Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-27
READ THIS CAREFULLY.
why Temperance Men should Cast Their
Lot with tie Republican Party.

Jne I!2nepe10e71L, seems 10 US SO per-
tinent and conclusive that we repub-
hsh it. and ask careful perusal:
10 the EidOr Of the Iadepen tent: You say:
at IS every mans duty TO cast his vote" But
suppose one is undecided as to whom or what
party he shall vote for: You observe: IF he
fails through Indifference he is no patriot II
he fails through ccwardice he does not deserve
the franchise E1t that If he fails through
inability TO decide which party II is his duty to
vote for: Take my own case:
]. do not wish 10 throw my vote away by
voting for the third party, though am radi-
"a Prohibitionist
q revolt against the Democratic party: IT
is confessedly 'rum-soaksd" 1 abominate its
traditions, and utterly dislike its attitude on
the Temperance and Ciyil-Service reform ques-
tons. an so much opposed to the Democratic
party that am unwilling to support 1t to the
extent of casting half-vote for il by voting
the Prohibition ticket
g. have no respect for the present manage
ment OF the Republican party. The party
seems TO have fallen utterly into the hands OF
rum politicians. Its attitude under all the cir
cumstances on the Temperance issue merits
only contempt; and multitudes of lifelong Re-
publicans, like myself, are deserving 1t on this
account But you say perhaps, Its candi-
dates in this respect are better than its plat
form" am not so sure about that How Is
it that General Harrison is so silent concern
ing the Temperance question: He has been
heard from concerning the tarif, but not
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-
lieves that, were he to be elected, he would be
the man ever TO utter one ringing word in the
interest of temperance or prohibition.
Then as TO the tariff issue, the more look
into the matter the more am persuaded that
ls@4T. al ~ Tara ha-
tween the two parties on this subject, and that
their leaders, as has been significantly said by
another, are conducting a sham battle
in regard to it. They must have some
thing to talk about, and, withal, some
thing by which to 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, it would appear that this tariff issue is
largely fictitious one, the whole question
narrowing itself down, practically 20 strife
simply Of selfish and sectional interests. Both
parties advocate protection. 1t Is absurd to
talk about ones being 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 forcibly 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 to disguise the matter as we
may. who shall say that the question does not
present itself with much perrinency and force:
How shall we intelligently decide for whom to
vote at the forthcoming Presidential election
consistent with entire self-respect! 1 certanly
sympathize with DR.. Storr perplexity, and
together with thousands, feel strongly the
temptation to ''take to the woods" Can you
aid me, and enlghtening me enlighten the null
tItudes of others? R b. H
TOWNSEND. MASS.
]. The first two points OF our correspondents
letter need no reply. He is right, and we may
regard it as settled that he can not vote either
the Democratic or third party ticket. The
Democratic party is no place for Temperance
man; and TO vote with the third party is not
only to throw ones vote away, as our corre-
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 10 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 ought to settle the
question for him.
, With what our correspondent 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 it
must be remembered, in any National platform
of the party in favor OF Temperance. 1t does
recognize sobriety as the first concern of good
government. That is something. And the fur
ther 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 q contemplate plank
by any means and he must be poor observer
who does not know that the attitude OF the Re-
publican party on this 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 II our correspondent is in
any doubt that the Republican candidate is a
sincere and earnest Temperance man, let him
read the Danville speech.
s. On the tariff question our correspondent is
entirely at sea. 1t is simply amazing that he
can have Cooked into the matter" as he says
he has, and yet hold that protection is not
real issue, and that there is little, if any, actual
difference between the two parties. The differ
ence is as clear and distinct as is the differ
ence between the third party and tbs 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.. Storrs, TO whom our correspondent ap-
peals, well says, seems logically to intend
free trade as its conclusion, whether or not
that conclusion is announced" On this point
Dr. Storrs has no doubt or perplexity whatever.
Il can not, he says, vote for any party or any
candidate by whom tariff laws are regarded as
an inequitable scheme (relerring to 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" It is not q
question of detail at all, but OF principle And
why, pray. II the Democratic party is as much
a protection party as the Republican, does it
have the earnest support Of the out-and-out
free trsdersf 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
tariff is vital issue and II our correspondent
cares for protection at ell we warn him that he
can not afford to be an indifferent spectator in
this campaign
The question, How to vote. seems TO us q
very simple one in 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 candidates The only
alternative left him. then, is to 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 Harrison and Morton, we fear he is be-
yond the reach Of anybody's appeal or advice.
THE VANISHING SURPLUS.