River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-09-20
THE THREE PARTIES
why Temperance Men should Cast Their
Lot with the Republican Party.

why Temperance Men should Cast Their
Lot with the Republican Party
The following letter of inquiry by a
Prohibitionist and reply, published in
the Independent, seems to " so per-
tinent and conclusive that we repub-
lish it. and ask careful perusaI:
10 ne Efaor Or ne Iadep' nfent: You say:
at is every man 5 duty 20 ca It his vote" But
suppose one is undecided as 20 whom or what
party he shall vote fort Nou observe. az he
fails through indifference he is no patriot II
he fails through eowardice does not deserve
the franchise But what II he fails through
inability 10 decide which party 1t is his duty 10
vote for. Take my own case;
!. do not wish 20 throw my vote away by
vot ng for the third party, though am a radi-
cal Prohibitionist
:. / revolt against the Democratic party; 1t
Is confessediy 'Tum-soaked." / abominate its
traditions, ard utterly dislike its attitude on
the Temperance and CiTil-Service reform ques-
tons. Ian so much opposed to the Democratic
party that am unwilling to support it 10 the
extent OF casting half-vote for ii by voting
the Prohibition ticket.
g. have no respect for the present manage
ment OF the Republican party. The party
seems 10 have fallen utterly into The hands of
rum politicians. its attitude under ali the cir
cumstances on the Temperance issue merits
publicans, like myself, are deserving it on this
account. But you say, perhaps, Its eandi-
dates in this respect are better than its plat
form" am not 50 sure about that How is
II that General Harrison is so silent concern
ing the Temperance question: He has been
heard from concerning the tarih, but not a
word from him about temperance At some
time or other he is reported TO have said that
he was opposed to State prohibition. Who be-
leves that, were he TO be elected he would be
the man ever TO utter one ringing word in the
interest OF temperance or prohibitions
Then as TO the tariff issue, the more look
into Inc matter the more ] am persuaded that
there is but little, If any, real difference be-
tween the two parties on this subject, and that
their leaders, as has been significantly said by
another, are conducting sham battle
in regard TO il. They must have some
thing to talk about, and, withal, some
thing by which 70 divert popular atten-
ton from the temperance issue; and so this OF
the tariff, protection, etc, is conveniently
trumped up for the purpose. AS presented to-
day. II would appear that this tariff issue is
largely a fictitious one the whole question
narrowing itself down, practically, 70 strife
simply Of selfish and sectional interests Both
parties advocate protection. II is absurd 20
talk about ones being q free-trade party and
the other the party Of protection. The differ
ence between the two parties is not one of
principle or policy, but simply concerning de-
tails. and, as another has forclbly and truth
fully said; There is not one voter in ten thou
sand who does not feel himself utterly incom-
petent at present, TO vote on these details
with comprehensive intelligence"
Attempt then, 10 disguise the matter as we
may who shall say that the question does not
present itself with much pertinency and force:
How shall we intelligently decide for whom to
vote at the forthcoming Presidential election
consistent with entire sef-respectg certainly
60 ms, hf-ya asFs#B Tnr
together with thousands, feel strongly the
temptation to take to the woods" Can you
aid me, and enlightenng me enlighten the null
tltudes of othersy X. H. H.
TOWNSEND, MASS.
!. The first two points of our correspondents
letter need no reply. He is right and we may
regard il as settled that he can not vote either
the Democratic or third party ticket The
Democratic party is no place for a Temperance
man; and to vote with the third party IS not
oniy to throw ones vote away, as our CORE
spondent observes, but to assist the campaign
OF the 'rum-soaked' Democracy. No true
Temperance man can desire TO assist the Dem
ocratic party, either directly or indirectly
Our correspondent does not seem to under
stand his own position. He is so opposed to
the Democratic party that he not only will not
vote that ticket, but is afraid to vote the third
party ticket lest that should help the rum
soaked party to win The logical inference
is that in his own heart he desires the Repub-
lican party to win; and this night TO settle the
question for him.
?. With what our correspond ent says about
the attitude of the Republican party, we take
issue. He refers, OF course to the Chicago
platform. The Temperance plank may be far
from satisfactory, but it is equally far from
meriting contempt. 1t is the first utterance il
must be remembered, in any National platform
of the party in favor OF Temperance. II does
recognize sobriety as the first concern of good
government. That is something. And the fur
Their statement that the Republican party will
favor all "well-directed efforts for the promo
ton OF Temperance is of still greater signif-
icance. The plank is not a contemplate plank
by ant means, and he must be poor observer
who does not know that the attitude of the Re
publican party on tn question is far better
and stronger than that OF the platform com
mittee at Chicago. AS TO General Harrison,
his speech OF November last shows exactly
where he stands. If our correspondent is in
any doubt that the Republican candidate is a
sincere and earnest Temperance man, let him
read the Danville speech.
3. On the tariff question our correspondent is
entirely at sea. 1t is simply amazing that he
can have 'looked into the matter" as he says
he has, and yet hold that protection is not a
real issue, and that there Is little, if any, actual
d ference between the two parties. The differ
ence is as clear and distinct as is the differ
ence between tho tn I'd party and the Demo
cratic party on the subject of sumptuary laws.
The whole country recognizes the difference;
and the vote in November will show whether
the people will or will not approve the policy
the President and his party espouse, which, as
DR.. St0rrs, 10 whom our correspondent ap
peals, well says, seems logically TO intend
free trade its conclusion, whether or not
that conclusion is announced On this point
D.. Storrs has no doubt or perplexity Whatever.
81 can not, he says, ''vote for any party or any
candidate by whom tariff laws are regarded as
an inequitable scheme referring 20 the Presi-
dents message) permitting a tax to be laid
upon every commodity in the land for
the benefit OF manufacturers, and add
ing the amount OF the duty to the cost
of living in every home" IL is not a
question of detail at ALL but OF prime pie. And
why, pray, if the Democratic party Is as much
protect on party as the Republican, does il
have the earnest support Of the out-and-out
free traders What party was responsible for
the Morrison horizontal reduction bill, and
under whose auspices was the Mills bill, pro-
posing free wool, free salt free lumber and
free vegetables, prepared aud passed? The
tar II is a vital issue, and if our correspondent
cares for protect on ut all we warn m that he
can not afford to be an indifferent spectator in
this campaign.
TIE question, How to vote, seems to us a
very mple one n this campaign. Our CORE
spondent says he believes in temperance, and
can not. for that reason vote for the Demo
cratic party NOR does he want to throw his vote
away on the third party cand dates. The only
alternative left him, then, is 10 vote the Re
publican ticket or take to the woods" II
with the history OF Temperance legislation in
the Northern States, and full proof of
the sentiment and purpose of the Re
publican party before him, he can hesitate TO
support Harr son and Morton, we fear he is be-