The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-06-06
FISK AND PROHIBITION.
THE COLD WATER CAMPAIGN CLIO
RIOUSLY OPENED.

Thousands Of rohibitionists-Praye Song
and speech-Grit, Grace and Green
backs-The Party of the People-The
Best of All Is God Is with Us.
The conspiracy Of silence has been
broken. The Prohibition party can no
longer be ignored, and the daily press has
given full reports Of the proceedings OF
one Of the greatest conventions ever as
sembled on American soil True, these
reports have been colored and biased by
partisan prejudice, and in many cases there
has been marked paucity of truth, but
nevertheless the public has been informed
that a convention was held; that patri-
otto platform of principles, upon which
every good man and woman can stand,
was enunciated, and candidates were
nominated who can be safely supported,
both because of their personal fitness and
of the principles they are pledged to GUS
tain.
The Pittsburg convention of 1884 was
noteworthy in many respects; the Indian
apolis convention was marvellous gath
ering.
Train loads of delegates and visitors
from east and west and north and south;
banners flying, bands playing, notices dis
played, glee clubs singing and delegates
hurrahing, they came from all parts of
the Union, and all came because they
loved God, country and humanity.
Indianapolis had prepared a splendid
welcome for the convention, and Tomlin-
son hall was handsomely decorated.
Tents, conveniently placed, held overflow
crows who could not be accommodated in
the capacious hall
From Tuesday night, when the college
boys took possession of Tomlinson han,
and Demorest gold medal oratorical con-
test in Roberts Park M. E. church. gave
youthful declaimers from Kansas, Con-
necticut, Michigan, New York. Minnesota,
North Carolina, Ohio and Indiana an
opportunity to ring out the Thoughts of
some of our greatest prohibition orators,
on through the days until the last train
passed across the borders of Hoosierdom,
the state echoed with political truth
which should be executed in our national
government.
On Decoration day the Prohibition party
proved its ability to unite north and
south in one nation by bringing blue and
gray together in a memorial service such
as has never been known since the sixties.
Fisk, Cleghorn and Miss Willard, of the
north joined Balm and Cheves and Mrs
Meriweather, of the south, in loving
eulogies of the patriot dead and eloquent
pleas for q new conservation by the patriot
living. J. H. Hector was there also, the
colored orator, himself G. A. r. man,
and Bishop Turner, Of the A. NJ E.
church, and they appealed for reunited
Union and national revolt against rum
slavery
In the convention the young manhood
of the nation was conspicuous, and in COM
mittee room and on the floor of the hall
the advice of the sainted Garfield: Young
man, pitch not your tents in the grave
yard of dead issues"
Old veteran workers were there, reioic-
ing in the fact that the boys were coming
to the front to take up the battle. And
the women were there, not at all out of
place in this political convention, where
there was no tobacco smoke to cloud the
atmosphere and no whisky bars in ada
cent rooms. And, best of all, the spirit
of God was there, allaying bitternesses,
harmonizing opinions, guiding the DELHI
erations to wise conclusions and inspiring
every Prohibitionist to earnest work in
the future
Yes, it was magnificent convention
one long to be remembered by those in at
tendance. 1t is over now and the cam
paign is fully opened.
Now for months of severe trial. Of Bit
ter persecution, Of malignant misrepre-
seutation perhaps of murderous assault.
Let Prohibitionists enter the fight with
strong hearts and cheerful spirit. with
charity for all, malice toward none" we
will meet calumny, Islander, abuse and in
jury with clear conscience, and with ''No
compromise" upon our banners, we will
wage our. peaceful war of ballots and
stand at fthe polls for God, Home and
humanity.