The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-07-20

OF the Republican platform, 1t was
adopted almost without a dissenting
voice, amid deafening applause. 1t is an
entering wedge that will open up the
platforms of parties upon the subject.
1t Is a good omen and will bring its re-
ward to the party.
"The first concern of all good govern
ment is the virtue and sobriety of the
people and the purely of the home. The
Republican party cordially sympathizes
with all wise and well directed efforts
for the promotion of temperance and
morality.'-BUou Hts Times.
"An entering wedge" Ye Gods! and
what a wedge. Like unto u cambria
needle in size. "sympathizes' is good,
exceedingly good. The Prohibition
party of the United States justly spurn
the Sympathy SO magnanimously ex-
tended to them by the G. o, p, This
plank of the Republican p~latform-thls
blank cartridge-is but very little better
than nothing, and the party canno hope
to hold or attract votes by it. What are
the wise and we'll directed effortsf" Is
license, taxation. o local option. or a
conglomoration of all the correct def
milton? The efforts of the Republican
party have been very widely diversified.
In some states the efforts have been for
license, in others for graded tax, in
Others for simon pure local option, in
others, such as the New England states,
for prohibition, while it is a fact thatth
greatest recent efforts for radical reform
have been made in strong Democratic
states like Georgia, South Carolina and
Missouri. In view of these facts tho
Temperance" plank of the Chicago
platform must be looked upon as de-
cidedly ambiguous. 1t is a mighty
small plank, but it is one intended tt
spread over a great variety of method,
and fit q great variety of localities. Blu
it is pertinent to enquire whether ar
other, an earlier plank of the platform
comes under the definition of well di
rected efforts" Is that part of TIL
platform which proclaims the willing
ness of the party to give the countr'
cheap whisky in the line of promotion
of temperance? By no means, and tn
Inconsistency of it is only cqualled b.
the calling of Senator Harrison to stan,
on an anti Chinese plank. The eleventh
hour adoption OF this alleged temper
INC plank was but the making of an
apology. was al attempt to throS
dust in the face of the fate which IS pei
%sistently pursuing the party and whlc,
must sooner or later ovcrtake it. Whit
the policy of the party is in Ohio, o
Pennsylvania, or New York, may b
easily ascertaned, but the policy of the
party as a whole is shrouded in doub
and suspicion. If the Ohio idea is tn
idea, why didn't the national CONVEX
ton say so? Such a declaration Xoul
at least have attracted some support an
might possibly have been accepted b
the liquor men as ar easy and pcrms
nent solution of their differences wit
the people. If not this why not as
sumed a position based on any one @
the dozen methods emanating from RI
publican legislatures? But as it is. til
Republican party. assuming to be til
only pure, moral and God-like party o
ear:h, on this great social question prat
tically stands aloot and merely extend
its sympathy to the millions who ar
studying. upholding and demanding re
form. Nothing was expected of tn
Democracy in this direction, but som
thing was expected from a party whic
claims its rank and file to be but littl
lower than the angels.