Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-09
AN UNBIASED ADDRESS.
Albert Grifinis Appeal to the Patriotic
Temperance Men of the Country.

Saloon Republican National Commit
ice. has issued an address TO the cOun-
try in which he summarizes the work
OF the National Republican convention
on temperance mat sers and appeals to
the voters to support the ticket nomi-
mated By the convention. He gives his
reasons for this advice. Below is Mr..
Grifin'S address:
Intense partisans and r1.silfor1ned men are
making so many Inisstatements about the &C
ton of the late Republican National conven-
ton that II seems necessary to state the real
facts. The truth is that the 9nti-saloon cause
suffered one defeat and ga ned three victories.
The defeat was the refusal Or the Committee
On Resout ons 10 put anti-saloon plank in
he platform. This was at first regarded ss q
Waterloo and if the contest had ended there
an Overwhelming disaster 1t the po':s vs1ld
have been inevttxbIe. Tie rrst victory was
The adoption OF a plank committing the party
against the National whisky ring protection
tax which plank was supported by every de-
oded temperance man on the committee.
Business men know that 1t IS the retail, and
rot the wholesale price OF an article that af-
fects consumpt on. Remembering then that
The imposition OF q tax Of s. gallon on SPLITS
did not cause the slightest increase IN the price
o; drink OF whisky, that the reduction to 50
cents per gallon was not followed by fall
nor the subsequent increase 10 30
cents by rise, il is evident that the tax
could not have operated as 4 restriction
Remembering, again, that the taxes paid
on liquor amount to about STO.0O0.000 year,
and that ali the principal distillers, brewers
and wholesale dealers determinedly oppose re-
pealing the tax, It is evident that, in some
way, it benefits that trade" for it s incon-
Ceivable that the men engaged in such bust
ha 60
for nothing. Discuss on is fast max ng tenn
I,erance men as solid against the National
liquor tax, as liquor men are now in favor of II.
a State tax on saloons operates very differ
entity from a National tax on the liquor itself.
The second victory was the nomination of
General Harrison, because of his record as a
total abstainer and an avowed antisaloonist.
When the committee decided not to report an
anti-salooI plank a number OF us went through
the d ferent delegations, urging those who
realized what a colossal bIunder had been COM
mitted, to support General Harrison as their
second cho &c, on the ground that Ii had be-
come necessary to nominate some one whose
record would be platform So large mum.
Der agreed TO this that. when q concentration
was finally attempted, ne was found TO be the
second choice OF so many that 1t became neces-
sary for the managers TO support him. Some
OF them, however, intended to give him but
TWO or three ballots and then go to Mr.. Sher-
man. but he was so much stronger than they
had supposed that they could find no excuse
for leaving him. If the committee had reported
IN anti-Saloon plank the friends of that cause
would not have made the desperate efforts for
him that they did, and it is more than possible
that some one else would have been nominated.
The third victory was The final adoption by
the convention of a temperance plank, intro
duced by Congressman Boutell, OF Maine As
an attempts being made to create an impress
sion that it is not part OF the platform and was
not intended to mean any thing in particular,
quote Mr. Boutelle's opening remarks, as re-
ported by the Chicago Tribune. which is not
friendly to the anti-saloon cause:
Mr. PRESIDENT-On behalf of large number
OF the delegates OF this convention. b5 their
request, and in accordance with their wishes,
des re to move the suspension of the rules and
adopt resolution to be added TO the Repub-
lican platform. The Republican party stands
before the country for the protection Of the
ballot, for the protection OF American industry,
and for the protection of the purity of the
home. lApplaUsel. The affairs of Republican
ISM in this country stand by the fresides of the
American people. tApplauseI The founda-
lion Of this grand organization of ours is the
sobriety, the morality and the virtue of the
common people. tApplausel. The Republican
yarty sprang into existence as the champion OF
moral reform in the United States of America
iAppl3usel. It stands to-day, if il stands for
any thing, as tins standard bearer of every
principle that tends to elevate our common
humanity aad eradicate the evils which threat
en- the body polite.
Several delegates eXcitedly opposed the sus-
pension ofthe rules or even the reading OF the
plank, but the sentiment OF the convention was
so strongly against them thai, after consider
able confus on, II was read follows taken
from Chicago Tribune:
The first concern OF all good governments is
the virtue and sobriety Of the people and the
purity OF the home. tCries of 'Good.l The Re-
publican party cordially sympathizes with all
wise and well-directed efforts for the promotion
OF temperance and morality. Loud applause
numbers OF the delegation to their feet and
cries OF Good
Nearly every State then seconded the motion
for suspension of the rules. and amid great
enthusiasm. the plank was adopted by rising
vote, with only one nay. In short II was evil
dent to every dispassionate person who wit
nessed the scene that the Republican party had
crossed the Rubicon and burned all bridges be-
hind them
The regoing is candid statement of the
facts. AT one time Il looked as though all was
lost, but courage and perseverance finally
saved the party and the cause. The liquor in
Ierests imper.ously demanded that the whole
subject should be ignored IN the platform. and
that mo temperance man should be pat on the
ticket, even objecting to Senator Allison sole
ty because he came from the prohibition
State. The convention answered b. NOM
:nating the most pronounced temperance
candidate IN the field by disappearing OF
the one National law that gives aid and
comfort 10 the whisky ring. and by almost unan-
imously putting IN the platform plank uu-
eQuivocally avowing the sympathy OF the Re
publican party to the entire nation with the
temperance cause
When to such acton is added the fact that
within the last two years the Republican legis-
lators of every Republican State excepting
California, Nevada. Illinois and Wisconsin
have angered the dram-selling fraternity by
passing or attempting TO pass laws against
their interests, It is insensate folly 10 expect
that they " Il anywhere support the Republic
an party. Some o. them may pretend to do So
but their promises will be worthless. Dram
sellers are not exceptions to the universal rule
that men seldom vote against what they believe
10 be their own interests
Under these circumstances IS il not the plain
duty OF every earnest. disinterested friend of
temperance 10 give the Republican party a
hearty support? 1t presents TO them lifelong
enemy Of the saloon as a candidate. on a mod
crate but unambiguous temperance platform
while the Democratic candidate is exactly the re-
verse, and stands on a platform denouncing
sumptuary laws. One of these two platforms and
candidates viii be approved by the Nation
next November. and, let him sQuirm and chop
logic as he may, the cold, clammy fact remains
that temperance man who refuses to support
the Republican ticket consents to Demo
cratic saloon rule; and, further. that If he
an any way undertakes to still further
weaken the Republican party he becomes.
while thus engaged, an active saloon defender
He may try to quiet his conscience by dream.
ing dreams, and conjuring up visions OF great
things in the future, but, If he is honest, he
must admit that he IS for the present tune
helping the saloon to retain IFS grip in the
country. Ask the dram seller OF the United