The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-08-04
MR.. VIEWS
On The Prohibition Plank.

WAsHrSeroS. July 2s.-On the motion in
the senate last Saturday 10 lay ON the table
the Blair amendment prohibiting the pur-
chase. out Of funds appropriated by the Unit
cd States. OF any spirituous liquors 10 be used
al the deiicatory ceremonies of the Statue OF
Liberty EnIightening the World Senator
Cameron. of Pennsylvania, voted no. His
vote excited some comment. and in speaking
of the matter since to friends, one of them
mentioned the submission plank in the Re
publican platform of Pennsylvania, when
the Senator said
The issue i upon as and We must meet
il. There i a strong public sentiment that
way in the State in both parties lam not
talking Of the Prohibition vote, because that
l. a very small par1 of the vote in . great
state like Pennsylvania. ! refer TO the voters
who vote the Republican and Democratic
tickets. but Who think that some action
should be taken to give the people an oppor-
tunity to declare their position. Now. mind
me. l don't believe in amy ultra or high
handed proceedings. but a square proPosi-
TO. which the people clearly understand and
can ulteIligibly vote upon
When asked what he thought Of he pup
,.sition ola temperance amendment to the
Constitution, he replied
That l. the only way to bring the subject
fairly before the people legislation under
such a provision of the Constitution would
have the voice Of the people AT the back oft.
Legislation without such recognition l. most
ly political clap-trap TO win votes. We see
in the State persons posing for office ON a
Prohibition ticket whose recent conversion
and political antecsients ] should think
would not meet with very hearty support
from thai cause nor from the leaders who
have bocu ~zealously working il up for years.
! am satisfied that they viii do Prohibition
no good. There are men in the State who
have been consistent in their efforts. They
arr not doing il for Office, but in a philan-
thropic effort 20 benefit their fellaw creatures.
am not q straight-laoed Prohibitionist and
never psl:ended To be. | do not want TO
abridgc the rights Of anybody, but we've got
TINS thing 10 meet and I'm going to do all !
can TO meet it impartially.'
The senator then went on To say that the
liquor men at their convention in Pittsburg
showed their willingness 10 encourage any
fair movement toward the regulation of the
liquor traffic and the elevation of the bust
ness. Now we will see, he added. IF the
Prohibitionists viii be as liberal. ] say let
the extremes get together with the people
and they viii settle the matter quickly
enough, both morally and politically. The
question will come up with greater force in
the national campaign Of lssS. Pennsylya-
mia now has a chance to formulate that is
sue in a shape 50 that instead of adding to
the confusion of parties it will simplify the
issue.
Then he compared the Prohibition party
of to-day with the early A~bolitionist party.
which did more harm than good until all the
elements opposed To Southern slaveholding
Nominations united. When that was lone
the Democrats were sent to the rear. Tina
viii be the experience OF the Prohibition
party. | don't think anybody regrets the
results of the Success Of the e0alesced parties
Of 1860 and the achievements ofthe Republi-
can party since.'
He concluded by saying " think Pro
hibition doctrines and the practical methods
of carrying them out are yet in their crude
stage. 1t will doubtless succeed, but in a
very different shape from which we now un-
derstand it. The rights of both sides will
be respected.