Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-07-11

all. In the town of Randolph there were
more than q score of third party tickets
voted with the name of the third party
candidate erased, and that Of the demo.
cratic candidate inserted. Immediately
challenged the correctness of this state
ment but got no denial. On the contrary
was assured that the same thing was
done IN other parts of the state. Is 1t
any wonder that such incidents as this
should drive some men to the conclusion
that the third party is not first, last, and
all the time for prohibition?
THE THIRD PARTY PLATFORM TOO NARROW.
A In the third place, your temperance
platform Is too narrow for q national
party, or even sectional party. (Ap-
plause.) Your bed is shorter than u
man that may stretch himself on it, aud
the covering narrower than that he can
wrap himself in it," If the fearful
power of the saloon is to be broken, we
must begin at once and with whatsoever
means we can command. If state pro.
hibition is impossible for the present then
local option may be used. II local option
Is also out of reach, then such restrictive
measures as are possible should be ap-
piled. l have no sympathy with the
sentiment that cares not whether the sa.
looms in community be few or many.
Every saloon is a school of vice and
center of bad influences. The reason
which leads US to multiply public schools
should lead us to reduce public saloons.
(Applause.) But your platform, gentle
men. calls only for state or federal pro-
hibitiOn. You must wait everywhere
until the sentiment will support that, be-
fore YOU can apply any legal remedy.
Your influence as party is really against
all other methods. 1.-The Voice" your
national organ, tells us that the local CD
ton remedy is none of yours-that il is
utterly untrustworthy"-a last week.
in reply to criticism by the supporters
of high license. it said:
I'VE have no object to closing "a large por-
ton OF the grog"shops, and a law that did
ts s and that Only, we would not resist a
population, we would not resist. law re-
curing every applicant for license 10 pro-
cure bondsmen under the conditions imposed
internal revenue feature OF your law that we
object to. and a restrictive law without that
feature we can say Godspeed to, even though
we hays no idea IL would do much good"
would not "obtect" to these various measures
of restriction! These words proclaim indif-
ference, not hearty support. II is only toler-
hieition party gives to any legal method of
hgbttng the saloon, except state or federal
prohibition. And so, gentlemen. you propose
to to-. build great nationa! party on this narrow
without any intermediate steps! The same
sort Of wisdom would lead you, If you were
half mile from ditch you wanted 10 jump,
and then jump, but to Jump the half mile
and ditch, TOO, with such leap as the world
never saw-And never will see. (Applause)
Political parties are not built up in any such
way.
BUT REAL TEMPERANCE REFORM GOES on
In the fourth place tempe rance reform is
going on braveiy without your help. Your
and you have run full tickets In many of the
states for years. How many congressman
have you elected1 Not one. How many
the state legislatures? r find seven credited
to you in 1886 (appause), one of whom was
elected by democratic votes and two by re-
four states and three in Kentucky. 1t is
rather mcau. know, to taunt you with ques-
tions as to what these seven legislators have
done, but think the questions are pertinent:
on the statute books? Where are the brewer
les and distilleries, and saloons they have
closed? What have you to your credit? You
single brewery or distiilery, or saloon; aud
you cannot positively say that you ever will
be able to pass law or close saloon. Who
passed all the hygiene laws in the states and
In congress? Who passed all the local option
laws by which hundreds of counties. north
and south, have been freed from the saloon?
Who submitted the amendments in Oregon,
Not you, gentlemen Of the Prohibition party.
You, as party, have had no greater part in
all this glorious work than fly on the spoke
of a wheel has In moving carriage. APP
plause.)
Does temperance reform require the pro-
htbition party? Well, should say not.
Temperance reform requires legislation.
and cannot, therefore. provide legislation.
Temperance reform requires legislation
now. There is no prospect that the prohibit
ton party will ever DC In position to furnish
Temperance reform succeeds best on non.
partisan basis. The prohibition party insists
on a partisan basis.
and all weapons to fight the saloon. The pro.
hibition party discards all of these save one.
Temperance reform requires unity. The
prohibition party creates division.
Temperance reform proposes steady ad-
vance all along the line. The prohibition
party requires 1t to wait while the party he.
etns to commence to prepare to get ready.
No, temperance reform does not require
the prohibition party any more than wagon
going no hill requires a brake. 1t does not
require a distinct national party. The fight
must be in the states, aud when the states or
a majority of them are right, congress will be
right, and will give us all needful legislation.
reform. gentlemen, does not
need your party. but It needs you. have
not attacked you as individual members, but
your party as a party. Temperance reform
needs your earnestness, your courage, your
1t needs your energies, and the
energies of your magnificent leader, Gen.
Fisk. (Applause.) l do not plead for the Re-
publican party, or the democratic party. but
for temperance reform-practical common
sense temperance reform. do not say that
the continuance of the prohibition party Is a
crime; say it Is worse than a crime; 1t is a
blunder! loud applause.)