Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-23
LISTEN TO REASON.

An Open Letter Addressed to Practical
Temperance Men by Albert Griffin.
Chairman of the Anti-Saioon Republican
National Committee.
Every body knows that either the
Republican Or Democratic nominees
will be elected, and that therefore votes
cast for other candidates can not posi-
bly, affect the approaching election. 1t
Is. of course, true that the man who
votes for Clinton Fisk or Belva Lock
wood stands up to be counted, but it is
equally true that, in the vital matter of
deciding who is to rule over US, he
counts as mere cipher in column Of
ciphers. His actions say: II have no
interest in the result of this struggle.
Between Harrison and Cleveland l
have no choice, and am entirely will
ing that the worst one shall succeed.
L am aware it is possible | might pre-
vent this, but I utterly refuse to make
the slightest effort in that direction.
And no fairly well informed and
honest supporter of Fisk or Lockwood
will pretend that this refusal is based
on belief that there is from temper
ance standpoint no difference between
the two tickets for General Harrison
is an active Christian and lifelong
total abstainer, and an outspoken OPP
ponent of the liquor power, whose
nomination was opposed On the ground
that it would insure the hostility of
the entire saloon fraternity, while MIR.
Cleveland is-''Grover Cleveland"
Moreover, General Harrison is the
nominee of a party that has always
contained within its ranks large ma
jority of the temperance men of the
country, and has been growing in
'creasingly hostile to the saloon
every year, until now, after
'defying the liquor league, by
heading its ticket with a pronounced
temperance man, and choosing for Sec
ond place one who more than year
ago publicly announced L heartily
sympathize" with the anti-saloon Re-
publican movement, and has, IN its
National platform committed itself I'M
reservedly in favor of "GH wise and
well directed efforts for the promotion
of temperance" while Mr.. Cleveland
is the nominee of party that has for
a generation been dominated by and
grows constantly more subservient to
the liquor power.
The character, convictions and
SympathieS of the one hundred thou
sand Federal officers and employees, and
the influence they exert upon living po-
litical issues are largely affected by
and dependent upon 1.-THE Administra-
tion," and this is especially the case
whom the President and his party are
in substantial accord. There can,
therefore, be no doubt that, under ex-
listing circumstances, the election of
such man as General Harrison would
be followed by decided Improvement
in the general attitude and tone of this
large and very influential class of men
upon the saloon question. Again, if
the Republican party finds that doing
right does not bring defeat" it will at
once become more aggressive in its
warfare against the saloon. But if, on
the contrary, the Democratic party
wins, because professed friends of tenn
perance labored increasingly to dimin-
ish General Harrison's vote, instead of
increasing it, then the saloon power
will b, strengthened and emboldened,
and its enemies will be corresponding
ly weakened, discouraged and embit-
tered against each other. For it must
not be forgotten that the supporters of
Mr.. Fisk and Mrs. Lockwood are not
content with merely putting their own
votes in cipher columns, but strive to
induce others to do the same thing
and, knowingly and Intentionally, work
mainly among Republicans.
The foregoing propositions are so
undeniably true that all halfway SEN
sible and honest third-party men |
know admit that, if the Republican
and Democratic parties are to continue
in existence. the cause of temperance
will be promoted by Republican sue
cess, but they believe-or think they
belieye-that the Republican party is
such puny or decrepit thing that it
can easily be annihilated, and that the
quickest way to destroy the saloon is
TO protect it until the Republican par
ty shall have been destroyed, and
new one resurrected from its grave. 1t
is the old. old story of men so
hypnotized by party zeal that they are
oblivious to every thing except what
blinded or designing leaders authorize,
or of the discouraged traveller who
leaves the beaten highway to follow a
will-o'-the-wisp he thinks is leading
him to shelter close at hand. but sud-
denly finds himself plunged into an
inpassabIe morass-
To hear these zealots talk in their
cP-s kir-and-5ump fashion one would
III 151< the viplng CIT Of existence
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