton fully enforced is the only thing
that can save the life of the republican
party. This action is not to be taken,
and | must decline to take part in
conference whose only purpose is to
disrupt the organized prOhibitionists,
not to benefit the cause, but to save
dying political party.