The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1886-06-30
SIT. JOHN IN CHARLES
TON.
Kanawha County Heard From.

lk6hu w AAss OOeAeJ AASA~ - - van
The Prohibitiomists Want an Open
Field and a Fair Fight
EDITOR FREEMAN
In the address by John P. St.
John on the 18th inst, our people
enioyed rich treat, the like
whereof may not again be our good
fortune for long time to come.
An appreciative audience of
some two thousand persons greeted
him at the Rink-and were enter
tanned for about two hours in one
of the grandest speeches ever made
before Charleston audience.
Our fondest expectations were
more than realized. Words are
inadequate to convey a just esti-
mate of the man-his subject as
presented, and the effect upon the
minds of those addressed. His
presence with US at this time was
opportune. Now that the political
cauldron begins to bubble-we of
the Prohibition faith believe that
our cause has received a new
impetus; that the skies of our
Prohibition future in the Kanawha
Valley and West Virginia are
frightening unto perfect day of
grand and glorious triumph for
Prohibition-for God, our Homes
and Native Land.
We feel assured that having
God and right upon our side,
though for a while we may be
thwarted-yet we need not be dis
couraged, for ours will be the
victory over the common enemy of
humanity, the Rum Power and its
adjuncts, whether in either or both
Of the old parties.
My object mainly, in writing
you and through you addressing
the Prohibitionists of West Vir-
ginia, was suggested by a communi-
cation of recent date in The FREE
MAN from our estimable friend and
brother in the cause, J. w. Clay
pool Of Mercer county, in reference
to q candidate for Congress from
the Third District.
To his suggestion 1 say for my
self and many others in the dis.
trict, Ameni And let it be
accordingly so DONE" By all
means let US materialize our forces
for a fight on Congressional ground
and issues.
To the sometimes expressed
objections of mot the time just
yet" I answer, now is the accepted
time, if ever. Let US know who
our true friends are; let us prove
our sincerity by our action. If to
be honest and independent be
treason, in the opinion of the old
parties, let them make the most of
it.
In the Third District, there
exists to-day a very formidable
Prohibition element-numerically
stronger than our opponents are
aware of; the outgrowth of those
principles and purposes enunciated
at and by the Grafton Convention
in June last.
An element, ready to dare,
anxious to prove their faith by
their ballots, who unappalled by
the menaces of old parties, dare to
assert their manhood as champions
of Prohibition and the new party ;
who are not afraid to beard the
whisky lion in his den under guard
and protection of the old parties.
We are willing that the old par
ties may antagonize each other
over dead issues for Office and for
greed-but we are determined, at
the risk of their good opinions, to
fight for living issues-the new
issue, to which both of the old par
ties are strangers, from the nature
of things, and inimical from their
subserviency to the saloon power
and the whisky traffic generally.
Of the old parties we have
nothing to expect, nothing to ask.
Our confidence in them is forfeited
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