The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-09-14
Friday, Sept. Ia, 1883.
"a Tender to the Democratic
Party

bition party by jealous Republicans in this
State and further north. In the Southern
States, they (the Democrats} give the same
party the title of the Republican annex"
AS this SO called ''annex" and slender" is
making an unusual stir in politics the
status of the l.arty should be defined for the
benefit ofthe public.
Let US see. The Democrat party, it has
been settled by Republicans who are repre-
sentative in their party, to their satisfaction
at least, is ''whiskey soaked party" 1t is
admitted by all of all parties that the Pro-
hibition party is thorough temperance
party. The question arises why such
'scold water" organization should shape all
its energies to assist the party SO opposed to
lis fundamental principles. This is so hard
to answer, apparently, that none of its ac-
cusers have eyer been known to attempt an
answer.
But another remarkable ambiguity about
fixing status for this third party is that
the Democratic party South style it the
Republican annex" What can such a
party have in view if both of these charges
or either of them be true? 1t does not seem
reasonable that such party's aim should
be to keep "whiskey soaked" party in
power; nor that its sole object is to put the
Democratic party in power in the North
and the Republican in the South!
Those interested, jealous partisans who
attempt to explain the object in view by the
Prohibition party are evidently mistaken,
because these motives are al! contradictory.
Perhaps more plausible solution may be
reached if we inquire what manner of peo-
pie this third party is composed of. They
are conceded by all to be strictly temper
ance class of folks. 1t is also claimed and
not denied, that their members are drawn
from the most intelligent, moral and relig-
lous portion of the community. Such a
class of people are most likelyto under.
stand pretty clearly what their purpose is
and the object for which they are organized.
They are not likely to be overreached and
deceived by politicians, and the character
of the leading men in the party forbids
suspicion that their actions are influenced
by mercenary motives. But what do they,
the Prohibitionists, claim is their object In
organizing distinct national party? They
charge, and prove their charges by statis-
tics and documentary evidence which the
old parties fail to refute, that the saloon
power controls both the old parties to the
extent of defeating in large measure, all
the laws that haye been enacted to restrain
or abolish its power and work ofdevastation.
The saloon power defeats the enforcement
Of prohibition laws in the larger cities in all
the states whose constitutions declare the
traffic illegal, by throwing its vote to the
candidates who will pledge, and fulfil the
pledge, Of not enforcing the laws against
violations. In the single city of Bangor,
Maine, $40 internal revenue licences are
taken out by saloon keepers, and Boston
wholesale liquor men ship thousands of
gallons of liquors into Maine every week.
And this is true all over the country, not
because prohibition laws cannot be enforced,
or that public sentiment does not sustain
them, but simply because the organization
of both old parties is in the hands of pol
iticians who sell out to the saloon power for
its vote. The old parties donot acknowledge
to be temperance parties in the sense that
sustains prohibition as one of their platform
planks, but pr )fess to be in fovor of morality
and temperance. which sentiment the
liquor associations all endorse in their pub
lished resolutions, and is only glitering
generality meaning nothing.
The voters who compose the Prohibition
party despairing of ever being able to have
Temperance laws properly enforced by Of
fsers elected by the old parties, determined
to found party which would stand behind
their officers and compel them as we'll as
sustain them in enforcing prohibatory laws.
Their object is not to assist any party that
favors the liquor interest, but to defeat any
and every party which stands between them
and their enemy, the saloon.
As the Republican party is making pro-
lection its leading and paramount principle,
SO the Prohibition party make the destruc-
ton of the liquor traffic its leading issue,
and all other questions secondary to that
one. Its principles are as we'll defined, as
broad and national as either of the old par
ties can show, 1t is fighting in its own be-
half and not in the interest of either of the
old parties, and it has served notice on them
that il means to keep ringing these damag-
Aing facts into the hearts and consciences of
ihe best men of both parties, till the power
is gained which will enable it TO overthrow
the liquor evil in all the land. This is the
status, the complexion and the purpose for