Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-29
The Cause of Temperance.

Friends of the temperance cause are called
upon 10 calmly and dispassionately consider
wherein the best interests OF that cause lie.
| There are differences of opinion as to the
best and most effective lines of work. There
is no question among those who have given
the subject careful attention but that the di-
vorce Of the Temperance movement from pol
| itics is necessary TO its success. The history
of the day proves this
All the agitation Of the third party Pro-
hibitionists for the past four years has not ad-
vanced the cause Of temperance in Ohio a
single step, while the steady, earnest work Of
such eminent temperance apostles as Francis
| Murphy, who believes in keeping temperance
out of politics, and the Jealous endeavors of
] the non partisan temperance workers of this
state have effected much for the cause And
to one who with intelligence and reason con-
siders the subject there cannot but be the
conviction that it is only by the united ef
forts of temperance men in all parties that
| the cause can be advanced
Temperance measures are from their very
nature peoples measures The temperance
| movement must, to win the friends and ad-
vocates necessary to its ultimate triumph, be
a movement of the people irrespective of
creed, party, race or nationality. 1t needs
all the friends it can get from all the parties
and all denominations. Ii cannot afford to
lose one man from its supporters, by antag-
onizing the political party or religious creed
| of any man who, but for such antagonism,
would be its friend.
There are in all parties men who believe in
temperance, and who would delight in the
prevalence of temperance ideas and the su-
premacy Of temperance principles The tenn
psrance movement needs the hearty support
and cooperation of all such to bs successful
Ii IS only by the union Of all such temperance
people, and their harmonious working in
unison that temperance work can be sus-
| tanned In non-partisan movement all such
can join. A non-partisan movement unites
| the friends of the cause from all parties.
1t is the natural result of dragging tenn
perance work into the party politics, of seek
ing To limit work in its behalf to one political
party, or getting political party to array
itself on the side of or against the temper
anre cause, 10 drive out of the ranks of tenn
perance workers many of the most effective
advocates, and by antagonizing their par
ties or political creeds To array against the
temperance cause many of those who are ia
sympathy with it. Our readers will bear us
out in the statement that whenever a great
moral question becomes party question it
naturally arrays against it those who are in
sympathy with it.
As we stated at the outset thers are differ
ences of opinion as to tho most effective
manner of bringing all citizsns into the sup
port Of temperance, but true friends of the
temperance cause agree in this, that the COM
plete divorce OF the movem.nt from politics
is necessary to its success and that any of its
mistaken advocates who are attempting to
mix it up with political parties are standing
as barrier between the cause they profess
10 espouse and its success To eliminate the
temperance question of aii political infiu-
euces and let it stand on its own merit-frse
from any political ba,-is tbs only judicious
way to deal with il.