River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-11-01
10 TEMPERANCE MEN.
Rev. DIR. Dorchester. of boston, Explains
Why He Is a Republican.

Rev. DIR. Dorchester, OF boston, Explains
Why He Is q Republican.
The following letter is from the pen
Of Rev. Dr. Henry Dorchester, of Bos-
ton. 1t should be read by every tenn
perance man in the country;
To An INTELLIGENT PUBLIC: Many inquiries
awe been propounded TO me during the past
three moaths few of which l desire TO an
swer in this letter.
First-I am asked why, as temperance re.
former l remain IN the Republican party,
while other temperance PEOPLE have left IL:
!. am aware that not many temperance PEG
pie have left the Republican party. Not
per cent. in 1854 went into the third party;
and probably 20 per cent. OF all in the North
who favor the most radical temperance meas
ures are now in the Republican party. tits moi
likely TO be so lonesome place for temper
ance people as the third party. I prefer 10
remain in the old ranks and work with the
greater mass of temperance people, who
more concerned 10 promote temperance than
to build up party. That the sol d temperance
sentiment OF the Northern States is in the Re.
publican party, notw outstanding II has not done,
and can not AT once do, all that over-sanguine
agitators ask IL 10 do, " II proceed 10 show.
.. The only Prohib ton States-Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Iowa and
Kansas--are reliable Republican States.
3. The portions of the aioresa States where
prohib tion is well enforced are the parts which
are most strongly Republican.
4. The localities in the North where no IL
cense prevails under local option are almost
wholly Republican
). Where license prevails under local option
the bulk Of the no-leense vote Is cast by Re-
publicans
6. In the States where heavy Tax laws"
have been enacted against the saloon. because
IL was felt that public sentiment would not en-
force prohibition, TIL aggressive movement
for 10 fea led
chiefly 10y Republicans, who viii gladly hail
still more radical measures when the people
are ready for them.
:. To the extent that IN the North the Re-
publicans have sufficiently controlling infiu-
ence, the saloons disappear or are seriously
crippled. Tiers are some sad exceptions, but
not numerous
10. All the most rad cal Temperance Iegisla-
ton 10 the North FOR third OF century has
been proposed and enactedsby Republicans.
II. In Congress, the only members who have
assailed the liquor traific or attempted meas
ures against it, with the exception OF Messrs.
Colquiti, OF Georgia, and Reagan, OF Texas,
have been Republicans. Even IN voting on the
proposed Inquiry into the Alcoholic Liquor
Traffic" said Mr.. Mcpherson, in no case we're
more than SIX Democrats recorded for II, and
only four Republicans against il.
10. My chief concern in this matter IS TO help
the cause OF temperance which think can be
done more widely IN the Republican party than
in the third party. So far as ! can Judge after
long, close and candid observation, there IS
more practical effective work TO promote the
cause OF temperance among the ardent tenn
peTalce men in the Repub. lean party, than in
the third party, where the prepoudeung aim
OF The leaders seems TO be 10 bu Id mp party
autonomy. And l think the chances for the
solution OF the temperance problem are hfty-
fold better in the old party Of great achieve
ments than ia the third party which, after
twenty years OF extravagant promises, has no
practical temperance results TO show.
IL. advise those who have gone out Of the
Republican party, because impatient on ac-
count Of slow temperance progress, TO return
and strengthen the cause within the old lines,
now so rapidly advancing.
Third-Would it not be better to have a polit-
zeal party distinctly committed to radical
temperance policy and to its enforcement;
BY no means. 1 have already said that
have not so much confidence in the efficiency
OF merely part san action IN settling the
saloon problem as many seem to have. This
idea is kind of virus with which many are
too easily inoculated.
l. They do not fully consider that this
problem has many elements entering into It
which political acton can not solve. IL has,
indeed, political and economic bearings, but IL
more fundamentally pertains to social and
moral life, TO appetites ami drinking customs.
which poltt cal party action can only Incl
dentally touch.
.. II could have my way, no political party
would champion specific temperance meas
ures. l would have party conventions strike
the saloons sharply, and stimulate 10 action
against them a means of making strong
and influential sentiment, but no party shlb-
boleth of specific legislative measures should
divide the reform forces. Strong sentiment
will inev taoly crystalline itself into enact
ments, as fast as 1t develops and intensihes;
and laws thus brought about can be and will
be enforced. But 10 extraneously force meas
ures, by political party platforms, divides and
alieuates true friends of reform, and postpo -es
desired results. In republic laws which do
not grow GU. of the common sentiment and
life of the people are worth but little. But
Republican convent Ons have recommended
legislatures TO subm constitutional prohib.-
ton to the people a sure basis on which
to decide the question OF statutory prob bi-
ton.
4. Thus far in its history the actual influence
Of the third party has been to handicap tenn
perance legislation.
3. In a republic no party can long retain the
ascendency. and when n party goes down. the
interests Identified with Il suffers decline and
possibly collapse. So must it be W tn POI
ntical temperance party.
O. Moreove. it is mistake to presume that
only those questions which are made issues in
parry platforms are settled at the polls. The
prohibitory legislation in tnsas, Iowa and
Maine was not enacted by any party organ
ICED on that issue but through parties organ
.zed on other issues, and having in them a
common sub-srratum OF temperance senti-
ment, diffused ike the sentiment against
larceny. Local option has been extensively
adopted, as a faVorite and effective policy in
treat ng the liquor question. but only IN u few
Instances has il been party measure. From
the nature of the case Local option must
sustain an UNI artisan relation, il il is TO sue
coed.
Z. Besides, i IS matter OF common obser-
vat on that strictly part 'sau legislation can be
enforced only in limited localities. The
best enforced laws are those freest from party
faint, Ike the laws against larceny, etc.
s The idea OF Prom. on party to en-
force a prob ibition pol cy, which thIrd-party
leaders ieiterate, sounds we'll, and is very
misleading to those who have not thought the
matter through. Prof. scomb, the ablest
eXpouuder of this theory says: The State
must be officered from top ~ Eo,tom on this
basis. "electiug the officers from Judge TO
justice OF the peace Governors, mayors, al Ter
men and Pol.eeme 4, and must "hold the
power fer dozen years or So then 1T can
enforce prohibition
Thls is the ideal scheme the Third party IS
entertaining. Aud some such machinery,
through all the towns ana cities Of state,
will indeed be necessary 10 justly their Theory
OF Prom bltlon party Dehin} "A prohlOitlon
policy TO enforce Il.
But what vain GelusiOn Where is the
STATE. especially il 1t has any large cites,
which is ''Oificered from ton 10 bottom and
in all It's municipalities by the party that holds
he State ofrcess Not one can be mentioned.
The Democrats are now in the ascendcncy in
the State of New York, but the large areas OF
the State a3e Republ can: and when the Re-
publicans nave held the State offices in New
YORK, the Democrats have held New York City
and many other towns O I'd cities The same is
true OF all other States.
And vet these ideal Iarty builders would
postpone the great interests OF the temper
anee reform. would hedge ~ and obstruct the
efforts Of those who, by bipartisan methods,
seek TO protect the home aga INST the saloon,
until this impossible political conception can
be real zed.
On this Wis on8ry basis they make eXtrava-
CANT prom ses and pred c;ions-the'r principal
stock in trade II IS an old trick Of bankrupts
that they are lavish wish promises TO pay; 50
a political party that IS built upon a hallucina-
ton can never be solvent either IN present or
prospective results. II costs one nothing 70
offer "all the kingdoms OF tue world when he
does not own a rod OF land.
For these reasons ] am a Republican, and
support Harrison and Morton in the present
campaign. DANIEL DORCHESTER.
a Blow at the North.