The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1886-08-18
Correspondence.
THEY CANNOT DO 1T.
NHIO'S GRAND CONVENTION.
Letter from, Mr.. John Danner, Can.
ton, Ohio.
Ed. FREEMAN

=
cans, throughout the country, who
desire to see the liquor traffic abol-
ighed, have been indu!ging the
hope that by some means their
chosen party would take up this
great national issue. All such hope
Is delusion; history is all against
such an expectation. Never, in
the history of political parties in
this country, has new national is
sue been brought forth by the
wants of the people, which has
been taken up by an old party, if
the former annunciations of said
party were in conflict with said is
sue. New parties had to be formed
to carry forward the issues that
conficted with old parties. Thus
it is in regard to the Democratic
and Republican parties to-day, con-
corning the question of Prohibition.
For years the Democratic national
platform has pronounced against
"sumptuary laws" which they
interpret as against Prohibition.
The Republican party, in its ma
tional capacity, has enacted and
upheld the greatest system of eli
censing liquor selling" ever under
taken by any party, and they are
committed to such system. Both
parties have used and courted the
saloons for votes, and their very ex-
istence now depends upon retain
ing their support. Such being the
history of both these great parties,
in their national organization,
there can be no kind of hope of
their ever coming out in favor of
Prohibition. New issues may be
taken up by old parties, where
there is nothing in said issues that
conflicts with their former history
as parties; but never where there
is conflict or change, as there
would be if the Democratic or Re-
publican party were to pronounce
for Prohibition. Therefore, we
take the position that this great
question cannot be disposed Of by
either Of the old parties. In GER
tain localities the Democrats may
be favorable to Prohibition. So it
is with the Republicans, but as
national parties both are commit
ted against it. So it was on the
free-soil question. In certain local
tiles, the Democrats were favorable
to free-soil, and in others the Wings
were favorable, but as National or
CARNATIONS, both were pro-slavery,
and new party had to be formed
to carry forward the issue, which
took its supporters from both the
old parties. The Democrats, then,
as now, were in power, and the
Wings could not put them out;
but the third, or new Republican
party did. fully believe
that the national reins of
power will not be taken from the
Democrats now until it is done by
the third or National Prohibition
Party. The new Republican par
ty inscribed upon their banner,
plain and Enthusiastically, for FREE
SOIL; and they did not have to
wait long until they got into pow
er, because their cause was just.
They made a record that will go
down to coming generations, and
the slavery question is forever set
tied and out OF politics. So it will
be on this great question of State
and National Prohibition; the old
parties cannot do it; and history
will repeat itself by the masses of
the best men of the two old license
liquor parties leaving said parties
and rallying under the banner Of
the National Prohibition Par
ty, which will 60 on to COM
plete victory, and settle this ques-
ton forever in this country,
taking this question out of
politics for coming generations,
who will arise and call US blessed.
Come, good and true men, out of
the old parties, and show your
selves to be patriots on the great
question of the day, and let US
stand shoulder to shoulder for the
right, and the protection of our
homes from the destruction of the