The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-10-11
THE TEMPERANCE PARTY.
The PrOhibitIOnIstS shown to IInvO Stea II
HIudered the Prohibition Cause.

AHe AEOHlDltlOHhth SHO"u 10 AAhNO SASH Ahy
Hlndercd the Prohibition Cause.
Prof. ]. 7. Dunield, D. D., OF Prince
ton, asks the question "Ought Temper
ance men to vote with the third partyT
in the last.. Independent, and answers it in
the negative. He says:
"Whether Prohibition Party is the
only way to secure prohihitory legisla'
ton is not question Of theory, to be
decided by reasoning; it is n simple
question OF fact, to be decided by refer
ence to the record.
1.-THE Prohibition Party was organized
in 1869. Prior TO 1869 n prohibitory law
had been enaGted in Maine, New Hamp'
shire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, Della.
ware, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan
Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska Kansas
that is, in sixteen States. My authority
for this statement is, "Thc World AL
manac," for 1887. In some of these
States the law was declared unconstitu.
tional, in others it was subsequently re-
pealed, in others modified by local OBJ
ton amendment, in others it remains in
force to the present day. Now, in view
OF these facts, what becomes OF your
conclusion based on the assumption that
there eau be no prohihitory legislation
except by Prohibition Party?
"Further, since the organization Of
the Prohibition party local option pro-
hibitory laws have been enacted in New
Jersey. MARYLAND, Virginia, North Caro-.
lima, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Arkansas and Missouri-tifteen States.
How much, or rather how little, the
Prohibition party had to do in securing
this legislation is indicated by the met
that IN the States mentioned, in 1881,
out OF total vote of-3,205, 52l, the Pro-
hibition candidate for the Presidency
received 2l,5GS votes-that is, one vote
out OF every $50. Again | ask, in view
of these facts, what becomes OF the con-
ciusion based on the assumption that
there can be no prohibitory legislation
except by n political party specially Or
ganized for that purposc?"
an Maine, Kansas and Iowa, prohibi'
ton has been adopted by decided ma.
iorities. And yet in 1881, out OF total
vote in these States OF III ,2l9, the Pro
hibition candidate for the Presidency
received Just $3.50 votes-that is, ] vote
out OF 80. Surprising prohibition
adopted in these States bya bare major.
ity, the Prohibition candidate received
but one vote out OF every 40 pronounced
Prohibitionists.
"The question as to the expediency
OF Prohibition party has also, as il
seems to me, been settled by the test
OF experiment.
1.-THE party has been in existence fol
nearly twenty years. Prohibitory laws
have been passed in thirty-one Of the
thirty-eight States OF the Union. In nc
single instance has this prohibitory legis
lation been due to the Prohibition party
In most cases these laws have beer
passed by legislators elected in spite o
The opposition at the ballot box OF rum
sellers and Prohibitionists. So far IS
am informed, not n single vote for pro
hibitory law has ever been cast by leg
islator elected by the Prohibition par
| ". The only effect OF the party as a fac
Tor in politics in the Northern States, hN
been 10 draw of votes from the party Il
which We are mainly indebted for pro
hibitory legislation and thus occasion
ally elect the candidates OF the part!
avowedly opposed to prohibitory lcgisla
ton. The Prohibition party therefor
is rather hindrance than help to thu
cause OF Prohibition"