The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-10-10
WHAT WE BELIEVE.
Vermont Prohibitionist Tells Why yve
Are Here.

I vermont Prohibitionist Tells Why We
Are Here.
& prohibitionists believe that (a) the cause
&or which they are contending is Gods
60 and calls for their PRAYERS, their
80 efforts and their suffrages. Since
4 "a when the party first obtained such
[trong foothold in American politics, more
1 ignorance measures have been intro
'luced il congress and in state legisla-
i ,Ires. more prohibitory measures striven
i ~,cpding. The wisdom of its introduce
y ;on into politics has thus been demon
(. 4rs+ed. the people have been educated
r. pnblic sentiment developed as never
s1,ofore, and mighty leavening power
roing on ia American politics.
~ A vote cast intelligently, con
Cautiously, for right measures, is
,aver lost. Foundations must be laid be-
4 fore structures are built thereupon. Tho
cover and reaper alike rejoice in the
obnndant harvest (c) Temperance men,
4 Who believe that the Prohibition issue is
paramount to all others, and who cast
their votes in with any party which con-
rolled or influenced by saloon element,
alone lose their votes. (d) The object of
The marty Is not to defeat one party more
liam the other; it is to defeat all parties,
N become itself the dominant power, in
order that it may be enabled to do away
entirely with the liquor traffic. AS far as
temperance measures are concerned,
neither of the other parties do serve the
SURFACES of the people. Neither of them
has ever given to the country an entirely
successful e vernment, inasmuch as they
have not protected the weak and helpless
ones in their borders. No government
can be called successful one that
cannot or will not protect the inmates
of their homes from their greatest foe.
How pitiful it has been in the past to see
the efforts that women have made in de-
Tense of their homes and children. How
they have prayed and worked in the tenn
perance cause, while in q great measure
they who should do this work have stood
idly by The question is frequently
asked, why Prohibition party in Yer
mont, where such prohibitory laws have
been passed." (a) 1t is necessary in order
TO support the national work, to have q
state organization. Vermonts four cleo
toral votes are wanted in 1892 for the
Prohibition candidates. (b) There is need
Of party that will see that the prohib-
tory laws are enforced as well as those
against stealing. Prohibitionists promise
to see to their enforcement if elected
and are now seeking for a constituency
to put them into power, with this
end in view. The Prohibition party
when in power, will have been PIN
in by a majority vote, and there
fore will have constituency back Of
them who demand their enforcement
The Republican party in this state has
failed to do their duty in the matter
They have, and are now seeking to put
into power some men who do not look
with favor upon the law. This acts as a
preventative to it's enforcement, for it
discourages others who otherwise would
see to its Enforcement. Tho third party,
therefore, seeks to draw to itself in tails
state men who believe in the law, and be-
lieyo in its being strictly enforced.
l quote, in conclusion, the words of
that noble Christian temperance worker,
Miss Frances E. Willard: This mighty
movement for protecting the home by
outlawing the saloon was born of woman g
tears and agonies. The prayer of the gen
tie has become the purpose OF the strong;
the plan of the White Ribboners has be-
come the programme Of party; the hope
of the defenseless has grown to be the
oath of the defendant"
F. II. SHEPARD.