The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-09
TIE PROHIBITION AMENDMENT.

hopuunCAu Fnrty TO Eufuuos
To he Editor Of he Inie!iCGesr.
sIR:-As you have given the invitation
for full discussion Of the prohibitory
amendment in the columns OF your paper
l desire to add few thoughts as to what
1 believe to be the duty and policy Of the
Republican party in reference to this sub.
ject. No party has ever made grandeI
record, and although q few friends have
fallen out Of the ranks within the last
twenty-five years, Btill shs stands ss the
embodiment Of all the great questions and
policies that have grown up since the
formation Of government by the people.
It Is true that for abort period We have
Lost the leadership Of the Nation, the
Democracy now having the Executive
and msjOriLy Of 10 in the House OF Rep
reasntaliVes, while We have control OF the
Senate; still the party In power is com.
PEELED 10 walk in our footsteps, and carry
out the laws and polCiea inRuHurated by
us. Can the Democracy point to single
distinctive feature that they have engrait-
ed upon the politics Of the country since
1880?
They have under President Cleveland
formulated policy OF free trade, but that
theory, and its present adherents, will
after our next election, have leave TO Join
the doctrines Of Calhoun, whose memory
Mr.. Cleveland 60 much Rdmires. II the
county has prospered during the lRst
eight yesIs, it is because OF the laws made
by the Republican party, which the De-
mocracy have not been DESTROYS or able
10 overthrow; and il any Of our farming
interests, or our mechanic industries have
languished, it Is because OF the threaten
ing policies insisted upon by our Demo-
cratic iriends.
With such views Of the Republican
party, and knowing it's ability heretofore
10 meet the progressive ideas that are
constantly coming up for political settle.
ment, 1t cannot be thought strange that
We should desire TO sea her take correct
grounds upon this question Of prohibi-
bition.
1t will not do to say that it Is not poll.
teal question, for everything that comes
before US for the regulation OF society
by law, is political question, and this
liquor question is as old az our govern
ment. For nearly fifty years the citizens
of our little county,of Hancock have made
II a political question, by the election OF
such officers and the enactment Of such
laws, as have for that period prevented the
license Of single saloon within her boI-
ders.
II, then, it is a political, as well rs a
great moral question, our party ahould
meet It boldly and fairly.
l would conCede to Judge Ferguson and
Mr. CarskRdoD, who have 80 ably and
tartly disCuHaed this matter, the full right
to their respective views. II the Judge
can satisfy his own Judgment and
conscience that the advocacy Of the
prohibition amendment ia in exact
consistency with the Democratic plat
form, that Ia his business. And II Mr..
CarskRdon believes that he cannot con.
scieniously vote for any other than
Third party, that is his business. And
the same right claim TO vote for the
party Of my choice, chserfully concede
to each Of them.
In calling to mind the history Of the
Republican party upon this question l
cannot see any good reason for my deser-
ton Of the ranks, or loss Of confidence in
her future course upon the question at
iEsua. In the convention OF 1884, the Rs
publican party Of this State fairly commit
ted themselves to the submission OF the
amendment to vote Of the people. This
position was not taken because the party
would unanimously vote for the amend
ment, or were unanimous for putting
down the saloon; but 1t was in recognition
Of the right Of the people 10 petition, and
tho duty OF the Legislature to give that
petition respectful hearing by submitting
the question for q final decision to the
votes OF the sovereign people. l believe
every Republican paper in the State en-
dorsed that position ss correct. remem-
Der the INTELLIGRNCRR enforced that view,
by saying that while they could not sup
port tho amendment at the polls, they
believed the people had O right to vote
upon the question, whenever q respeCta-
bic number Of Citizens should petition for
said submission. Indeed II is hard 10 see
how any fair minded man, belong to
what party he may, can oppose the sub
mission OF the amendment as 1t will come
before the yotera OF the State this fall.
This question Of Temperance is Just az
progressive 40 the question Of slavery, or
any other great political, moral question
that has ever come up for settlement by
the American people.
Our third party friends claim that the
amendment wonld be dead letter In our
constitution without party to carry 1t
into effect, and hence the necessity Of g
third party. It is true We have many
good laws that lie az q dead letter upon
our statute books, GO evidenced every day
before our eyes; as we soe drunken men
staggering along our Streel9, as VIC hear
the cry for help that comes from their
dPsolste homes; &c our hearts are made to
ache over the crimes detailed In cur
daily journals; and ss ne have to contrib
ute in tsxeB for plsces Of refuge and i'm
prisormentior the lawless and disobediept.
But II is also true, that good aud whole.
some laws, firmly enforced, give Us in this
country the safest and best government
In the world.
Thus far we have taken q Retrospective
view, let us consider our prospective
course.
Let the State League, which convenes in
your city this month, discuss the course
Of our party upon this question, and let
the next State convention indorse "a IDLY
the duty Of the enforcement oil the amend
ment (it adopted by the people,, IS We en-
dorsed the right Of its submission to the
psople, and who can complain? And
where, then, can be the necessity Of q
Third party pledged to carry out the
amendment?
Who in this country will nov openly
say that the people arc not the source Of
all political power, to whom every such
queotion should be submitted; and who
will dare say that after the people have
put q great principle In our Constitution,
that the party in power Is not bound 4
make an honest effort to have It entoIcsd
l. H. ATKINSON.
Nep Cumberland, ". Va, FEB. A, 1888.
Railroad Talk.
7yEE County Democrat.
We have soms reliable news this weel