St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-09-06

The dominant parties are discussing
but one question, the tariff; we are
debating but one question, the protee-
tion of the home. 1t was a piece of
stratagem for the democratic party to
hold their national convention first.
They declared for tariff reform and
moved their batteries into the place the
republicans left in 1884. They pitched
their tents in st. Louis and sang:
I'VE are tenting tonight the old camp ground" !"
When the republicans met in Chica
go they said ave must take higher
ground" and they declared for high
tariff. The prohibition party declared
for reduced tariff, cheaper clothing and
food, a tariff that would benefit both
the employer and emplOye. We were
first in the field and it astonishes me
that both parties did not adopt our
platform and then have a campaign of
harmony all around. (Laughter.)
Some of our friends say that we are
not after the saloons and that Fisk
said in Indianapolis "We are going to
smash the republican party" l was
1000 miles away when that convention
was held never made any such re-
mark 1 never heard any such utter
ance in my life. Why should 1 be a
republican smasher2 l marched with
the republicans all the way from Free
mont to Garfield. That party did a
greater work than any other party in
the history of our country. (ProlOng
ed applause) 1t freed the shackles of
a ,QO0,0 900 slaves and made united ma
ton. 1t accomplished a great pur-
pose. Why does it not now destroy
the saloonq 1t says, "We must not
be too aggressive or we will lose votes.
We will lose the votes of the brewers,
the Germans and the license men," I
know it is hard to leave that party, but
believe you will all come over to our
side sooner or later. l wish you would
come sooner. We will move over in
to your camp if you will accept our
platform. What can be fairer2
Why is it that the republican party
don't take up this question 1t is be-
cause the leadership of the party isn't
the same as in the war of the rebellion.
The leaders now want policy before
principle. 1t is dangerous to have one
dominant party in your state. Itgives
chance for place hunters rather than
honest citizens to get into office. The
failure to enforce prohibition in Yer
mont has great influence on temper
ance efforts in other states. We've
come up to Vermont to ask you to
come on to our platform and enforce
the law, or else stay on your own plat
form and do the same thing. The
best thing to do, however, is to join
our party. If all the republicans in
the land, instead of throwing away
their votes should vote for me, (augh-
ter,) how quickly we would turn the
wicked democrats out of office ZAP
plause.)
You ask, "Why stir up the people of
Vermont on this question 2" l reply
because it is a national question, made
so by he supreme court. The saloon
is everywhere. 1t sits supreme in
Washington and we cannot get reso-
luton through congress asking for a
commission to investigate the saloons,
because the saloons have a lawyer there
who wields a greater influence than
eomag WEN FfeneSsFfs @ pass hs ths f@s
tion. That lawyer said to me, "You
never will do it, Gen. Fisk, while God
reigns." "That is just why we will
enforce it," l replied. (Applause.)
You remember that one little, sim
pie declaration at the end of the re-
publican platform that little annex
which Sheridan Shook, the New York
brewer, said it was nothing more than
a mild dose of catnip tea, and of which
Murat Halstead, the editor of that re-
publican paper, Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette, said, ''if it meant anything it
would not have passed" The repub-
lican party dare not say anything
about the saloon that is aggressive or
that means anything. The democratic
party are consistent upon this question.
They say, "We are not in favor OF
sumptuary laws" If the republicans
refuse to act on this question and the
democrats will not, what can we do
but build q new party People ought
to commend us for our courage rather
than denounce us for treachery.
speak because | want to save my boys
and your boys from drunkard's grave
Every dram shop in the land should
be closed up. That time is coming
1t would come now if you would all
join hands with us. Would you save
your party and lose your own house
hold (Applause.)
1t pays to stand up squarely for the
the young men of Cleveland, "Pitch
not your tents in the cemeteries of the
past where the dead issues are buried
1t matters little whether we elect q
candidate, but it does matter if we
elect principle. No word of unkind-
ness for any man or any party. Gen
Harrison was my comrade in arms but
he is not prohibitionist. l am. NJ
purer man ever sat at an American
hearthstone than Gen. Harrison. Gap
plause.) know little about President
Cleveland, but know that the demo
cratic party are not prohibitionists
from President Cleveland down. 1t is
| not a place to covet, to be vilified
abused, slandered, but somebody must
stand on the ground of progress els'
there would be no progress. [ an
willing to do it but wish there were
more behind me. Prohibition is in the
air. The fair white -ribbOned womel
of the land are with us,-200, ,OO'
strong. We are the protectionists o
this campaign and we promise to pro
tect the home against the saloon.