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

uuruly. Wnen In newspaper OF Intgd-
zine article, or on the platform one dis
cusses prohibition, demand that he shall
deal with each phase on its merits, and by
the rules of eviden, in the case relating
TO that phase. These cannot discuss Of
course because they relate to political &C
ton.
Those who are prohlbitionists under the
definition given, are divided into two
classes, political and legislative, or parti-
san and non partisan.
This distinction may surprise some of
you. You may have conceived of them
as they have been spoken of several times
in my hearing in this city, rs Democrat
prohibitionists, Republican prohbitonists,
and prohibition prohibitionists.
will not here deny any man the right to
esteem himself prohibiiionlst but let this
be made emphatic-lfhe as simply one srbo
Is ready 10 take chatf prohibition Ais party
offers, he does not come under my defniti9a
If he puts his party first and his prohibition
neXt-he is excluded, l am not talking
dOOub MN at uil. II OI u SGOIt Ol OlHtI
reasons, good and sufficient to hlm. he
may prefer his party afliliation. But if he
comes under my definition in the last anal
sis, he acts with the party he acts with as
q Ptohi6iti0aiS. Why it is precisely as if
one were to come before the church com
mlttee of this church, and say, l want to
unite with church, want to be immersed.
but do not deny the validity of any mode
of baptism, believe in open communion,
and in Congregational church government.
Now he may add the more Methodist vim
you have the better am suited or the
more use made of liturgy the better l am
suited; but to me these named are most
important and seek this church from
that fact. What wOulds the committee
say? Well, they would probably all look
at me, and presumably would say some
thing to the effect, that if grace sustained
him ill The water got warm enough
would immerse him, and they would
say-"all right-al right" So I say.
if one is Il prohibitionist under the def
TO act with party, in the last analysis. as
q py0hi5iti0Hist Just so far as that qucs-
ton was involved he would carry his prin
ciple. Where it was not involved he
would act from other grounds say then
that the men who are first Of all and above
all prohibitionists are divided to-day into
two classes in the land, the political. and
legislative or partisan and ron n-partisan.
One, the political. or partisan prohibition
ist q do not intend any offensive sense in
that word partisan) constitutes what is
called the Prohibition party or third
party" The policy of this class is parti-
san, or by party action. They see in the
old parties, so-called. n hindrance to exc
cutting their purpose, and so their policy is
to build up party whose chief tenet shall
be the prohibition of the liquor traffic To
this end they have perfected designs for
the organization of the party-to the end
that so they may execute the principe,
The principle is prohibition. the policy is
a separate party. ] supposed some one
awhile since wanting me TO insert the word
directly" into my definition, and make it
read "a prohibitionist is one who believes
in the suppression by law of the traffic IN
strong drink, and who works as a citizen
directly to effect that end" But you can
now clearly see that in the nature of things
when body of men aim at the elevation
of party" they must leave much for the
future to develope True they expect 20
get more and better results in the longru
And l am not saying they will not-I am
not discussing prohibition, but prchibi-
tionists. Because to them it seems a more
iudicious method, because to them it seems
better policy TO build up separate party,
it must involve great deal OF indirect en-
deavor. To put the word directly" into
the definition would be to leave outside
as if not prohbitonists-th largest part
of the so.called prohibition party. That
would be unjust to them, and false to the
necessities for compromise which all party
action may involve But you may cry me-
halt You may say, "why use the word
COMPROMISED" 1t is odious-this is moral
ISSUE
1T is NOT MORAL ISSUE AT ALL.
When talk to you about the 'chy, that
is, deal with reasons for or against prohi.
bition, discuss moral issue. When l
talk about the ho,o-that is, how TO effect
the prohibition by law" it is q
political issue pure and simple And when
l talk prohibition party il is party
question pure and simple. A thousand
methods may be offered, which is the best?
that is wisest Now to that word Com
promise" 1t is odious we are told, it
savors OF party action and rings and eau
cuses, and crammed platforms, etc. Well,
let's see. / only want to help you listen
and read intelligently. If / was arguing
for the third party certainly should use