River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-08-09
They WILL Run.
Candidates Fisk and Brooks of the Pro-
hibitton Party Write Their Letters OF
Acceptance-A synopsis of Zach.


CHICAGO, Aug. letters Of acceptance
have been received by Chairman st. John,
OF the notification committee from the
Presidential and Vice Presidential nomi-
nees of the Prohibition party, Clinton 3,
Fisk and John A Brooks Mr.. Fisk's letter
is dated at Seabright, y. j., July y. After
the usual expression of thanks for the honor
conferred, he proceeds TO give an outline
of the present standing of the party.
within few years. he says, ''tEe
temperance reform has altogether changed
'front.' The writer claimed that
temperance forces no longer face
human appetite their warfare is
now directed against legislation and
the purpose of political parties. He de-
clares that reforming the Individual is not
enough, The State must also be reformed;
harmony must exist between the policy Of
great commonwealth and sound economic
principles. On this point he says:
"A reform vast rs this we advocate, in
volving such radical changes in State and Ma
tioEaI policy, Is utterly dependent for its agita-
lion and contamination upon some party
agent or force. TO give it success, 10
make it indeed and indtsputably fact
that party force or Cgent must be IN
full &C ord with the reform, and must
have in itself the power Of successful achieve
ment apart from those elements and influences
public adm nistrator by the enemies OF temper
ance, or which owes the election OF its candi-
dates TO sa Don influences, can ever establish
prob b ton as a binding fact ia government
anywhere.
Mr. Fisk states that it was with great
reluctance that he accepted these conclu-
sions and came to admit the need of new
party, and after a mild eulogy upon the
party to which he formerly belonged, the
Republican he saws
Il have seen no hour OF regret. Every day
since then has shown yet more clearly the logic
Of my course and the inevitable truth OF my
conclusions. In Michigan, in Texas, in Ten
nessee and Oregon so-called non-partisan eff
forts TO establish prohibit ton have failed,
through partisan necessity born OF liquor eie-
ments in old party composition. In Iowa,
Rhode Island ana Maine the laws have been
shamelessly dehed for like reason. The en-
tire trend of things these last four years has
proved hopeless the broader range OF prohtbi-
ton effect through non-partisan means, and
equally futile, as contamination. the narrower
methods Of local option and high license;
VII lie from the Supreme Court itself has
come. with startling emphasis q declaration
So rationale ng this reform that II can never
be made OF local or State limitation again. No
lines OF territorial wish or VIII can hereafter
bar the Liquor traffic and its fearful brood while
by National policy that traf1c is recognized as
leg innate, and while under that policy the
National Government derives revenue there
from"
Here Mr. Fisk quotes a word or two from
the National Republican convention at
Chicago. 1.-The first concern Of good gov
ernment,' he quotes, us the virtue and
sobriety of the people and the purity Of
the home" Attacking the sincerity of the
men who used this language, and then in
sorting free whisky plank he says
Revenue, then. is not ~ ernments CHIEF
concern. whether coming from internal taxa
ton or from tariff on importatons, and any
source OF revenue which seOunts the virtue
nd nbri " of q ne npuafS
in the home should be the first object assalled
by every party protesting to seek good govern
ment. while the revenue derived from
such a source should be the first to be forsworn
not alternativey, for sake OF protective
tariff, but positively, for sake OF protection
dearer and more vital than the tariff can ever
yield. Had not left the Republican party four
years ago, I should be compelled to leave IL
now, when. after reading the words have
quoted from resolution supplemental
to, but not included in, its platform, and find
ing in these words my own idea OF Govern.
ment's chief concern set forth, search the
platform through in vain TO find condemnation
of the saloon. hint or purpose to assail Il, or
any sign Of moral consciousness that the saloon
IS a curse, and IT'S income too unholy Tor the
Nation to share.
IF the chief concern has no place in a
partys platform and party has 20 policy as
TO that chief concern that party does not
deserve the support of the men who owe good
government and would see it maintained
Here he says the "chief concern " of the
Prohibition party is for the purity Of home
it ascribed this in plain, Unmistakable
terms at the Indianapolis convention, and
it further plainly said that the burdens of
taxation should be removed from food,
clothing and other necessaries Of life.
Concluding, Mr. Fisk says:
"AndI rejoice that, standing on the plat
form so well framed at Indianapolis which SO
admirably recognizes other great principles
than this OF observation-disclosures as we do de-
clare, that citizenship rests on no mere c'reufn-
stance of race, color sex or nationality, and az
firming, we always shall AFFIRM the fun rights
of citizenship for all, standing ever, as we
must for the defense OF the weak and the OPP
pressed, we can and DO assert that prohibition
( is the dominant issue in National polit cs, and
we can and do invite 20 fun party fellowship all
who on this one dominant issue are with us
agreed believing that as we settle this broad
question for the right, so shall we best con-
serve the welfare OF our entire Nat on and of
every class within it, so shall we make certain
the wise and speedy settlement OF every lesser
question involved and arising; so shall we
prove ourselves Christian PATRIOTS and ordain
The perpetuity OF this Christian Republic
The letter from John A. Brooks, candi-
date for Vice President, was dated August
/ at Kansas City. He declared that in
accepting the honor he proposed to do all
in his power to carry the banner of his
party to victory, and expressed his con-
fidence in the platform upon which he had
been called to stand. II makes its appeal,
he saws, not to one section, but to the
whole country. Upon the capltai ana Ia
Dor question Mr.. Brooks thus expresses
himself:
The pending conflict between organized
capital ana labor is one Of the most imm nent
dangers 20 which the Republic is exposed.
That an abnormal condition OF society exls 5.
and one. too, That is dangerous to public well
fare VIII not he denied. Each party platform
procaims the ( CT. The farmer and wage
worker continue with difficulty the unequal
conflict for Just remuneration. while combined
capital with ease accumulates its millions.
With each succeeding year the farmer be-
comes poorer. while the latter increases in
wealth"
He next takes up the question Of tariff:
1--WE need not be surprised that the tariff
should elicit some consideration in this cam
paign. When the import tax upon any given
article approximates the point OF prohibition,
and foreign competition Is shut or the trust
can certainly the more readily control the
market value of the product. 1t is matter Of
serious consideration that the trusts are
against wholesome revision Of the tariff
He writes at great length upon the sub
ject of Prohibition, and in concluding,
SAYS;
Al can not too greatly emphasize the wisdom
OF your convention in nj king prohibition OF the
iiquor traffc the one great test of fellowship
in the Prohibition party. would not detract
from the relat We importance OF other Ques-
tons formulated in the platform. such as Civil
Serv &c reform, polygamy, trusts, and es-
rfcfalIy the great question of suffrage. hut am