Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-03-09


efforts. .Nonnies:' It distinctly discourages
local option as being too local and too "op-
tional" This then, is the position of the Pro-
the Prohibition party itself. as it's Immediate
aud ultimate aim. And this is it's policy: To
discourage all other efforts, restrictive or pro-
non partisan. The Prohibition party has no
chance on such a PLATFORM and with such
policy policy In the first place, it assumes two
overthrow OF the saloon, in itself an almost
impossible task and the destruction prac-
tically of the two old parties You cannot have
POLITICAL power unless you can wrest it from
the old parties. 10 be the first instead of the
third tn party, you must practically destroy the
that old established parties, like the Demo
cratic and Republican, are not often or easily
killed. 1t does not seem to occur to Prohibi-
tionists that the old parties must be credited
at least with the instinct OF self preservation.
You assume that it will never occur to the vet
selves from the attacks of your little canoe
But you say you have strong hope grounded
in the history OF political ant-slavery: and
party. growing out OF the little Liberty party of
1870 to the mighty Republican party Of 1860, so
prohibition will triumph by Your purity. But,
down at the critical points. Neither OF the two
political parties of those days was willing to do
anything to oppose or restrict slavery.
the friends of temperance. The Prohibition
party movement creates three distinct camps
Of the enemy; and OF these divisions the Pro-
hibition party is the smallest. It does not draw
the Prohibition voters, North or South, because
its policy antagonizes them. You harass.
WORRY and annoy them, and tell them you
did in New Jersey, that they are accessory to
aho sarpss and the susS s"y ns
this, and rouse their political passion, and then
expect them to break their party ties, and kneel
rs penitent convicts at your political shrine.
In the third place. the Prohibition platform is
too narrow for q national party, or even q sec
tional party; The reason which leads us to
duce public saloons. But the Prohibition plat
form calls only for State or Federal Prohibition.
Il: In the fourth place, temperance reform is
VINO passed all the hygiene and local option
laws and submitted the Amendments in Oregon,
Michigan, Tennessee. Texas, Rhode Island:
Temperance reform requires legislation The
Prohibition party has no political power and
cannot. therefore, provide legislation. Tenn
weapons to fight the saloon. The Prohibition
party discards all these save one. Temperance
reform proposes steady advance all along the
line: The Prohibition party requires it to wait
while the party begins to commence to prepare
to get ready. Temperance reform does not re-
quire the Prohibition party any more than
,, not require distinct national party. The
| fight must be in the States, and when the
States, or majority of them, are right Con-
gress will be right, and will give us all needful
National legislation. I do not say that the.
continuance Of the Prohibition party is crime
it is worse than a crime; it is u blunder
GEN. FISK ON THE NECESSITY OF A Ma
TIONAL PROHIBITION PARTY.
Gen. Fisk, after briefly citing instances
proving the falsity of DIR. Carroll's assers
ton that Prohibitionists do not take part
in and encourage local option and nom
mi &c
We are all agreed touching one thing-that
| the liquor trathc is the one great overshadow-
| ing evil of thess times. The New York Iribu,.e
says it is the heaviest clog upon the progress
| essary for the intelligent and progressive ele-
mon IS of society to drop all lesser enterprises
and combine in one determined assault upon
it. The intelligent and progressive elements
of society are more and more believing that a
successful assault upon the great evil can be
made only by massing in 2 National Prohibit
national politics. The Nation is the senior
partner in the manufacture of liquors. Neither
old party will grapple with the monstrous evil
! which says to each, Keep your hands off me
or Twill rend the one more hostile to me by
defeat. and give success to the more friendly
| organization"
1851. The distillers and bartenders held tn cir
first national convention, and declared theil
party to resist the enforcement secure the re-
peal, and resist the enactment of all temper
ance and Sunday laws" The leaders Of both
great promptness: What do you want Of a
new party? We are both with you, and the
party to which you will give the most votes
when the liquor convention at Cleveland de-
| clared that liquor men could vote for no can
didate who is not pledged to oppose in earnest
| and with decision the enactment of prohibitory
| laws, the Democratic party hastened to place
! itself on record rs the friend and protector Of
the saloon. and has ever since kept its word.
= s1o slate
so constructed as to place the party in hostility
| to all "so-called temperance and Sunday laws, "
and the President of the Liquor Association
said, in contemplating this action. 4 believe
that it is only question of time, and our entire
nation, Government and people will bow with
affection and respect to the genial and benef-
| cent reign OF King Gambrinus."
| The liquor interest established its headquar-
tors in Washington, placing there one Of the
ablest men their money could buy, with in
structions to defeat al national legislation
preiudicial to the liquor traffic. We Of the Ma
| tional Temperance Society can testify with
what fidelity Louis schade has discharged his
duty. It has been impossible yet, with all
! the efforts we could concentrate, to secure the
appointment of non-partisan commission to
our. people. When some indiscreet, conscien-
tious Republican had spoken out in meeting
against this tyranny and arroRance Of the liquor
ration from a polluted Republican party be-
come necessary, even If only for the especial
purpose to crush prohibitory laws and procure
| Government of all compulsory measures, it
becomes important to consider where We can
| look either for new political connections with
an existing party, or for the material for the
! organization Of new one." The dominant
| party to this insolence replied simply, Don't
\ think of moving out Of the family mansion
take the best rooms for yourselves" Further
| speaking OF the political affiliations Of the liq-
| uor-de alers Mr.. Schade said: "Three-fourths
of them are Republicans We can count upon
| their protection to the industry which contrib.
| utes SO largely toward sustaining the Govern
| ment and assure you in general that the
| bonds of goodwill between the Government
| and ourselves are more solid than ever" And
! he spoke truthfully, for in that same year the
| National Committee II the Republican party
| turned away from ito council at the National
| Convention at Chicago an embassy which
| carried in its portfolio the fate of parties.
Frances E. Willard, in behalf of the homes
| and Christian civilization Of the country,
! asked OF that committee bread and they gave
| her @ stone. In that same year of 1872 the Ma
| tional Prohibition party made it's first nomina-
| tions.
| The old parties would not, indeed they could
| not, with their troops of mixed and doubtful
| faith, undertake campaign for the destruc-
| ton Of the rum power. new party is the i'm.
| mediate necessity of the hour.
| How senseless the cutlery against a so-called
third party" 1t was once the old party OF
freedom that was CONTEMPORARY called "a
| little party" q third party"
| partisan politics is q delusion The prohibition
| %Ion <iov fro